Specialist SEND Teacher – Autism & Complex Needs
Location: Beckton, East London
Start Date: January 2027
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Salary: Teacher Pay Scale + SEN Point
Age Range: 5–15 years
Setting: Specialist SEND School
Are you a teacher who believes that understanding the child comes before teaching the child?
We are looking for a compassionate, resilient and genuinely passionate Specialist SEND Teacher to join a specialist school in Beckton from January 2027.
This is an exciting time to join the school. Having recently moved into a brand-new building, the school is entering an important period of transition and development. The successful teacher will have the opportunity to become part of that journey — helping to shape the culture, routines and learning environment of a growing specialist provision.
The school supports children and young people aged 5–15 years with a range of additional needs, including autism, complex needs and behaviours that can present significant barriers to learning.
Classes are intentionally small, allowing staff to develop strong relationships with pupils and provide genuinely individualised support and teaching.
We are looking for a teacher who sees SEND education as a long-term vocation, not simply another teaching environment.
The children
Our pupils have a wide range of individual strengths, needs and personalities. Some may communicate differently, experience sensory or emotional regulation difficulties, or present with behaviours that require a calm, consistent and highly individualised approach.
We are looking for teachers who understand that behaviour is often communication and who are curious about what sits behind a behaviour rather than immediately focusing on the behaviour itself.
The successful teacher will be able to create a classroom where pupils feel:
Safe. Understood. Respected. Challenged. Successful.
What will make you successful?
You will be a teacher who:
- Has a genuine passion for working with children and young people with SEND.
- Believes every pupil is capable of progress, while recognising that progress looks different for every individual.
- Builds relationships based on trust, consistency and respect.
- Understands autism and/or complex SEND and is keen to continue developing their specialist knowledge.
- Can remain calm, thoughtful and consistent when faced with challenging situations.
- Understands behaviour as a form of communication and looks beyond the presenting behaviour.
- Can adapt teaching creatively to meet a wide range of learning, communication and sensory needs.
- Has high expectations while remaining realistic and responsive to individual needs.
- Values small steps and understands the significance of progress that may not always be reflected in traditional academic measures.
- Is reflective and willing to consider “What could I do differently?” when something isn't working.
- Works positively with colleagues, families and external professionals.
- Understands the importance of safeguarding, professional boundaries and treating every pupil with dignity.
- Wants to contribute to a positive and ethical school culture.
Experience we're particularly interested in
We would ideally like to hear from teachers with experience in:
- Special schools
- Specialist SEND provisions
- Autism provisions
- Complex needs settings
- Alternative provision
- PRUs
- SEMH settings
- Mainstream schools with significant SEND experience
Experience of working with pupils who display behaviours that challenge is highly desirable.
However, we are equally interested in ECTs who already know that SEND teaching is the career they want to pursue.
If you have undertaken placements, volunteering or previous experience that has given you a genuine understanding of specialist education, we would be very keen to hear from you.
A unique opportunity to join during a period of change
The school has recently moved into a brand-new building in Beckton, creating an exciting opportunity for staff joining at this stage.
The school is going through a period of transition as pupils and staff establish themselves within the new environment. This means the successful teacher won't simply be walking into an established classroom and following existing routines — they will have an opportunity to help build them.
You will contribute to creating:
- Positive classroom cultures
- Consistent routines and expectations
- Effective approaches to supporting regulation
- Engaging and accessible learning environments
- Strong relationships between staff and pupils
- A sense of belonging within the new school environment
For the right teacher, this is an opportunity to have a genuine influence on the development of a specialist school.
The role
You will be responsible for planning and delivering engaging, appropriately differentiated learning to a small class of pupils aged between 5 and 15.
You will work closely with support staff and other professionals to develop an understanding of each pupil's strengths, needs, communication style and individual barriers to learning.
Teaching will go beyond the traditional curriculum, with opportunities to develop:
- Communication
- Emotional regulation
- Independence
- Social skills
- Functional life skills
- Confidence
- Academic knowledge
- Preparation for adulthood
The small class sizes mean you can really know your pupils — understanding what motivates them, what challenges them, how they communicate and what helps them to succeed.
What the school can offer
- Permanent, full-time position from January 2027.
- Salary in line with the Teacher Pay Scale.
- SEN point/allowance in addition to the main teacher salary.
- Small class sizes.
- A specialist setting focused entirely on SEND.
- A brand-new school building in Beckton.
- The opportunity to join during an exciting period of development and transition.
- A supportive team environment.
- Opportunities for specialist SEND training and professional development.
- The opportunity to develop your expertise in autism, complex needs and behaviour.
- The chance to build a long-term career within specialist education.
Most importantly...
We are not simply looking for someone who can deliver lessons.
We are looking for someone who will get to know the child.
Someone who can recognise that the pupil who refuses to enter the classroom may be communicating something.
Someone who can celebrate the pupil who has taken their first independent step, even when that achievement wouldn't appear on a traditional assessment.
Someone who can remain calm when a pupil is struggling and think “What are they trying to tell me?”
And someone who genuinely believes that children with complex needs deserve ambition, opportunity, dignity and excellent teaching.
If that sounds like the kind of teacher you are, we would love to hear from you.
Get in touch with Elise @ Parker Smith Inclusion 0203 011 4848