Specialist Teacher for Students with PMLD and other Complex Needs

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust consists of Abbey Hill Academy, Westlands Academy, Green Gates Academy and Hollis Academy. The academies serve a population of approximately 500 students aged 5 to 19 with a broad range of learning difficulties.

Abbey Hill Academy & Sixth Form are at the forefront of current developments in the education of young people with complex needs. We specialise in meeting the needs of students aged 11 to 19 who have a full range of learning disabilities.

Abbey Hill Academy, where this post will be situated, provides for approximately 300 young people aged 11 to 19 years who have learning difficulties, as well as other complex physical and social needs.

We are currently looking to recruit a passionate and experienced teacher to join our team at Abbey Hill Academy. This is an exciting opportunity to join a provision for young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties and play a key role in the development and learning of our students. The teacher will be working closely with our Pre and Semi Formal teaching team creating innovative, motivating and engaging opportunities that actively involve our students in their learning. All young people at Abbey Hill Academy are unique and a personalised approach to all we do is the key to our ongoing success. The teacher will be assess, continuously focusing on each student’s important next steps and evidencing all progress in a range of ways to ensure outcomes are clear and exceptional.

At Abbey Hill Academy our students benefit from our unique, bespoke creative curriculum with strategic support from multidisciplinary teams of therapists, and we are looking for the next member of our teaching team to enhance their learning experience in a skilful and creative way.

Our provision for students with PMLD needs to offer a flexible curriculum focusing on skills that matter to each individual student. A holistic approach that integrates learning and therapy is paramount. Areas of curricular focus include My Communication, My Cognition, My Self, My Body, My Creativity and Understanding My World. Our students work in small teams that are created with individual learning needs in mind. Our multidisciplinary approach supports our teachers to ensure that all learning is highly focused on the benefits for the individual student.

Teaching and learning opportunities include creatively planned routines that actively engage our learners, complimented with a half termly menu of WOW activities that provide new experiences and inspire thought. Successful teaching and learning approaches used within our provision currently include Intensive Interaction, Switches/ ACC, Picture Exchange Communication System, Multi-Sensory learning opportunities, principles of TEACCH, Objects of reference, Makaton, On-body signing, body awareness activities and wide ranging sensory experiences.

Main Roles and Responsibilities:

• Plan, deliver and assess outstanding teaching and learning experiences using proven methods and approaches that enable young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties to learn
• Be a class tutor, ensuring pastoral and medical needs are met and establishing excellent relationships with parents and carers
• Engage and motivate our unique young people
• Inspire trust and confidence in students, colleagues, parents and other professionals
• Build team commitment with colleagues within the Academy and in the classroom
• Promote the wider aspirations and values of the Academy
• Engage in whole school activities as required by the Principal
• Adhere to all working protocols as agreed and published in the Trust handbook
• Plan and lead children in off-site enrichment activities
• Ensure you uphold all safeguarding procedures, including engaging in annual safeguarding training, including induction training

The main responsibility of this post is to provide high quality, personalised teaching and learning opportunities for a range of students with complex needs within Abbey Hill Academy. A detailed breakdown of the job description is available on request.

Person Specification (Essential)

• Successful class teaching experience for children working below National Curriculum year 1 expectations
• Experience of working with children with SEND
• A commitment to ongoing professional development
• An excellent knowledge of the specialist curriculum area and how it may be effectively taught.
• Degree
• QTS

In return for your hard work and commitment to the role Abbey Hill Academy will offer:

• A warm friendly academy that provides a safe and secure learning environment.
• The opportunity to join a supportive and well established team
• Extensive and varied professional learning opportunities
• The support to progress in your career

If you have a positive attitude, strive for excellent and are passionate about working with young people, then we would love to hear from you.

The successful candidate will be joining a Multi Academy Trust that is moving forward and is striving for excellence. We offer a collaborative and supportive environment where staff are valued and nurtured.

Applications are welcome from teachers from a primary or secondary background. As well as excellent curriculum knowledge, good communication and interpersonal skills, the successful candidates will have proven ability to work as part of a team of teachers and support staff.

A visit to the academy would be highly recommended. To arrange this and/or to obtain an application form and further information please e-mail Mrs Julie Povall on julie.povall@horizonstrust.org.uk

Completed application forms should be returned by 12 noon on Monday 23rd April 2018 to: Julie Povall, HR Clerk, Abbey Hill Academy, Ketton Road, Stockton-on-Tees. TS19 8BU or by email to julie.povall@horizonstrust.org.uk.