SEN Teacher

Acorn Care and Education; Truro; On-site; GBP 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education provider is seeking an experienced SEN Teacher to join Oak Tree School in Truro. The role involves supporting pupils with special educational needs in a nurturing environment, following a unique 4-Day Working Week structure. Candidates must hold QTS and have experience in SEN. The position offers a competitive salary of £39,000 per annum and the opportunity to improve the lives of vulnerable young people. Join us to make a real impact while enjoying a better work-life balance.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support services

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Qualifications

• QTS status required for teaching.
• Experience in Special Educational Needs (SEN) is essential.
• Must have good organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Work with pupils needing extra support to reach their potential.
• Create a safe and stimulating learning environment.
• Adapt teaching to individual student needs.

Skills

QTS status

Experience in SEN

Organisational skills

Good communication skills

Education

GCSE (or equivalent), grade C in English and Maths

Job description

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?

At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.

That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.

Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So, whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.

Job Title: SEN Teacher
Location: Oak Tree School, Truro, TR4 9NH
Salary: £39,000 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 42.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8:00am – 4:30pm
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: January 2026
UK Applicants only — this role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced SEN Teacher to join our close-knit team at Oak Tree School in Truro.

If you are looking to join a dedicated team in a school that will welcome your ideas and forward-thinking to create a positive learning environment for pupils, we would like to hear from you.

About the Role

As a special educational needs (SEN) teacher you'll work with pupils and young people who need extra support, or require an advanced program of learning, to reach their full educational potential. You may work with pupils who have physical disabilities, sensory impairments (i.e. hearing or visual), speech and language difficulties, learning difficulties such as dyslexia, conditions such as autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, or have a combination of these difficulties. You may also work with gifted and talented individuals who need to be challenged further than the standard curriculum allows.

A key aspect of working in this field is identifying individual needs and adapting to that student as well as being responsible for creating a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment.

Essential

• QTS status
• Experience in SEN
• Attainment of GCSE (or equivalent), grade C in English and Maths
• Use of a variety of teaching styles and approaches
• Organisational skills
• Good communication skills
• A commitment to safeguarding the welfare of all pupils
• Ability and enthusiasm to work jointly with colleagues
• An outstanding classroom teacher, or has the capacity to become one
• A reflective practitioner who consistently seeks to improve their teaching to support learning and accelerate student progress
• Strategic thinker who tailors lessons to students’ needs and abilities

About us

Oak Tree School in Truro has recently expanded and developed two new buildings and undergone a successful inspection from Ofsted allowing us to offer a wider age range of pupils from 5 – 18 years the opportunity to have the best education possible. Oak Tree School is a specialist SEMH provision positioned near the city of Truro in Cornwall. The school provides full-time specialist co‑education for up to 135 pupils and young people aged 5 to 18 who experience social, emotional, mental health, communication difficulties and associated challenging behaviours. These pupils and young people often cannot cope, function or achieve within a mainstream environment. The aim is to provide a structured, nurturing approach, with pupils accessing a broad, balanced and engaging curriculum to meet their significant needs.

This opportunity is in Truro which is within commutable distance of Redruth, St Austell and surrounding areas.

We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first‑class mental health support services and physical health checks
• A market‑leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support – inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.