Part-Time Food / DT Specialist Teacher in London

Treetops House is a proposed independent day special school in Hammersmith for pupils aged 8-16 (Years 4-11), with a planned capacity of up to 20 pupils across four small classes. Our ethos is calm, nurturing and ambitious. We want every pupil to feel known, valued and safe while developing communication, confidence, independence and preparation for adulthood. Our values - Respect, Excellence, Integrity and Positivity - shape how we work with pupils, families, colleagues and professionals.

The role involves teaching practical Food/DT across KS2, KS3 and KS4, including food preparation, nutrition, design, making, evaluation and independence.

Key responsibilities:

• Plan and deliver sequenced Food/DT lessons with clear progression.
• Assess pupils’ starting points and record progress.
• Make reasonable adjustments for SEND, sensory, medical and regulation needs.
• Plan safely around allergies, intolerances and individual medical information.
• Maintain food hygiene, cleaning, cross-contamination, safe-storage and temperature-control procedures.
• Ensure safe use of ovens, hobs, knives, mixers, food processors and other practical equipment.
• Complete and follow subject/kitchen risk assessments and contribute to staff/pupil competency arrangements.
• Keep the school teaching kitchen operationally separate from any care-home kitchen arrangements, with its own procedures, risk assessments and records.

Essential:

• Strong practical Food/DT competence and successful experience teaching/training children or young people.
• Demonstrable competence to teach practical Food Technology safely.
• Level 2 Food Safety/Food Hygiene qualification (or commitment to obtain before independently leading practical food lessons).
• Current Allergy/Anaphylaxis training (or completion before independently leading practical food lessons).
• Ability to plan around allergies, medical needs and SEND.
• Safe use of tools/equipment and understanding of relevant risk assessment.
• Completion of Treetops House kitchen induction, equipment-specific training and staff competency sign-off before unsupervised practical teaching.

Desirable:

• QTS/QTLS.
• Experience of GCSE/Entry Level/BTEC/AQA Unit Award or comparable practical accreditation.
• SEND/special-school experience.
• Experience of healthy-living, enterprise or community-learning projects.

Why join Treetops House?

• Very small classes and the opportunity to know pupils exceptionally well.
• A developing school where staff can help shape routines, curriculum resources and culture.
• A strong focus on safeguarding, SEND induction, professional development and reflective practice.
• Close working with families, local authorities, care/social-care colleagues and other professionals.
• Opportunities to contribute to enrichment, community learning and preparation for adulthood.

Treetops House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Appointment will be subject to safer-recruitment checks appropriate to the role, including identity, right-to-work, references, enhanced DBS and barred-list checks where applicable, prohibition checks where relevant, overseas checks where required, and other statutory checks. Shortlisted candidates may be subject to an online search of publicly available information as part of due diligence.

Location: Hammersmith, London | Start date: subject to DfE registration and confirmed opening arrangements.