Cover Teacher

Suffolk County Council; Sudbury CP; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Hillside Special School in Sudbury, Suffolk is seeking a Class Teacher for a permanent post to support pupils with complex needs aged 4–19. The role may involve covering classes where teachers are part-time or on PPA, with a timetable that remains consistent while allowing flexibility.

The successful candidate will demonstrate professionalism, strong safeguarding, and excellent communication skills to collaborate with pupils, families, and staff.

Qualifications

• Must hold Qualified Teacher status or be an ECT or HLTA with qualification or degree.
• Ability to work with pupils aged 4–19 with SLD, PMLD and ASD.
• Demonstrates professionalism and high safeguarding standards.
• Excellent communication and teamwork with pupils, families and staff.

Responsibilities

• Cover classes when teachers are Part Time or on PPA.
• Help maintain a consistent timetable while remaining flexible.
• Possibility of future development into a class teacher with oversight of a class group.
• Attend training sessions after school or on PD days.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting pupil welfare.

Skills

Professionalism

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Resilience

Education

Qualified Teacher status (QTS)

Job description

• Hillside Special School
• Address: Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 1NN
• Salary: HLTA, UQT or MPR plus SEN Allowance
• Hours: Full Time
• Contract: Permanent, required as soon as possible
• Reference: 5500

Hillside Special School is a successful school for pupils with a wide range of complex needs including Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) and Autism (ASD).

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and highly motivated Class Teacher.

This role would be suitable for a Qualified Teacher, ECT (Early Career Teacher), HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) with qualification or an Unqualified Teacher with a degree.

The age range is 4 to 19 years, with 102 pupils on role, and you may be required to work with pupils of any age and ability.

What you will have

• Have high levels of professionalism and uphold the values of the school at all times.
• Be familiar with and conduct yourself in accordance with the Teachers’ Standards
• Put the needs and wellbeing of the pupils at the forefront of everything you do
• Have a truly positive attitude
• Be methodical in your approach and have outstanding organisation skills
• Have the ability to be tactful, conscientious and discreet when dealing with challenging situations
• Be flexible, adaptable and able to multitask
• Demonstrate a commitment to maintaining outstanding levels of safeguarding
• Have patience and the ability to stay calm and positive
• Be driven and have a commitment to continuous personal development and school improvement
• Be emotionally and physically resilient
• Have a passion for teaching pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) and in particular pupils with Complex Autism (ASD) who demonstrate communication and behavioural difficulties
• Have excellent communication skills, work co-operatively and develop positive relationships with pupils, families and staff at all levels
• Work with a team to deliver outstanding Teaching and Learning to our pupils
• Be confident in the use of IT
• Have a good sense of humour.

The role will include covering classes where teachers work Part Time or have the PPA.

We aim for the timetable to remain consistent each week, however the ability to be flexible and adaptive to change would be beneficial.

In the future this role may develop into a class teacher role with oversight of a specific class group.

You will also be required to attend some training sessions and/or meetings after school and on P.D. Days, which are not part of the contracted hours; for these occasions, you would claim additional hours.

We actively encourage applicants to see our school in action before applying for vacancies.

For more information

Please read the Job Description (pdf).

Closing date: 10.00 am, 5 October 2026.

Interview date: 21 October 2026.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. Our commitment to safeguarding is underpinned by robust processes and checks which are in place across the school.

We do not accept applications from agencies, thank you.