[241120] PSHE Lead & Autism/ SEND Teacher

Post:                           Autism SEND Teacher  

Location:        Curzon Street, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0DS   

Salary Range:             MPS/UPS plus SEN Allowance + TLR 

Hours/Contract:         Full time, Permanent, 52 weeks per year 

The Role:   The role of PSHE Lead & Autism SEND Teacher is an exciting are rare opportunity to join our Leadership Team. The PSHE Lead will provide leadership and oversight of the PSHE Curriculum within the academy (4-19) and will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating its overall effectiveness, especially related to all aspects of pupil progress. Our core purpose is to develop and deliver a holistic academic, social communication and life skills curriculum for our autistic pupils. It is a unique opportunity for the successful candidate to create a developmental learning experience that not only enables the pupils to develop within our setting but maximises opportunities to develop the skills for a ‘safe, independent life’ using autism enablement structures and systems. The role requires the successful candidate to have an understanding/commitment to understanding the theories of autism and how they can be applied in practice to meet individual need; in addition to creativity, flexibility, resilience and a commitment to meeting the needs of our pupils through innovative provision and pedagogy. The Springfields Academy is a Reach South Academy for autistic young people aged 4-19, we are proud to hold the NAS Advanced specialist award and to be recognised as an Ofsted good school.

The Person:  We are looking for someone with. 

• A passion for making complex concepts accessible for the autistic learner.

• A child-centred practitioner who responds to the individual needs of each child.

• A teacher with a commitment to developing a good knowledge and understanding of autism and social communication needs and appropriate strategies to support pupils with this need. E.g. TEACCH

• A creative and flexible approach to teaching that builds success through challenge, personalisation and innovation.

• The confidence and skills to build positive relationships that help to break down barriers, build self-esteem.

• A commitment to enabling all our pupils to overcome their challenges and achieve their potential both socially and academically.

• Experience of primary, secondary, or specialist provision beneficial.

 What we can offer you:   

• The opportunity to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable young people with autism.

• The chance to deliver an engaging and creative functional curriculum that builds independent life skills.

• A close-knit team of professionals who work in a supportive and inspirational environment.

• An outstanding learning community that engages pupils and develops positive attitudes to learning

. • The opportunity to be involved in wider-school life through trips, clubs, collapsed timetable days, Duke of Edinburgh etc.

• On-going, specialist professional development.

• A comprehensive CPD package with opportunities for individual development and development of knowledge linked to good autism practice

• A commitment to ‘Healthy Working Lives’ through a comprehensive trust Employee Assistance programme

• A work laptop • Small class sizes 

School Background: The Springfields Academy is an academy based in Calne.  We aspire to build safe independent lives for autistic young people through support, understanding and enablement. Additionally, we hold the National Autistic Society Advanced specialist award and are recognised as an Ofsted good school.  

We are an acknowledged centre of excellence for Autism; we are highly reflective in our practices, and are continually working to improve our provision and practices. We provide a personalised curriculum journey that enables leaners with a diagnosis of autism to develop skills in areas of need and to overcome their barriers to learning. The drive to build ‘safe Independent lives’ shapes this curriculum and everything else that we do.  The Academy has a PAN of 250. 

Trust Background:  Reach South is a young and developing Trust which operates across the South West of England with the aim of delivering all through 3-19 education.  We operate 17 academies in Plymouth, Bournemouth, Dorset and Wiltshire.  We are building this Trust on a clear set of values, behaviours and curriculum principles. At the heart of those values and principles is a belief in our young people and a determination to support them to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become the successful citizens for today and all of their tomorrows.  

Next Steps: If you have any queries about this role or would like an informal conversation, visits are warmly welcome, please get in touch by calling Marie Lopez on 01249 814125 or email at mlopez@springfields.wilts.sch.uk . 

If you are experiencing any technical issues, please contact recruitment@reachsouth.org for support. 

Closing date: for applications is 29th Jan 2025

Interview Date:  Interviews will be held on week commencing W/C 10th Feb 2024

Please apply by visiting our website, locating the vacancy and applying through our dedicate applicant tracking system. From here you can monitor your applications progress, receive notifications and apply for multiple vacancies with ease and speed.

Opportunities and Benefits:   

We offer a competitive salary plus LGPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities, access to our Employee Assistance Programme with many other benefits.  You will have the chance to visit other local schools, work alongside a range of outside professionals and take part in a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training.  

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Reach South Academy Trust is committed to ensuring that there is no discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation at any stage of the recruitment process or in the terms and conditions offered to new employees, or promoted employees. 

Please note that Reach South Academy Trust can only consider applications from candidates eligible to work in the UK, and who can provide the required documentation and where a candidate does not need a Skilled Worker Visa.