Specialist Teacher - Cognition and Learning

Dorset Council; Ferndown; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset Council is seeking an experienced Specialist Teacher in Cognition and Learning to join the Learning and Belonging Service. The role focuses on bringing specialist expertise into mainstream settings to improve inclusion and outcomes for children with SEND across Dorset.

You will work with a multi-disciplinary team and help schools build capacity, support assessment and provision planning, and deliver training to promote inclusive practice across the education system.

Qualifications

• Qualified and experienced teacher with a strong background in Cognition and Learning and SEND.
• Holds a Level 7 qualification in assessing and teaching learners with specific learning difficulties (SpLD).
• Expertise in assessment, target setting and teaching strategies for literacy and numeracy needs.
• Knowledge and experience of supporting children and young people with SLCN and wider learning needs.
• Ability to coach, influence and support colleagues to develop inclusive practice.
• Understands SEND legislation and graduated approach.
• Committed to improving outcomes for children and young people across Dorset.

Responsibilities

• Supporting schools to identify and respond to barriers affecting learning, participation and attainment.
• Advising on evidence-informed approaches to literacy, numeracy and cognition and learning needs.
• Developing effective teaching strategies and adaptive classroom practice.
• Supporting assessment, provision planning and graduated approach.
• Delivering training, coaching and modelling effective practice.
• Supporting Specialist Inclusion Bases.

Skills

Cognition & Learning

SEND

Assessment

Target Setting

SLCN

Coaching

Inclusive Practice

SEND Legislation

Education

Level 7 qualification in assessing and teaching learners with SpLD

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Job description

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our expanding team of Specialist Teachers. We are recruiting to support the delivery of the Dorset Expertise Offer as part of the SEND reforms and wider inclusion priorities across the county.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Specialist Teacher with expertise in Cognition and Learning to join Dorset Council’s Learning and Belonging Service and help shape inclusive education across Dorset.

The postholder will join our established and well-regarded team of specialist teachers, working collaboratively to deliver high-quality services across Dorset. You will play a key role in bringing specialist expertise directly into mainstream education settings, supporting children and young people earlier and helping schools build confidence, capacity and inclusive practice.

The role will work closely with Dorset’s Expertise Offer (Experts at Hand) as part of Dorset’s SEND Reforms, which brings together specialist teachers, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists to support children, families and settings. In addition, the postholder will contribute to a broader range of inclusion priorities, including supporting the development and effectiveness of Dorset's inclusion bases and strengthening inclusive practice across the education system.

About the Role:

Join a welcoming, supportive and ambitious team that is committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. We offer a nurturing environment where your expertise will be valued, your professional development encouraged, and your ideas welcomed. Working alongside specialist colleagues from across education and health, you will have the opportunity to influence practice, build capacity in schools and contribute to Dorset's vision for a more inclusive education system.

You will provide specialist advice and support relating to learning difficulties and barriers to learning, helping educational settings improve access to learning and achievement for children and young people.

Your work will include:

• Supporting schools to identify and respond to barriers affecting learning, participation and attainment
• Advising on evidence-informed approaches to literacy, numeracy and cognition and learning needs
• Developing effective teaching strategies and adaptive classroom practice
• Supporting assessment, provision planning and graduated approach
• Delivering training, coaching and modelling effective practice
• Supporting Specialist Inclusion Bases

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a qualified and experienced teacher with a strong background in Cognition and Learning and SEND.
• Holds a Level 7 qualification in assessing and teaching learners with specific learning difficulties (SpLD including dyslexia).
• Has expertise in assessment, target setting and teaching strategies for children and young people with literacy and numeracy needs
• Has knowledge and experience of support children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and wider learning needs
• Can coach, influence and support colleagues to develop inclusive practice
• Understands SEND legislation and graduated approach
• Is committed to improving outcomes for children and young people across Dorset

About Dorset Children’s Services

‘Dorset Children Thrive’ is our locality model to deliver Children’s Services. It brings together services and support for children and families into four integrated locality teams. The locality teams include Family Help, Children’s Social Care and Learning and Belonging. Through our integrated structure colleagues work in multi-disciplinary integrated teams as part of the Learning and Belonging strand.

Further Information

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.

Location: across Dorset localities

If you would like to discuss the posts informally please call or email Clare Anderson, Principal Educational Psychologist on 01305 224354 or [e-mail]

Closing date 15th October 2026

Interviews will be in-person on either Tuesday 20 October or Thursday 22 October 2026

Join us and help build a more inclusive education system where every child can belong, thrive and achieve.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.