English Teacher (HOD)

TipTopJob; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading school in Mitcham seeks a passionate English Teacher and Lead Practitioner to champion best practices in Special Educational Needs. This role involves training and mentoring staff to support pupils with diverse learning needs, particularly those with Autism. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in SEN pedagogy and a commitment to empowering both staff and students.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience working directly with pupils who are autistic.
• Skilled in training others on communication methods like Makaton and PECS.
• Experience in managing challenging behaviour and developing SEN strategies.

Responsibilities

• Train and mentor staff in effective SEN strategies.
• Develop best practices for pupils with diverse learning needs.
• Support staff working with children with Autism and SEMH needs.

Skills

Experience with autistic pupils

Training on communication methods

Managing challenging behaviour

Developing SEN strategies

Innovative practice

Job description

English Teacher and Lead Practitioner - Mitcham, Outer London

Up to GBP62,771 + TLR + excellent benefits

Championing Best Practice and Innovation in Special Educational Needs

Please note: There is a potential opportunity for a Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) payment with this position, reflecting the strategic importance of this role in elevating SEN practice.

The ideal candidate will be a passionate English Teacher and SEN expert, capable of training, mentoring, and leading dedicated staff in the effective implementation of strategies for communication, interaction, and positive behaviour support across Early Years and Primary settings. You will be instrumental in developing and disseminating best practices for pupils with diverse learning needs.

Those Huge Small Victories Here, the staff are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in their young people, and this role is pivotal in empowering them to do so. They celebrate the little things - for some of their young people, engaging positively with a new communication aid or successfully navigating a social interaction is a big win. They call these huge small victories, and you'll be key in equipping their teams to achieve them, making a profound cumulative difference.

Get out what you put in You'll be at the forefront of supporting staff who work with children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and/or Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. Your role will be to enhance their skills, knowledge, and confidence, enabling them to help pupils learn, develop their abilities, and raise their self-esteem. This position requires resilience, dedication, and a deep understanding of SEN pedagogy, but the impact you'll have on staff capability and ultimately on student progress will be something you're really proud of.

One of the best environments in SEND, this school, residing within an 18th Century building in the heart of Mitcham, exemplifies their commitment to providing exceptional learning environments. The pupils come from many different boroughs to attend, experiencing 'a life-changing love of learning.' They are proud of their pupils and their dedicated teams. Your expertise will help the schools continue to achieve and build upon successes, such as their recent 'Good' Ofsted rating.

Skill set requirements

• Must have extensive, proven experience working directly with pupils who are autistic and a deep understanding of their diverse learning profiles.
• Needs to be highly skilled in developing and delivering training on various communication methods for pupils with diverse needs, including those who are non-verbal (e.g., proficient in and able to train others on Makaton, PECS, PODD, and other AAC approaches).
• Must have significant experience in understanding, and supporting staff to manage, challenging behaviour, with a strong focus on identifying the function of behaviour and implementing proactive, positive support strategies.
• Be adaptable and experienced in developing SEN strategies applicable across the 4 to 11 age range (Early Years and Primary).
• Be an innovative practitioner, able to guide colleagues in thinking