SEN Teacher - Autism & Complex Needs

Walthamstow, East London | Specialist SEN School | Full-Time | Long-Term
£200 - £280 per day | September Start

Are you an experienced SEN Teacher looking to work within a highly specialist environment supporting pupils with a broad range of complex needs?

Do you believe that communication, independence and wellbeing should sit at the heart of a personalised SEN curriculum?

Would you like to work within a collaborative specialist setting where teachers, support staff and therapists work together to help every pupil make meaningful progress?

A large and well-established specialist SEN school in Walthamstow is seeking enthusiastic and committed Teachers to join its team from September.

The school supports children and young people aged 3-19 across a number of specialist departments and curriculum pathways. Pupils have a wide range of additional needs including Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), speech, language and communication needs, sensory and multisensory needs, physical disabilities and complex learning profiles.

Teaching is highly personalised, with pupils following pathways appropriate to their individual development, communication abilities and EHCP outcomes. Depending on the class and age group, learning may focus on early communication and interaction, functional literacy and numeracy, sensory development, independence, life skills and preparation for adulthood. The school places particular importance on helping every pupil develop a functional method of communication and equipping young people with skills that are meaningful both now and in adult life.

As an SEN Teacher, you will lead a small specialist class supported by experienced Teaching Assistants and work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team. You will be responsible for developing engaging and accessible learning around each pupil's individual profile, recognising that progress can look very different for pupils with complex SEND.

Key responsibilities include:

• Planning and delivering highly differentiated, personalised learning linked to individual EHCP outcomes.
• Teaching pupils with Autism, SLD, PMLD, complex communication difficulties, sensory needs and associated additional needs.
• Adapting curriculum content and teaching approaches according to pupils' individual developmental levels.
• Supporting pupils to develop functional communication, using visual resources, communication systems and individualised strategies where appropriate.
• Creating structured, predictable and nurturing classroom environments that promote engagement, emotional regulation and wellbeing.
• Delivering learning through 1:1, paired, small-group and whole-class activities, depending on individual pupil needs.
• Using sensory, practical and experiential learning approaches for pupils who require a more developmental curriculum.
• Promoting independence, confidence, social interaction and functional life skills throughout the school day.
• Working closely with Teaching Assistants, Speech & Language Therapists and other specialist professionalsto embed strategies consistently within classroom practice.
• Monitoring progress carefully through observation and assessment, recognising and evidencing small but significant steps of development.
• Contributing to EHCP reviews, Annual Reviews, pupil progress meetings and personalised target setting.
• Developing positive partnerships with parents and carers to ensure consistency around each pupil's learning and development.
• For older pupils, supporting learning around independence, community access, employability and preparation for adulthood.
• Maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, care and pupil wellbeing.

The successful candidate will have:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent recognised teaching qualification.
• Experience teaching pupils with SEND, Autism or complex learning needs, whether within a specialist or mainstream setting.
• A strong understanding of adaptive teaching and highly differentiated curriculum planning.
• The ability to plan from pupils' individual starting points rather than solely age-related expectations.
• A calm, patient and nurturing approach to supporting pupils with complex communication and learning needs.
• Strong classroom leadership skills and the ability to effectively direct Teaching Assistants.
• Confidence working collaboratively with therapists, families and other professionals.
• A genuine commitment to helping pupils develop communication, independence and skills for everyday life.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly established specialist SEN environment with extensive expertise across Autism and complex needs. The school offers a strong culture of collaboration and professional development, with access to specialist colleagues and SEND-focused training.

The position would suit an experienced SEN Teacher, but applications are also welcomed from mainstream teachers looking to transition into specialist education who can demonstrate strong adaptive teaching, relationship-building skills and a genuine passion for SEND.

INDTEA