Teacher - Specialist Provision in Annalong

You 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 Criteria

• Qualifications/Professional Membership: Qualifications must be obtained at the closing date for completed applications. Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant‑aid schools in Northern Ireland.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ demonstrable experience of teaching SEN pupils to achieve positive learning outcomes. Demonstrable experience of using a range of effective classroom strategies to provide support and challenge children and young people of all abilities, including those with Special Educational Needs. Demonstrable experience of being actively involved with the Annual Review process. Demonstrable experience of writing and evaluating individual education plans/personal learning plans.
• Other: Be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) before taking up post.

Section 2 – Essential Criteria (Interview)

• Knowledge: Knowledge of Northern Ireland Curriculum. Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection policy/practice. Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice. Knowledge of a range of teaching strategies to meet the learning needs of pupils. Knowledge of Information Technology systems such as digital classroom tools/media and the use of tablets/mobile technologies. Knowledge of current assessment methods to inform teaching.
• Skills / Abilities: Effective teaching and classroom management skills to inspire and challenge pupils to raise achievement. Proven ability to provide a supportive, inclusive learning environment. Ability to use initiative, solve problems and be flexible. Ability to work collaboratively to promote positive relationships with pupils, colleagues, parents and the wider community. Ability to work as an effective member of a team, and to motivate self and others.
• Values Orientation / Identification with School Ethos: Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect the School’s Values/ethos.

Section 3 – Desirable Criteria

• Minimum of 6 months’ demonstrable experience of teaching in a SPIM or Special School environment to achieve positive learning outcomes by the date of appointment.
• Demonstrable experience of working with external agencies to provide support programmes for children with additional needs (e.g. RISE, OT, Physiotherapy, EA Services).
• Demonstrable experience of teaching pupils in a SPIM or Special School environment in the Foundation/Key Stage 1.

Disclosure of Criminal Background: The 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. You will be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate.

Professional Duties of a Teacher:

• Exercise of general professional duties: If you are employed as a teacher in a school under the reasonable direction of the principal of that school.
• Exercise of particular duties: 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 principal from time to time, such particular duties as may reasonably be assigned to him/her.
• Planning: Planning and preparing courses and lessons. 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 and elsewhere. Assessing, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of pupils.
• General: Promoting the general progress and well‑being of individual pupils and of any class or group of pupils assigned to him/her. Providing advice and guidance to pupils on educational and social matters and on their further education and future careers including information about sources of more expert advice on specific questions, making relevant records and reports. 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. Communicating and consulting with the parents of pupils. 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. Participating in meetings arranged for any of the purposes described above.
• Assessment/Reporting: Providing 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 might be regarded as compromising a teacher’s own position.
• Staff Development/Professional Development: Participating, if required, in any scheme of staff development and performance review. Reviewing from time to time his/her methods of teaching and programmes of work; Participating in arrangements for his/her further training and professional development as a teacher. 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.
• Discipline/Health and Safety: 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 are authorised to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere. Participating in meetings at the school which relate to the curriculum for the school, the administration or organisation of the school, including pastoral arrangements.
• Public Examinations: Participating in arrangements for preparing pupils for public examinations, 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.
• Review and Development of Management Activities/Administration: Contributing to the selection for appointment and professional development of other teachers, including induction and assessment of probationary teachers; coordinating or managing the work of other teachers; 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. Participating in administrative and organisational tasks related to such duties, including management or supervision of persons providing support to the teachers in the school and the ordering and allocation of equipment and materials.
• Number of days/Hours of work: A full‑time teacher shall be available for work on 195 days in any year of which not more than 190 days involve teaching children in a classroom situation; a teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available to perform such duties at such times and places as may reasonably be specified by the Principal, for 1,265 hours in any year exclusive of time spent off school premises in preparing and marking lessons and time spent travelling to and from the place of work.

Equal Opportunities Employer: The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.