Job Description
Job title
SEN Teacher
Location
Dorset
Start date
After Easter 2026
About the school
This is a specialist education setting for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It offers a highly personalised and therapeutic approach to learning for pupils with a range of additional needs, including complex needs, learning difficulties and behaviours that may challenge. Students are typically mixed gender, aged 7-19, and benefit from a structured, nurturing and well-supported environment designed to promote positive educational and personal outcomes.
Purpose of the role
To plan and deliver high-quality, engaging and differentiated teaching for pupils with autism and associated additional needs, enabling them to make progress academically, socially and emotionally within a specialist setting.
Key responsibilities
* Plan and deliver creative, differentiated lessons to meet individual learning needs
* Support pupils with autism and complex needs to access learning in a calm, structured and consistent environment
* Adapt teaching strategies in line with pupil communication styles, sensory needs and EHCP outcomes
* Work closely with teaching assistants to ensure effective in-class support
* Liaise with therapists, care staff and school leaders to provide a joined-up approach for each learner
* Monitor, record and report on pupil progress
* Create a safe, inclusive and nurturing classroom environment
* Support positive behaviour approaches and de-escalation strategies where needed
* Contribute to reviews, assessments, reports and wider school life
* Promote independence, communication and personal development for all learners
Person specificationEssential
* Qualified Teacher Status
* Experience teaching children or young people with SEND
* Strong understanding of autism-friendly teaching practice
* Experience differentiating lessons for a range of abilities and needs
* Confident classroom and behaviour management skills
* Ability to work collaboratively with support staff and multidisciplinary teams
* Strong communication, safeguarding and record-keeping skills
Desirable
* Experience in a specialist autism setting
* Knowledge of EHCP-led planning and outcomes-based teaching
* Experience supporting pupils with communication differences, sensory needs or behaviours that challenge
* Team Teach or similar positive behaviour training
* Experience across primary, secondary or mixed-age specialist provision