SEN Teacher - August 2027

Taaleem Holdings; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Harrow International School Abu Dhabi seeks a dedicated teacher to design and deliver inclusive lessons for pupils with SEND, ELL, and Gifted & Talented learners. The role emphasizes high academic standards and strong pastoral care within the Harrow ethos.

You will contribute to curriculum design, engage in co-curricular activities, and uphold safeguarding practices in line with UAE regulations and Harrow policies.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years teaching experience and familiarity with the National Curriculum of England and IGCSE/GCSE and/or A Levels as appropriate.
• Experience with carrying out and interpreting results of psychometric tests and plan targeted interventions for common learning difficulties
• A clean criminal record check including International Child Protection Check (ICPC) or equivalent checks from relevant countries of residence/work

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver high-quality lessons that are rigorous, engaging, and inclusive for all pupils.
• Differentiate teaching to support SEND, ELL, and Gifted & Talented learners.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to safeguarding and pastoral care within the House system.

Skills

Teaching experience

UK curriculum familiarity

Psychometric assessment interpretation

Education

UK PGCE / QTS

Bachelor degree in Education or relevant subject

Job description

Safeguarding Statement

Taaleem is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We hold ourselves to a high standard of effective practices in relation to child protection and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff to share this commitment.

All successful applicants must be willing to undergo enhanced child protection screening appropriate to the post, including various background checks including, receipt of high-quality references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification and police checks, including overseas checks. No member of staff will be able to start until these checks are complete and this process takes, on average, a month.

Job Purpose

This role is responsible for designing and delivering outstanding teaching plans that enable pupils with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), English Language Learners (ELL), and those identified as Gifted and Talented (G&T) to thrive academically and personally. It demands expertise in inclusive education and a deep commitment to creating a learning environment where every pupil feels valued, understood, and empowered to succeed.

The successful candidate will uphold the highest academic standards while embodying the distinctive Harrow values of courage, honour, humility, and fellowship. Beyond the classroom, they will play an active role in the pastoral care of pupils within their House, contribute to the breadth of co-curricular opportunities, and enrich the wider life of the School. In doing so, they will strengthen the traditions of Harrow while shaping an educational experience uniquely aligned with the aspirations of Harrow International School Abu Dhabi.

Key Relationships: Head Master, Senior Leadership Team, Director of Inclusion, Department Heads, Students and Parents, Teachers and Support Staff

Key Accountabilities:

Teaching and Learning

• Plan and deliver lessons of the highest quality, characterised by intellectual rigour, engagement, and creativity, ensuring all pupils are challenged, supported, and inspired to achieve their full potential.
• Differentiate and adapt teaching and learning with precision, enabling each child to flourish academically and personally, in keeping with the Harrow tradition of nurturing individual strengths.
• Establish a purposeful, inclusive, and aspirational classroom culture, setting uncompromising expectations that foster curiosity, independence, and intellectual courage.
• Maintain a stimulating, orderly, and well‑resourced learning environment, reflective of Harrow’s standards of excellence, and conducive to scholarship and collaboration.
• Implement robust formative and summative assessment practices, using insight and evidence to recognise achievement, inform planning, and accelerate progress.
• Embrace innovation, technology, and future‑focused pedagogies to enrich pupils’ experiences and prepare them for life beyond Harrow International School Abu Dhabi.

Assessment, Identification and Planning

• Conduct screening and diagnostic assessments to identify learning needs accurately.
• Develop and maintain Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and other documentation that reflect each pupil’s learning profile and progress.
• Monitor the progress of pupils with SEND, both within lessons and against their individual starting points, ensuring ambitious goals are set and achieved.
• Maintain accurate records of interventions and outcomes, contributing to departmental tracking and review processes.
• Effectively communicate progress and areas for development in consultations with parents and students.

Curriculum and Academic Enrichment

• Contribute to the design, development, and continual refinement of the curriculum, ensuring it embodies academic rigour, coherence, and alignment with both international and national frameworks, while reflecting the distinctive ethos of Harrow International School Abu Dhabi.
• Prepare pupils with confidence and resilience for assessments and examinations, equipping them with the skills, habits, and intellectual courage required for the next stage of their Harrow journey and beyond.
• Provide incisive, constructive, and timely feedback, maintaining meticulous records of achievement that inform planning and celebrate progress.
• Engage with leading educational research and subject‑specific developments, integrating innovative approaches and evidence‑based practice into curriculum design and classroom delivery.
• Enrich the academic experience through cross‑curricular initiatives, competitions, and cultural encounters, broadening pupils’ perspectives and fostering curiosity beyond subject boundaries.
• Play an active role in the co‑curricular life of the School, contributing to electives, academic societies, lectures, and extension opportunities that embody Harrow’s tradition of scholarship and breadth.
• Collaborate purposefully with colleagues, sharing best practice and contributing to the collective advancement of teaching and learning across Harrow International Abu Dhabi.

Pastoral Care and Safeguarding

• Provide exemplary pastoral care, nurturing pupils’ personal, social, and emotional development, and ensuring that every child feels known, valued, and supported.
• Uphold the highest standards of safeguarding, child protection, and pupil welfare, maintaining unwavering compliance with Harrow International School Abu Dhabi policies, UAE regulations, and international best practice.
• Communicate proactively and sensitively with parents, maintaining accurate, timely records of all relevant interactions, and fostering strong partnerships between home and School.
• Model and instill Harrow’s core values of Courage, Honour, Humility, and Fellowship, ensuring they are lived out daily in teaching, pastoral practice, and wider School life.
• Contribute actively to the House system, cultivating pride, belonging, and fellowship, and helping pupils to experience their House as a cornerstone of their Harrow journey.

Essential Requirements:

• Appropriate degree, with UK PGCE or other teaching qualification that gives QTS
• Minimum three years teaching experience and familiarity with the National Curriculum of England and IGCSE/GCSE and/or A Levels as appropriate.
• Experience with carrying out and interpreting results of psychometric tests and plan targeted interventions for common learning difficulties
• A clean criminal record check including International Child Protection Check (ICPC) from the UK or appropriate police and other checks from relevant countries of residence/work for applicants who have never worked in the UK and no issues regarding suitability to work with children.
• A proven commitment to the safeguarding of children and an understanding of safeguarding procedure.
• Prior teaching experience essential, preferably in leading independent schools

Desirable Characterestics:

• A genuine passion for working with young people and helping them to flourish.
• The ability to inspire excellence in both academic and pastoral development.
• Empathy, patience, and a caring approach in supporting pupils.
• Adaptability, creativity, and a forward‑thinking outlook.
• Strong cultural sensitivity and global awareness.
• A collaborative mindset, working positively with colleagues, pupils, and parents.
• A drive to develop and innovate, embracing professional learning with a mindset of continual improvement.

School Values and Behaviours

All staff are expected to conduct themselves in line with the school’s values which are: Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship. While the School’s values set out what matters most to us, the behaviours below are intended as a shared set of expectations to refer to, and standards to aspire to, in our dealings with others. They are the practical application of our values.

COURAGE

• We remain optimistic and purposeful in a disrupted world.
• We take responsibility for our decisions, even the hard ones.
• We always challenge poor behaviour in ourselves and others.
• We are open to new ideas, and seek fresh challenges.

HONOUR

• We keep our promises.
• We act with integrity – doing the right thing, even when it is difficult or when no one is watching.
• We respect and value our traditions whilst setting them in the context of today.

HUMILITY

• We work hard to serve others within the School and across our wider communities where possible putting their interests before our own.
• We give and seek honest and appropriate feedback, reflect on our failures and learn from them.
• We support each other through challenges and whatever the outcome, we celebrate those that took part.

FELLOWSHIP

• We respect each other and value our differences, knowing that we are more effective and more resilient working together.
• We are kind and inclusive; we value the contribution that each of us makes.
• We role model the behaviours that we would like to see in others; we ask only of others what we would be prepared to do ourselves.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are values that are important to us at Taaleem. We believe in diversity of thought and actively welcome everyone regardless of their background to bring their valuable and relevant skills to our community.

Note: It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

This advertisement is posted on behalf of Harrow International School Abu Dhabi which is part of the group owned by Taaleem Holdings PJSC and independently operated under a licence to use the Harrow School brand. For further details of the relationship, please see the relationship statement on the harrowdubai.ae website. Accordingly, applicants should be aware that the employer will be part of Taaleem Holdings PJSC’s group and under its control and not Harrow School.