Middle Leader; Communication

Middle Leader

We are looking for someone with experience of working with special needs to join our Middle Leadership Team to lead and develop communication in this outstanding academy. The person will need to have drive and enthusiasm to research and develop a whole range of low and high tech systems. The role will also involve full-time teaching of a Primary class.

Meadowgate Academy Aims 

We aim to provide a stimulating environment, across the whole curriculum that maximises individual potential and ensures pupils of all ability levels are well equipped to meet the challenges of education, work and life. Affinity Multi Academy Trust opened on 1st. April 2017 and currently consists of a single academy, Meadowgate, previously Meadowgate School. Meadowgate School is consistently rated as outstanding by OFSTED in 2009, 2011 and 2015. The inspection report 2015 stated:  “You have made significant improvements to the already outstanding quality of education provided in the school since the last inspection. This is because you are determined that each pupil shall achieve the greatest possible academic and personal success, and benefit from the highest standard of care and support.” The school benefited from extensive new building and refurbishment programme completed in 2013 and has excellent facilities. Though re-designed for 140 pupils the popularity of the Academy and growth in local population means we are oversubscribed and currently have 163 on roll. The Academy has pupils aged 2 – 19 years with an Education Health and Care Plan. Pupils have a range of needs including Severe Learning Difficulties, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, Complex Needs (including medical needs), and a small number of pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties. In addition, many pupils are on the Autistic Spectrum and / or have sensory impairments, challenging behaviour and communication difficulties. The Academy has a history of supporting research and development and has funded Masters and Middle Leaders programmes. Staff are encouraged to innovate and explore new teaching and learning interventions using a research and practice based approach.  Meadowgate Academy has sixteen classes arranged according to age and need. There is a growing Autism Hub currently with eight classes and two groups for PMLD. The Academy has qualified tutors for Team Teach, Elklan, TEACCH and Key Movers. We receive weekly support from Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and the Nursing Service.

The vacancy is for a class teacher in Finches, a class of ten children in Y1 – Y3 with severe learning difficulties and communication difficulties. A suitable candidate will also join the Middle Leadership Team and lead on the development of communication across the Academy. The person appointed will need to have experience working with children who have special needs; they will need to be self-motivated, creative and well organised. There are five Teaching Assistants in the class, though the number varies from year to year depending on the needs of the children in the class. The Academy uses a range of interventions to support communication and learning. These include: 

• Hand-under-hand and touch signing 

• Intensive Interaction 

• Makaton signing 

• PECS • Cued Articulation 

• Colourful Semantics 

• Video Modelling  

The current coordinator along with two other members of staff have worked on a system which combines some of the above techniques and uses iPads to create a unique learning aid which is being rolled out across the Academy. The teacher will need to be confident in using low and high tech. augmentative communication aids. The Academy has a Technology Base run by a Higher Level Teaching Assistant and the middle leader role will include line managing the HLTA offering guidance and support and joint development work.