Specialist SEN Teacher; TV

Short Heath Federation Specialist SEN teacher

Short Heath Junior SchoolM2 – UP3 plus SEN1 responsibility point

This is a fantastic opportunity for a very special teacher to join a team of exceptional staff and children on an exciting phase in their journey. If you are looking for a ‘once in a career’ opportunity to learn and grow with our forward facing school, then this is the role for you!

Our schools are all built on a foundation of love and compassion. We are special because our children have made us this way. We are offering the unique opportunity to work in a highly inclusive school where all of our children, whatever their level of need, are loved and valued. Our children come to school with a range of starting points, differences and needs.

Our proportions of children with SEN and SEMH needs are significantly higher than national average, as are the proportion of children who have an EHCP. As a result of this we have been led on an exciting journey of inclusive practice.

Our classrooms and our offer is designed for the children of today and they mirror the developmental stage and needs of our unique Short Heath children. They are happy, busy and emotionally safe environments. Clear routines, consistent boundaries and warm, responsive relationships help children to feel secure. Our children are encouraged to be autonomous, make choices about their learning and experience success.

At Short Heath, we have three additionally supported learning provisions in school for children with communication and interaction and/or SEMH differences. We are also excited to be opening a further communication and interaction provision in September 2026. These children follow a bespoke curriculum in small groups with higher adult ratios, accessing their mainstream classrooms when appropriate and beneficial to their learning.

Our school works closely with our HOPE Team – a highly skilled team offering support and guidance to our families and a school therapist who offers support and supervision to our children and staff.

This exciting opportunity has been created as we move towards opening our new Specialist Resource Provision. It will involve working with a team of staff within either an existing SEMH provision or the new communication and interaction provision (with a Level 3 TA and two further Level 2 teaching assistants). There will be 4 adults and 8 children. You will also work alongside staff in all of our provisions, our mainstream staff team and colleagues working in similar provisions at Rosedale, our federated infant school.

“Surround yourself with people that reflect who you want to be…” We don’t ask for the ‘perfect product’ because none of us are! What we do ask for is staff who are always kind, compassionate and curious. Our children need warmth, acceptance, playfulness and people who believe ‘there is always another way’. There will be great days at Short Heath, where you will go home laughing.

There will also be sad days and emotionally tough days. We need staff who don’t take things personally, who talk to us, reflect and come back the next day with a smile. You will need to be committed, hardworking, solution focused and determined beyond belief to make a difference. Ideally you will be trained in Nurture, trauma informed responses, relational practice and will have experience of working with children with communication and interaction differences – with or without diagnoses.

Most importantly you will need to believe that ALL children have the right to experience an education that gives them what they need to be happy and successful.

“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower”.

Short Heath Federation is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, keeping children safe in education and promoting British Values in school and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The post is subject to an Enhanced DBS disclosure check and a completed Disqualification by Association form, along with relevant pre-employment checks, including two suitable professional references.

Closing date for applications is Monday 19th October 2026.

Starting date for role:
As soon as possible.