SENDCo, The Arbor School – August 2022

The Arbor School is a growing school situated near the Dubai Marina area of Dubai, in the UAE.

The school opened in September 2018 and currently has over 800 children on the register. The school offers the National Curriculum for England with a focus on Ecoliteracy, Sustainability and Environmental Justice which are incorporated into the curriculum across all year groups.

The school has a diverse student body with children from over 50 countries, creating a truly international environment as well as students with a range of additional learning needs. As an inclusive school, Arbor has a strong team of specialists in place to support student’s personal, social and academic development.

An Arbor teacher has the opportunity to be more than an ordinary teacher, as they will develop their professional skills and knowledge in an extraordinary learning environment. The Arbor teacher is committed to the ethos of the school, instilling an understanding of the interconnectedness of our world through the concepts of ecoliteracy, a passion for the prudent use of resources in our drive towards sustainable lifestyles, and a profound sense of justice for all that inhabit our earthly household. The education of an Arbor student does not stop at the classroom door, and therefore an Arbor teacher values the learning experiences that occur in the learning garden, with our animals, inside the greenhouse, inside the biodomes or within the reflection garden, as much as they value a student’s progress in numeracy or literacy.

We are currently looking for an exceptional whole school SENDCo to join our outstanding Inclusion Team in August 2022.

JOB SUMMARY

The ideal candidate will have extensive SEND experience and be able to lead a team of inclusion teachers and support teachers in implementing research-driven inclusive practices across the school under the supervision of the Head of Inclusion. The successful candidate will be able to modify and develop appropriate curriculum and interventions to meet the needs of a diverse range of students, including, but not limited to, those identified with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and physical disabilities. This role requires a strong middle leader to collaborate with specialists and coordinate the day-to-day running of the SEND department whilst effectively communicating with department heads and year group leaders. This position will suit someone comfortable delivering training to all members of the Arbor community and excited by action research projects focusing on meeting and developing sustainable skills.

THE ARBOR PROMISE

Arbor teachers are a part of a community which is inclusive, fun-loving, and active. Arbor teachers enjoy authentic friendships with their colleagues, positive relationships with school leaders, who care for their wellbeing, and are a team in the true sense. Arbor teachers are resilient in the face of challenge, are stable and calm in the face of change, and creative and flexible when solving problems. Arbor teachers bring their passions and interests to enrich our school and are clear that there is an expectation to do so. We commit to meeting agreed deadlines, to communicating proactively with an assumption of positive intent and share a passion to provide an education of the highest quality to our students.

REQUIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE

Required

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience leading a department or phase with a minimum of 5 years teaching. 
• BA (Ed.) QTS or PGCE
• SENDCo Award
• A commitment to meeting the needs of all students of determination
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a high level of emotional intelligence
• Sound knowledge of the Dubai Inclusive Education Policy Framework (2017) or UK Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs
• Experience in delivering high quality SEND training to school staff

Desirable

• Additional qualifications or awards related to identification of need and specialist interventions
• Experience in delivering life skills programs
• A passion for ecoliteracy and sustainability

REMUNERATION

Competitive tax-free salary, school provided accommodation, free school places for children, private medical insurance, annual airfares, and end of contract gratuity as per the UAE labour law.

APPLICATION

To apply for this position please complete the application on TES. 

The Arbor School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We hold ourselves to a high standard of effective safer recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection. All appointments are subject to CV and qualification checks, interview, identity checks, criminal record checks, and successful references.

All appointments are subject to the approval of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.