Teacher - Specialist Provision - Maternity cover

Education Authority; Dundonald; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SEN Allowance

Job summary

Education Authority in Downpatrick/Dundonald area is seeking a Teacher for Post-Primary at Dundonald High School. You will deliver high‑quality teaching, plan lessons, assess pupil progress, and support pupils with Special Educational Needs within a comprehensive school setting.

The role requires a teaching qualification, GTCNI registration and commitment to safeguarding, with a SEN allowance. The post is fixed-term April/May to January 2028, full-time, with a typical school timetable.

Qualifications

• Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.
• Experience of writing Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and contributing to Annual Review/Transition Review.
• Experience using additional adult assistance effectively to improve outcomes in the classroom.
• Continuing professional development in SEN, literacy, numeracy and digital tools to meet needs of children with SEN.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare courses and lessons; set and mark work for pupils in school and elsewhere.
• Teach to pupils' educational needs; assess, record and report on development and attainment.
• Promote the general progress and well‑being of pupils; advise on education and future careers.
• Communicate with parents and collaborate with colleagues and external bodies.
• Maintain records and contribute to safeguarding, discipline and health and safety policies.
• Participate in staff development and review; support curriculum, assessment and pastoral arrangements.

Skills

Effective teaching

Classroom management

Collaborative working

Professional development

Education

Teaching qualification

GTCNI registration

Job description

Job Reference: 26008047)Primary Location : Down-Dundonald-Dundonald High SchoolContract Type : Fixed-Term (May be subject to extension or reduced for any valid reason)Duration of Contract/Contract End Date : 4th January 2027 - 7th January 2028Status : Full-TimeHours per Week : Full-timeWorking Pattern : Monday to FridayGrade/Scale : Teacher | Main Pay Scale, M2 - UPS 3 | £32,916 - £50,876 per annumAllowance(s) : Special Educational Needs Allowance (as per EA SEN Allowance criteria)Anticipated Interview Date(s) : TBAAdditional Information: n/aJOB DESCRIPTIONJOB TITLE: Teacher - Post-PrimaryREPORTS TO: PrincipalPROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF A TEACHERTEACHERS’ (TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT) REGULATIONS(NORTHERN IRELAND) 1987Schedule 3Regulation 51) Exercise of general professional dutiesA teacher who is not a principal shall carry out the professional duties of a teacher as circumstances may require:-(a) if he/she is employed as a teacher in a school under the reasonable direction of the principal of that school;(b) if he/she is employed by a board on terms under which he is not assigned to any one school, under the reasonable direction of that board and of the principal of any schoolin which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher.2) Exercise of particular duties(a) A teacher employed as a teacher (other than a principal) in a school shall perform, in accordance with any directions which may be reasonably given to him/her by the principalfrom time to time, such particular duties as may reasonably be assigned to him/her.(b) A teacher to whom paragraph 1(b) refers shall perform, in accordance with any direction which may reasonably be given to him/her from time to time by the board or by theprincipal of any school in which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher, such particular duties as may reasonably be assigned to him/her.1. Planning1.1 Planning and preparing courses and lessons;1.2 Teaching, according to their educational needs, the pupils assigned to him/her, including the setting and marking of work to be carried out by the pupils in school andelsewhere;1.3 Assessing, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of pupils.2. General2.1 Promoting the general progress and well-being of individual pupils and of any class or group of pupils assigned to him/her;2.2 Providing advice and guidance to pupils on educational and social matters and on their further education and future careers including information about sources of moreexpert advice on specific questions, making relevant records and reports;2.3 Making records of and reports on the personal and social needs of pupils except in instances where to do so might be regarded as compromising a teacher’s own position;2.4 Communicating and consulting with the parents of pupils;2.5 Communicating and co-operating with such persons or bodies outside the school as may be approved by the employing authority and the Board of Governors;2.6 Participating in meetings arranged for any of the purposes described above.3. Assessment/ReportingProviding or contributing to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils and groups of pupils except in instances where to do so mightbe regarded as compromising a teacher’s own position.4. Staff Development/Professional Development4.1 Participating, if required, in any scheme of staff development and performance review;4.2a) Reviewing from time to time his/her methods of teaching and programmes of work;b) Participating in arrangements for his/her further training and professional development as a teacher.4.3 Advising and co-operating with the Principal and other teachers (or any one or more of them) on the preparation and development of courses of study, teaching materials,teaching programmes, methods of teaching and assessment and pastoral arrangements.5. Discipline/Health and Safety5.1 Maintaining good order and discipline among pupils in accordance with the policies of the employing authority and safeguarding their health and safety both when they areauthorised to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere.5.2 Participating in meetings at the school which relate to the curriculum for the school or the administration or organisation of the school, including pastoral arrangements.6. Public ExaminationsParticipating in arrangements for preparing pupils for public examinations and in assessing pupils for the purposes of such examinations; recording and reporting such assessments;and participating in arrangements for pupils’ presentation for and supervision during such examination.7. Review and Development of Management Activities/Administration7.1a) Contributing to the selection for appointment and professional development of other teachers, including the induction and assessment of probationary teachers;b) Co-ordinating or managing the work of other teachers;c) Taking such part as may be required of him/her in the review, development and management of activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the school.7.2a) Participating in administrative and organisational tasks related to such duties as described above, including the management or supervision of persons providing support for theteachers in the school and the ordering and allocation of equipment and materials.b) Subject to the provisions of Article 22 of the Order, attending assemblies;c) Registering the attendance of pupils and supervising pupils, whether these duties are to be performed before, during or after school sessions.8. Number of days/Hours of work8.1a) A full-time teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available for work on 195 days in any year of which not more than 190 daysshould involve teaching children in a classroom situation;b) A teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available to perform such duties at such times and such places as may reasonably bespecified by the Principal, or where he/she is employed by a Board on terms under which he/she is not assigned to any one school by the Board or the Principal of any schoolin which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher, for 1,265 hours in any year exclusive of time spent off school premises in preparing and marking lessonsand time spent travelling to and from the place of work;c) A teacher may not be required to teach as distinct from supervise children in a classroom situation for more than 25 hours in any week in a primary or special school and 23.5hours in any week in a secondary school;d) Unless employed under a separate contract as a mid-day supervisor, a teacher shall not be required to undertake mid-day supervision;e) Subject to paragraph (f) all teachers shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.00 pm;f) Teachers in nursery schools and nursery units in primary schools shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.30 pm;g) For the purposes of this paragraph, a ‘year’ means a period of 12 months commencing on 31st July and a ‘week’ means a period of 7 days commencing on a Sunday.9. Staff cover9.1 Supervising and teaching any pupils whose teacher is not available provided that:a) In schools with an average daily enrolment of 222 or less, in primary 1 and primary 2 classes in schools with an average daily enrolment greater than 222 pupils and in nurseryclasses in primary schools a teacher other than a supply teacher shall not be required to provide such cover:b) In schools with an average daily enrolment greater than 222 pupils a teacher other than a supply teacher shall not be required to provide such cover after the second day onwhich a teacher, other than a teacher of primary 1 or primary 2 class or of a nursery class in a primary school, is absent or otherwise not available, or from the first day if the factthat the teacher would be absent or otherwise not available for a period exceeding 2 days was known to and agreed by the employing authority in advance.This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines withinwhich the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equalitylegislation at all times.PERSON SPECIFICATIONNOTES TO JOB APPLICANTSYou must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIAThe following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.FactorEssential CriteriaMethod of AssessmentQualifications/ Professional MembershipQualifications must be obtained at the closing date for completed applicationsHold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern IrelandShortlisting by Application FormExperienceMinimum of 2 years’ demonstrable experience of teaching children of all abilities who have Special Educational Needs with relevance to Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) within a post-primary/primary school setting.Demonstrable experience of using a range of teaching strategies to meet the learning needs of pupils with Moderate Learning DifficultiesExperience of writing Individual Education Plans or PLP's and contributing to the yearly Annual Review and Transition Review process.Demonstrable experience of using additional adult assistance effectively and efficiently to improve outcomes within the classroom.Demonstrable experience and/or details of continuing professional development in the use of e.g. specialist equipment, facilities, literacy, numeracy, digital media/technology and skills to enhance teaching and learning to meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs.Shortlisting by Application FormOtherBe registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) before taking up postPre-employment CheckSECTION 2 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIAThe following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage.FactorEssential CriteriaMethod of AssessmentKnowledgeKnowledge of Northern Ireland Curriculum.Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection policy/practice.Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and its implications as well as the Department of Education's TransformEd strategies for SEN.Current working knowledge of a range of teaching strategies to effectively meet the learning needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs.Knowledge and understanding of current assessment methods used with Children and Young People who have Special Educational Needs in order of diagnose, plan for learning and measure progress.Knowledge of approaches to promoting positive behaviour for learning e.g. Whole School Nurture approach and Restorative Practice.InterviewSkills / AbilitiesEffective teaching and classroom management skills to inspire and challenge pupils to raise achievementProven ability to provide a caring, supportive, inclusive learning environment.Ability to seek and avail of opportunities to increase his/her own professional competence as a teacher.Ability to work collaboratively to promote positive relationships with Pupils, Classroom Assistants, Head of the Specialist Provision, Parents, Support Agencies and the wider community.InterviewValues Orientation / Identification with School EthosCommunicate why you want to teach at Dundonald high School and how you will make a positive impact on our school communityInterviewSECTION 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIASome or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.FactorDesirable CriteriaMethod of AssessmentQualifications and ExperienceMinimum of 1 years’ demonstrable experience of teaching CCEA GCSE English Language and CCEA Entry level English, Knowledge of Essential Skills English would also be desirable.Minimum of 1 years demonstrable experience of teaching within a learning Support Centre, Social Communication Classroom or other provisions for children with Special Educational Needs to achieve positive learning outcomes.Demonstrate experience of working with (in an educational setting) and/or teaching children who have Special Educational Needs with relevance to ASD and Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD).Demonstrate experience engaging in professional development in supporting students with MLD and SEN within the last 6 years.Demonstrable experience of contributing to the life of a school beyond the classroom through extra-curricular activities and other aspects of school life e.g. a school show or sporting activities etc.Shortlisting by Application FormDISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDThe Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.