Complex Needs Teacher

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!

Job Title: Complex Needs Teacher 

Location: Underley Garden School, Kirkby Lonsdale, LA6 2DZ

Salary:  Up to £41,000.00 per annum depending on experience (not pro rata)

Hours:  40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Complex Needs Teacher to join our close-knit team at Underley Garden School, part of Options Autism.

About the Role

Our pupils need engaging, creative, practical learning so teachers need the ability to thrive in a flexible curriculum structure and fully utilise our facilities to offer personalised programmes. Our Complex Needs Teachers are required to run a child lead classroom and adapt their plans to the individual children.

Teachers at UG are encouraged to take a creative approach, seeking ways to positively engage with and motivate pupils through lessons and learning activities which promote learning and show progress against their individual learning outcomes. The young people who attend Underley Garden all have an EHCP.

Essential Requirement:

• Degree in relevant subject
• PGCE or equivalent,
• UK QTS (Fully qualified teachers only - not suitable for ECTs)
• Teaching across a wide range of learners working from early years through primary
• Teaching core Maths and English
• Teaching and supporting the delivery of other curriculum areas

Skills & knowledge of: 

• Core subject knowledge & experience
• Planning & delivery of subject
• Evidencing student work
• Monitoring student progress – regular marking & feedback
• Confidently & creatively educate

Other teaching duties:

• Responsibility for student timetables and meeting need
• Drafting and updating Students Individual Learning Plans (ILP’s)
• Attending EHCP annual reviews and providing progress reports
• Additional duties given at request of the head of school

About Us

Underley Garden School is a large school with small class sizes, focusing on pupils, aged 5-19, who have a range of complex needs associated with autism and learning disabilities, including complex communication, sensory and behavioural needs associated with their disabilities.

Our School adopts a holistic, person-centred approach to the development of our pupils and endeavours to ensure that they achieve as high a standard as possible. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of education, care and therapy to meet the individual requirements of students with complex special educational needs.

At Underley Garden, we aim to make a positive difference to the personal, social and learning lives of the people entrusted to our care.

Located near the market town of Kirkby Lonsdale on the edge of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in a commutable distance of Lancaster, Cumbria and surrounding areas.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• Travel Allowance - up to £450.00 depending upon distance travelled
• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

Additional School Benefits 

• Birthday Chocolates
• Gift Voucher at Christmas
• BUPA Wellbeing Health Expenses including Employee Assistance Programme and Anytime Healthline
• Team Building Days
• Attendance Incentive

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit 

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.