Learning Support Teacher

We are looking for a skilled qualified teacher to work with small groups of students with special educational needs, who has the ability, skills and experience to..

• lead on curriculum for our small group of Internal Alternative Provision students, primarily with SEMH needs, by co-ordinating and teaching the Key Stage 2 and 3 curriculum in a range of subjects, including but not limited to English, Maths, Science and Humanities

• plan, prepare, assess and teach small groups (8 or less) of pupils within a Learning Support classroom

• support the primary needs of pupils with ASD and/or ADHD and other associated learning needs

• liaise with Heads of Department and develop schemes of learning to support access for learners based outside a mainstream classroom 

• support the SEND team with other small group interventions in literacy, numeracy, SEMH as required 

• act as a keyworker for certain identified students

• communicate with parents, teachers and other professionals regarding key pupils on a regular basis

• assess pupils, in line with training given, as requested by the SENDCo

• contribute towards EHCP paperwork, EHCNAs and any other appropriate SEND documentation

The Learning Support Department

At St Birinus School, all teachers are teachers of SEND and a fully inclusive education is at the heart of what we do. Our Learning Support Department helps a range of pupils including those who have Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Medical Needs. Our provision is designed to meet pupils’ needs and to support all students to make progress.

Provision is designed to take into account specific pupil needs and to ensure that all pupils have access to a mainstream education. Every student with an identified Special Educational Need will have a Pupil Profile which is shared with teachers, the pupil and their parents. This ensures that their teachers are able to support them within a mainstream classroom by planning to meet their needs using our Inclusive Teaching Framework. Additionally, students may be supported through curriculum design, by withdrawal sessions which offer specific help in small groups or through Teaching Assistant support, within their classroom, where appropriate.

The Learning Support area is specifically designed to be a calm area in school in which pupils can gain extra support from our experienced team. The Department is strategically led by Mrs Lister, Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion, with two Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENDCo): Miss Martin-Morrissey is Co-SENCo for Rising Year 7 and Years 7-9; and Mrs Foster is Co-SENCo for Years 10-13. The Learning Support Department is operationally led by Miss Jones, the Deputy SENCo. A member of the team is always able to discuss individual pupils with parents both prior to and after transfer.

Additionally, we have…

• Teaching assistants, trained to support the particular needs of the students they work with

• Three staff trained as ELSAs

• A School Health Nurse

• A School Counsellor

• Educational Psychologist who works across the Didcot Partnership of Schools.

We also have access to a range of specialist support services including…

• SENSS, who support students with communication and language, sensory needs and physical needs

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

• Oxfordshire School Inclusion Team

• Therapy Services

• Children’s Social Care

ST BIRINUS SCHOOL

We are hugely proud of our school community and St Birinus is very much a “good” school on the way to becoming “great”.  In February 2025, the school was judged as continuing as ‘Good’ with an ‘Outstanding’ judgement for Leadership and Management. Ofsted recognised that the school “has successfully established a strong culture of ‘care, courtesy and commitment’ among high expectations.  These are lived out by staff and pupils alike” in addition to the school having a “friendly and welcoming atmosphere” where “pupils respectful and courteous to others and well behaved in lessons”.  We are proud that they see that our boys are “very well prepared for the future and life in modern Britain”.

Outcomes for our students (P8 +0.4 in October 2024 and above +0.5 in 2022 and 2023) are in the top 5% of schools nationally, for boys’ only progress and the compelling ethos of this school is literally written all over the walls.  We pride ourselves in creating a vibrant and visceral environment in which boys thrive and accrue the knowledge, skills, experience and character that will realise their potential and allow them to seize any opportunity, now or in the future.

The infinite goal - We aspire to be a national centre of excellence for all boys’ state education.

As a member of Ridgeway Education Trust, St Birinus School works in very close partnership with Didcot Girls’ School (Ofsted Outstanding, November 2022) and share a 400 strong mixed Sixth Form which is based predominantly at St Birinus.

Ridgeway Education Trust (RET) is based in south Oxfordshire and currently comprises of two secondary, six primary schools and a SCITT, serving 4,400 pupils and their communities.  Guided by the core values of integrity, ambition and leading for legacy, we are committed to delivering excellence through high quality education with powerful collaboration at its heart.

Employing great staff is key to the success of our school: the Headteacher is actively involved in every interview process.

We understand that valuing and developing our staff is the best way to release and realise their potential. In return, we seek staff who are passionate about working with young people, resilient, and with a truly growth mindset. If this is you, we look forward to hearing from you!

St Birinus School is a Family Friendly School, committed to supporting our staff so that they can carve out a professional and personal life that is fulfilling and balanced.  

Quotes and soundbites from SBS staff in the recent Stakeholder Surveys ... 

• "I love this place!"

• "Despite only having joined the school recently, I have found it to be a positive and supportive school, with a clear vision and values that students and staff understand"

• "St Birinus is the best managed school that I have ever worked in or been associated with"

• "I love working at St Birinus and intend to root myself here for the foreseeable future"

What SBS staff say that they value about their school ... 

• "Relationships with colleagues and the community feel"

• "A strong sense of community and pride" 

• "The positive influence we have on students and inclusion of all students no matter their need"

• "The strong leadership and vision from the Senior Leadership Team"

• "The focus on staff wellbeing"