SEND Teacher - SEND: SEMH, trauma, ADHD, ASC

Location: Plymouth

Start date: 1st September 2026

Type: temp-to-perm (60-day paid trial period)

Hours: Full-time (8:30am - 4:00pm, Monday to Friday)

Salary: MPS & UPS (experience dependent)

Our new special school for learners predominantly in year groups 6-9 (ages 11-14) opens in September 2026 in a purpose-built modern school building. We will be supporting up to 28 learners with a view to gradually increasing learner capacity in the future.

All of the learners we support are vulnerable and have an EHCP to define their additional needs or an EHCP in progress. The needs of the children mainly relate to Autism, ADHD, SEMH, Trauma & PDA. Creativity, perseverance and an empathetic approach when working with our learners is key to engaging them in education and ensuring their future progression.

We are inviting applications for a highly experienced SEND Teacher to join our initial teaching team and inspire our learners. We’re looking for applicants that can demonstrate good previous experience of having worked with SEND learners ideally in an SEND School setting. Previous experience is particularly important as the initial team will comprise 5 staff who will need to work autonomously.

For the SEND Teacher, we’re looking for an experienced and Fully Qualified Teacher (FQT) with UK QTS. ECTs cannot be considered for this particular role.

Our learners need enhanced support to develop their language & literacy skills. Often, our learners have missed significant periods of education so require an empathetic, patient approach with enjoyable & accessible lessons. Applicants best suited to this role will have previous experience of having worked with learners that have SEND (mainly SEMH & trauma) and have experienced other barriers or challenges to their education.

This role will involve:

• Delivering an adapted curriculum across the school
• Delivering high-quality lessons to all learners across the school
• Ensuring that all activities are accessible to individual learners who, across the school, have a wide range of needs
• Understanding and supporting the challenges of our learners
• Motivating & inspiring our learners to engage & achieve
• Providing practical resources & strategies for colleagues to use & integrate into other lessons
• Helping to champion the work of our learners

We’re building our next great team so if you love working with people who are dedicated to supporting young learners that strive to support their development in a positive setting, this is the role for you.

Every Child, Every Opportunity, The Right Opportunity

Our approach is to offer a bespoke and relevant learning programme for each learner. Integration into standardised education opportunities and social integration is everything we do. No child should have their future negatively affected or be excluded in their later life due to the lack of access or support for education opportunities that are appropriate to their abilities & strengths.

We believe strongly in people and look for people that have:

• Education-relevant qualifications in supporting teaching & learning
• Good experience in supporting young people in an education setting
• Understanding and expertise in supporting learners with SEND
• Skills & strategies in supporting emotional wellbeing
• Tenacity & resilience to manage, influence & effect positive behaviours & decisions in learners
• The ability to present a strong role model for young people, including having fun!
• Collaborative and pro-active working practices
• A strong sense of responsibility & work ethic

Working with our organisation is a rewarding experience. We offer an enjoyable workplace with additional employment benefits:

• Bright HR - online HR management portal also offering partner discounts
• Employee Assist - independent healthcare perks
• Free training - role specific & relevant, accredited training
• Employee Support Assistant - dedicated colleagues to support our employees
• Pension scheme
• Company events

Application interview & engagement process

Essential Criteria: Maths & English at Grade C or grade 4 (minimum). In certain circumstances, we can consider applicants willing to work towards (or already working towards) gaining these qualifications through functional skills (or equivalent) qualifications.

This role is not suitable for applicants:

• Not currently based within the UK
• Requiring employer sponsorship for UK right to work
• Without UK schools experience
• Without experience in the UK of supporting SEND

All applications will be managed by Elementa as the recruitment partner for this school. Successful applications will have a full prescreen, interview, ‘insight session’ and visit to one of our Alternative Provision or SEND School sites. Elementa is committed to the safeguarding of children in all of their processes and all successful applicants will have a full prescreen to assess their suitability for the role. Any appointment will be subject to a successful interview process, satisfactory references, Safeguarding & Prevent training, DBS Enhanced Disclosure (which may be chargeable at £64.20 unless you have a DBS subscribed to the Update Service) and successful completion of (12 week / 60 paid day) employment trial period.

Please apply with your full up to date CV. All applicants will be promptly responded to.