Sensory Phonics Practitioner in Ipswich

Address: Ipswich, Suffolk

Salary: £28,924 per annum (The salary will be adjusted according to the start date)

Hours: Full Time, 8 am to 4.30 pm, term time only

Contract: Fixed term until 31 August 2027 (start date subject to availability and completion of the required DBS checks, required as soon as possible)

Reference: 0911

Sendsory is seeking a creative and caring Sensory Phonics Practitioner to join us during an exciting pilot phase of our innovative sensory phonics programme. Sensory Sound Explorers has been developed to make phonics more accessible to children who may not be able to engage with traditional phonics teaching. Our approach combines structured phonics teaching with sensory, hands-on activities, creating meaningful opportunities for children to explore sounds, letters and early reading skills. Our ethos is simple: Real phonics. Zero verbal demand.

As our Sensory Phonics Practitioner, you will support the pilot of the programme within our Alternative Provision, Sendsory. You will help deliver and observe sessions, gather feedback from education professionals, test our online platform and contribute to the ongoing development of the programme. The role will also involve helping us showcase Sensory Sound Explorers through photography, social media and digital content.

Key responsibilities

• Support and/or deliver Sensory Sound Explorers phonics sessions within a SEND AP setting
• Follow programme scripts, guidance and resources to ensure sessions are delivered consistently
• Work within the setting's safeguarding, health and safety and professional procedures
• Support children to engage with sensory phonics activities in a positive, encouraging and inclusive way
• Gather feedback from teachers, teaching assistants and other practitioners
• Identify what works well and suggest improvements to sessions, resources and programme delivery
• Test our online platform, including child profiles, assessment tools and resource libraries
• Record technical issues, confusing processes and opportunities for improvement
• Contribute to the pilot evaluation and final report
• Photograph and film sensory activity setups, resources and messy-play stations for marketing purposes
• Create simple content for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn
• Write engaging captions and social media copy that reflect the Sensory Sound Explorers brand
• Use Canva or similar tools to create simple branded graphics
• Help build a bank of high-quality photographs and content for our website and social media

About you

• Experienced in SEND, education, early years, phonics, literacy intervention, teaching assistance or specialist learning
• Passionate about supporting children with SEND
• Interested in SEND, phonics, early years, literacy or sensory learning
• Confident and comfortable working within a SEND setting
• Warm, patient and encouraging in your approach to children
• Able to follow structured programmes and guidance while also responding sensitively to individual children's needs
• Well organised, reliable and able to work independently
• Confident in communicating with teachers, teaching assistants and other professionals
• Comfortable using online platforms and providing structured feedback
• Confident using a smartphone to capture photographs and short videos
• Able to use basic photo-editing or design tools such as Canva
• A confident writer with good written English
• Creative, practical and happy to get involved in hands-on and messy sensory activities
• Experience of social media management, photography, content creation or Canva would also be beneficial, but training and support can be provided

An opportunity to grow with us

This is initially a fixed-term pilot role, giving you the opportunity to become involved in the development of Sensory Sound Explorers from its early stages. Your feedback and experience will help us understand how the programme works in real SEND environments and shape how it develops in the future. Following successful completion of the pilot and a successful probationary period, we intend to offer you the opportunity to extend your contract, subject to the ongoing needs and development of the programme. The extended role would continue to involve delivering Sensory Sound Explorers phonics sessions and supporting children, working alongside our specialist practitioners and SEND assistants. This could provide an exciting longer-term opportunity for someone who wants to develop their experience and career within SEND, specialist phonics, early literacy and sensory learning.

What we can offer

• The opportunity to help shape an innovative phonics programme for children with SEND
• Practical experience delivering sensory phonics within a SEND environment
• The opportunity to work alongside specialist practitioners and SEND assistants
• Experience contributing to programme development and evaluation
• The opportunity to develop skills in phonics, SEND support, early literacy and sensory learning
• A varied role combining practical delivery, programme development and creative content
• Potential for continued employment following the successful pilot and probationary period

If you are passionate about working with children, want to develop a career in SEND and are ready to learn, we would love to hear from you.

How to apply

To apply, please visit our website and complete the application form, including a supporting statement outlining your relevant experience, your reasons for wanting to work with children with SEND, and the skills and qualities you would bring to the role.

Closing date: 1.00 pm, 18 September 2026.

Interview date: Week commencing, 21 September 2026.

Due to our safer recruitment procedures, we are unable to accept CVs. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. Includa Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and apprentices to share this commitment. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.