Advisory Teacher (Cognition and Learning)

Gateshead Council; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 53,000; Part time

Job summary

Gateshead Council seeks an Advisory Teacher (Cognition and Learning) to support schools and families in removing barriers to learning for children with SEND. You will provide expert assessment, guidance and training to strengthen inclusive practice and improve pupil outcomes.

The role emphasises safeguarding, record-keeping, and collaboration with a multi-agency team to ensure every child reaches their full potential. Hybrid working is available.

Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status and SEND expertise to support schools.
• Understanding SEND legislation, safeguarding and curriculum requirements.
• Ability to deliver training and produce clear, professional reports.

Responsibilities

• Act as a SEND specialist, advising schools and professionals to raise outcomes.
• Support and challenge schools to develop inclusive practice for pupils with SEND.
• Identify barriers to learning and provide strategies with clear feedback and reports.
• Build positive relationships with children/young people and families to promote wellbeing and achievement.
• Collaborate with parents, carers and professionals for coordinated support.
• Identify evidence-based interventions and promote curriculum access and higher achievement.
• Deliver high-quality training and professional development across educational settings.
• Contribute specialist advice to EHCP assessments and reviews.
• Maintain safeguarding standards and professional practice while developing expertise.

Skills

SEND experience

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Analytical skills

Training delivery

ICT literacy

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Accredited Test User Qualification (Level B) / CCET

Job description

Advisory Teacher (Cognition and Learning) Salary £34,069 - £52,835 (MPS 1 - UPS3) + £2,885 SEN Payment pro rata to part time hours 19.46 per week

Supporting schools, empowering learners, transforming futures.

Who We Are & What We Stand For

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match. We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time. We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive. At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Shape practice. Inspire confidence. Improve outcomes.

The Education, Schools and Inclusion Service play a pivotal role in the education of adults and children across Gateshead. They offer specialist advice on school improvement, educational psychology services and special educational needs as well as input on school organisation and admission, adult learning and early years childcare. Their work has direct impact on thousands of people across Gateshead and are led by Service Director, Suzanne Dunn. The High Incidence Needs Team is a collaborative, dedicated and child‑centred team committed to supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Gateshead. Working in close partnership with schools, families and professionals, the team provides specialist advice, guidance and targeted interventions to promote inclusive practice, remove barriers to learning and improve outcomes for pupils. With a strong focus on early identification, partnership working and building inclusive educational environments, we help schools develop the skills, confidence and strategies needed to enable every child and young person to achieve their potential.

Help shape inclusive education and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND across Gateshead.

As an Advisory Teacher within our High Incidence Needs Team, you will play a key role in supporting schools, families and professionals to remove barriers to learning and enable children and young people with SEND to thrive. Using your specialist knowledge of cognition and learning needs, you will provide expert advice, assessment, guidance and training to educational settings, helping to strengthen inclusive practice and improve pupil outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly skilled and collaborative team dedicated to ensuring every child and young person can access high-quality education and achieve their full potential.

What You’ll Get To Do

• Acting as a trusted SEND specialist, you’ll work closely with schools and education professionals, providing expert advice, guidance and support to help children and young people achieve their full potential.
• Supporting and challenging schools to develop outstanding inclusive practice, you’ll help ensure pupils with SEND can access high-quality teaching, learning and support.
• Using your specialist assessment skills, you’ll identify barriers to learning and recommend effective strategies that improve outcomes for children and young people, providing clear feedback and detailed reports.
• Building positive relationships with children and young people, you’ll inspire confidence, raise aspirations and help create environments where every learner can thrive.
• Working collaboratively with parents, carers and a range of professionals, you’ll contribute to a coordinated approach that supports the wellbeing, progress and achievement of children and young people.
• Identifying and promoting evidence-based interventions, resources and approaches, you’ll help schools enhance curriculum access and raise achievement for pupils with cognition and learning needs.
• Delivering high-quality training and professional development, you’ll build confidence, knowledge and expertise across educational settings.
• Contributing specialist advice to Education, Health and Care Needs Assessments and EHCP reviews, you’ll help ensure children and young people receive the support they need to succeed.
• As part of a collaborative and forward-thinking team, you’ll maintain high standards of professional practice, safeguarding and record-keeping while continually developing your own expertise to meet the evolving needs of schools and learners.

What You’ll Bring

• Qualified Teacher Status.
• Accredited Test User Qualification (Level B), such as Level 7 SpLD Assessment Qualification, or BPS Certificate of Competence in Educational Test Use (CCET), or equivalent.
• Experience supporting children and young people with SEND, including assessing needs, recommending strategies and reviewing progress to improve outcomes.
• A sound understanding of SEND legislation, national curriculum requirements, safeguarding responsibilities and current developments in inclusive practice.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with schools, families, young people and partner agencies.
• Confidence in providing specialist advice, support and professional challenge to colleagues to promote high-quality inclusive practice.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage a varied workload, solve problems and produce clear, professional reports.
• Experience delivering training, working collaboratively within multi-agency teams and using ICT effectively to support learning, communication and record keeping.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Teachers Pension provides: https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Please note:

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.

Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.