Primary SEN Teacher | Instructor Animal-Assisted

Tradewind Recruitment LTD.; Clitheroe; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Tradewind Recruitment LTD. is seeking a Primary SEN Teacher or Instructor for an innovative Alternative Provision in Clitheroe. You will plan and deliver sensory, hands-on learning using our alpacas and rural spaces, embedding literacy, numeracy and life skills into daily activities.

We welcome both qualified and unqualified teachers with experience in SEN. The role is outdoors, involves working in all weather, and offers term-time, Mon–Fri hours with immediate start where possible.

Qualifications

• Qualified Primary Teacher with QTS/QTLS or equivalent.
• Experience with SEN, SEMH, or vulnerable learners.
• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather.
• Trauma-informed, patient, empathetic approach.
• Enhanced DBS on Update Service or willing to obtain

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver creative, sensory, and adaptive primary-level learning using animals and rural grounds.
• Weave functional English, Maths, and PSHE into animal husbandry and practical challenges.
• Support vulnerable children with SEMH, ASC, ADHD, trauma.
• Use de-escalation, gentle boundaries, and patience to help pupils feel safe.
• Collaborate with a small team of outdoor practitioners and animal handlers

Skills

SEN experience

Outdoor learning

Trauma-informed approach

Behaviour management

Team collaboration

Education

Primary teaching qualification (QTS/QTLS)

Job description

Location: Clitheroe, Lancashire (Ribble Valley)

Salary: Up to £33,000 per annum (Temp-to-Perm)

Working Pattern: Full-Time, Monday to Friday (Term Time Only)

Start Date: Immediate / Upcoming term start

A Classroom With a Difference: Meet the Alpacas!

Tired of rigid four-wall classrooms, rigid targets, and tick-box teaching? We are looking for an imaginative, resilient, and engaging Primary SEN Teacher or Instructor to join a truly unique Alternative Provision (AP) nestled in the Clitheroe / Ribble Valley countryside. Here, learning doesn't happen sitting silently at desks. It happens out in the paddocks alongside our resident alpacas, animals, and open green spaces. We specialise in "sneaky teaching"-embedding primary literacy, numeracy, science, and life skills into hands-on farm routines, animal care, and practical projects. If a child doesn't realise they're doing maths while weighing alpaca feed or measuring shelter dimensions, you've done your job!

The Role

• Innovative Delivery: Plan and deliver creative, sensory, and adaptive primary-level learning using our animals and rural grounds as your core teaching resources.
• Master of "Sneaky Teaching": Weave functional English, Maths, and PSHE into animal husbandry, practical challenges, and nature-based exploration.
• Therapeutic Rapport: Support vulnerable children with SEMH, ASC, ADHD, trauma, or anxiety who have disengaged from mainstream settings.
• Positive Behaviour Support: Use de-escalation, gentle boundaries, patience, and non-confrontational communication to help pupils regulate and feel safe.
• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside a small, dedicated team of outdoor practitioners, support staff, and animal handlers.

Who We're Looking For

• Qualified or Unqualified: We welcome applications from Qualified Primary Teachers (QTS/QTLS), Unqualified Teachers, or experienced SEN Instructors / Cover Supervisors with strong classroom or small-group delivery experience.
• Experience with Complex Needs: Prior background working with SEN, SEMH, neurodiversity, or vulnerable primary-aged learners.
• Hands-on Mindset: Comfortable being outdoors in all weathers, rolling up your sleeves, and incorporating animals into day-to-day education.
• Trauma-Informed Approach: Calm, empathetic, consistent, and patient, with a genuine belief in fresh starts.
• Compliance: Enhanced Child DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to complete one) and checkable professional references.

What's in It for You?

• Salary: Up to £33,000 per year (equivalent daily rate on temp-to-perm basis).
• Work-Life Balance: Monday to Friday daytime hours, term-time only, no late-night marking marathons.
• Genuine Job Satisfaction: Watch children rebuild self-esteem, trust, and a love for learning in a low-pressure, animal-rich environment.
• Temp-to-Perm Stability: A supported transition straight into a permanent school contract.
• Location: Beautiful setting in the Clitheroe area, easily commutable across the Ribble Valley, Blackburn, Burnley, and Preston.