Lead Practitioner (Senior Teacher)

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!

Job Title:    Lead Practitioner (Senior Teacher)

Location:       Maple Grove School, Chester

Salary:          Up to £45,000.00 per annum dependent on experience

Contract:    Permanent; Term Time only

Hours:           37.5 hours per week; Monday to Friday 8.00am - 4.00pm

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Lead Practitioner (Senior Teacher) to join our close-knit team at Maple Grove School, part of Options Autism.

About the Role

This role is critical to the continuing progress of the school, and essential to how we will achieve the highest standard of learning and teaching in every classroom. Our continued achievement is reliant on the post-holder consistently demonstrating outstanding/good teaching across every classroom. 

The Lead Practitioner will work with the senior team to do everything possible to raise the quality of teaching and learning across the school and directly with the people they support. This will be achieved through individual coaching and modelling, as required. 

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent is essential for this role

Key responsibilities

• To develop and improve the practice of teachers.
• To teach at least one subject.
• To observe the teachers and provide high quality, diagnostic feedback that enables rapid development of skills.
• To alter your coaching method/style depending on the teacher you are working with.
• To analyse and deconstruct the teaching and provide strategies that will impact on the areas for improvement.
• To motivate and inspire the teachers to want to be improve in line with the school’s overall vision and strategic direction.
• To plan and lead some INSET to staff in line with the requirements of the school. 
• To evaluate and measure the impact of the INSET and provide follow up sessions that are informed by the evaluation.
• To carry out learning walks with staff and to measure consistency across the school, you will then use this to inform further training for staff.
• Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) of at least one qualification at Maple Grove School. 

Essential

• Successful experience of classroom teaching, 5 years minimum.
• A sound understanding of the complexity of Special Educational Needs
• The ability to build on the good practice within the school
• Experience of working with pupils with a range of learning and behavioural needs
• Experience of working with pupils from a range of backgrounds
• Ability to work successfully as part of a team, and on own initiative
• Ability to foster mutual respect in both adults and pupils
• Ability to innovate, carefully plan, and express ideas
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent (UK)
• Additional relevant qualifications/training (highly desirable)

About the School

Maple Grove is a newly opened school providing a specialist setting for learners with autism. We are situated in Hoole, Chester, with the school set within a beautiful, historic building that has been completely refurbished and redesigned to the highest standard.

At Maple Grove, everything we do revolves around the individual needs of each pupil attending our school, with the aim that every learner is able to fulfil their potential.

Along with our rich and varied curriculum, we focus on developing core life skills such as communication and social ability, sensory processing and emotional regulation; every pupil develops the essential capabilities they need to be as independent as possible when they leave school.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support. 

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 

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