Specialist SEND Teacher – Permanent
Start Date: January 2027
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Salary: Teacher Pay Scale + SEN Allowance/Point
Phase: Specialist SEND Provision
Are you a teacher who believes every child deserves to be understood before they are expected to learn?
We are looking for a compassionate, reflective and genuinely passionate Specialist SEND Teacher to join a specialist setting on a permanent, full-time basis from January 2027.
This is an opportunity for a teacher who sees SEND education as much more than adapting a lesson plan. We are looking for someone who understands that meaningful progress often begins with trust, relationships, consistency and knowing the young person behind the need.
You may already have experience working within a special school, SEND provision, specialist setting or alternative provision, or you may be an ECT who has discovered that specialist SEND teaching is where you want to build your long-term career.
Most importantly, we are looking for someone with the right values and ethical approach to working with children and young people with additional needs.
What will make you successful in this role?
You will be a teacher who:
- Puts the individual child at the centre of their practice.
- Sees behaviour as communication and seeks to understand the reasons behind it.
- Has genuine patience, empathy and emotional intelligence.
- Maintains high expectations, while recognising that every pupil may need a different route to achieve them.
- Builds authentic, respectful relationships with pupils and understands the importance of trust.
- Can adapt teaching creatively around individual SEND needs.
- Is reflective and willing to continually learn and develop their practice.
- Works collaboratively with colleagues, families and external professionals.
- Understands the importance of consistency, boundaries and safeguarding.
- Treats pupils with dignity, respect and kindness, particularly during moments of dysregulation or difficulty.
- Is motivated by progress that may look different for every child.
- Wants to make a long-term commitment to SEND education, rather than viewing specialist teaching as simply another setting to gain experience in.
Experience we're particularly interested in
We would ideally like to hear from teachers who have experience within:
- Special schools
- Specialist SEND provisions within mainstream schools
- SEND bases or resource provisions
- Alternative provision
- PRUs or specialist settings
- Roles supporting pupils with complex additional needs
However, experience in a specialist setting is not essential if you are an ECT or mainstream teacher who can demonstrate a genuine commitment to developing a career within SEND.
The role
You will take responsibility for planning and delivering engaging, purposeful learning that is appropriately differentiated around the needs of your pupils.
You will work as part of a highly collaborative team, contributing to personalised approaches that support not only academic development, but also communication, independence, confidence, emotional development and preparation for life beyond school.
The successful teacher will understand that progress in SEND education is not always measured through traditional academic outcomes. A pupil developing trust, communicating a need independently, managing a transition successfully or becoming more confident in their environment can represent significant and meaningful progress.
What the school can offer
- A permanent, full-time position from January 2027.
- Salary paid in line with the Teacher Pay Scale.
- SEN allowance/point in addition to the main teacher salary.
- A specialist environment where SEND is at the heart of the school's work.
- A collaborative team committed to improving outcomes for children and young people.
- Opportunities for continued professional development and specialist SEND training.
- A culture where relationships, inclusion and pupil wellbeing are genuinely valued.
- The opportunity to develop a long-term career within specialist education.
The person we're looking for
Qualifications and experience are important, but values are equally important for this position.
We want to meet teachers who can talk passionately about why they want to work in SEND, who understand the responsibility that comes with working with vulnerable children and young people, and who are committed to continually improving their practice.
If you are the kind of teacher who asks “What does this child need from me?” rather than simply “How do I get this child to comply?”, we would be very interested in hearing from you.
Whether you are an experienced SEND specialist or an ECT who already knows that specialist education is where you belong, this could be an excellent opportunity to build a meaningful and rewarding career.
Get in touch with Elise @ Parker Smith Inclusion 0203 011 4848