Primary SEN Teacher - KS2 Autism Specialist Provision

Sutton, South London | Specialist SEN School | Full-Time | Temp to Perm
£220 - £290 per day | Immediate / January Start

Are you an experienced Primary Teacher who enjoys adapting learning around the individual child?

Do you have experience supporting autistic pupils or children with more complex communication, sensory and learning needs?

Would you like to work within a specialist setting where you have the staffing, resources and multidisciplinary support to deliver genuinely personalised learning?

A well-established and growing specialist SEN school in Sutton is looking to appoint a KS2 Primary Teacher to join its teaching team on a full-time, temp-to-perm basis.

The school supports autistic children and young people with a wide range of additional learning, communication and regulation needs. Within the Primary provision, pupils follow highly individualised pathways according to their developmental level, communication profile and EHCP outcomes.

This particular vacancy will be based within Key Stage 2, leading a small specialist class supported by experienced Learning Support Assistants.

Pupils may be working significantly below age-related expectations and require a curriculum that balances academic development with communication, emotional regulation, social interaction, independence and functional learning.

Teaching therefore needs to be creative, practical and flexible. For some pupils this may involve highly structured literacy and numeracy activities, while others may require more developmental, sensory and communication-focused approaches.

The provision uses individualised and relationship-focused approaches, with teaching, therapy and wellbeing support working closely together. Pupils may also require high levels of adult support to remain regulated, engaged and able to access learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for a KS2 specialist class of autistic pupils.
• Plan and deliver an engaging and highly differentiated Primary curriculum.
• Adapt teaching around individual starting points, EHCP outcomes and developmental needs.
• Deliver appropriate literacy and numeracy learningalongside communication, independence and wider personal development.
• Create motivating and meaningful learning experiences using practical, creative and hands-on approaches.
• Support pupils who may be working significantly below age-related expectations.
• Develop pupils' communication, attention, engagement and ability to participate in learning.
• Use visual supports, structured routines and individualised communication strategies throughout the school day.
• Support pupils who use AAC or alternative forms of communicationwhere appropriate.
• Promote emotional regulation through calm, consistent and low-arousal approaches.
• Understand and respond to individual sensory profiles and barriers to learning.
• Create a classroom environment that is predictable, structured and supportive while remaining engaging and enjoyable.
• Promote pupils' independence, decision-making and functional life skills.
• Use observation and assessment to identify meaningful progress and appropriate next steps.
• Set and review individual learning targets linked to EHCP outcomes.
• Contribute to Annual Reviews, progress meetings and wider pupil planning.
• Lead and effectively deploy Learning Support Assistants within the classroom.
• Ensure classroom staff understand and consistently implement individual communication, regulation and learning strategies.
• Work collaboratively with Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, wellbeing professionals and other specialist staff.
• Build positive relationships with parents and carers.
• Support transitions between activities, environments and stages of learning.
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding, pupil welfare and professional practice.

The wider provision places particular emphasis on communication, regulation, engagement and life skills, with therapy and wellbeing support embedded into everyday learning rather than delivered separately from education.

We Are Looking For

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)or an equivalent recognised teaching qualification.
• Strong experience within Primary education, ideally including KS2.
• Experience supporting pupils with Autism and/or SEND.
• Confidence adapting Primary curriculum content for pupils working across a wide range of developmental levels.
• A good understanding of how Autism can affect communication, sensory processing, regulation and learning.
• Strong knowledge of adaptive teaching and differentiation.
• The ability to plan from individual pupil starting points rather than relying solely on age-related expectations.
• Confidence supporting pupils with significant communication needs.
• A calm, patient and consistent classroom approach.
• Strong behaviour and classroom management skills based around understanding the individual pupil.
• Confidence leading and directing Teaching Assistants.
• The ability to build positive relationships with pupils who may communicate and engage in very different ways.
• Strong assessment and organisational skills.
• The ability to work collaboratively with therapists, families and other professionals.
• A genuine interest in developing specialist Autism practice.

Experience with AAC, Attention Autism, TEACCH, visual communication approaches, sensory regulation or low-arousal practice would be advantageous, but the school is also interested in strong Primary Teachers who have substantial SEND experience and want to further develop within specialist education.

Why Consider This Role?

This is not a traditional mainstream KS2 classroom.

You will have a small class, strong levels of classroom support and access to specialist professionals, giving you the opportunity to properly adapt teaching around each pupil rather than trying to fit every child into the same curriculum.

For some pupils, progress may involve developing communication, engagement and emotional regulation. For others, there will be greater emphasis on literacy, numeracy and wider academic learning.

The school takes a highly individualised approach and recognises that successful learning starts with pupils feeling safe, regulated, understood and ready to engage.

The wider organisation is continuing to grow, creating strong opportunities for teachers who want to develop within specialist education and potentially progress into curriculum, wider leadership or senior leadership positions over time.

This would suit an experienced Primary Teacher or SEN Teacher who enjoys the relationship-building side of teaching and wants to make a genuine difference to pupils with more complex needs.

£220 - £290 per day | Full-Time | Temp to Perm | Sutton, South London

Apply now or send your CV to Stephen at KPI Education to be considered.

INDTEA