Aston Community Education Trust are a forward thinking and ambitious multi-academy trust, comprising of three secondary academies and nine junior academies across the Rotherham, Sheffield and North Derbyshire areas.

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, conscientious and experienced SEND Unit Leader and Primary Teacher, to work as part of our SEND Leadership Team, to develop and grow our SEND Unit provision for our students in key stage 3 and 4. Applications from secondary teachers who have experience of working within a specialist unit, resource base, or similar provision would also be welcomed.

The purpose of this is role is to provide bespoke curriculum provision and support for pupils who have Cognition and Learning as their named SEND need and provide enhanced support for students to enable them to access the wider mainstream curriculum as appropriate.

We are looking for an experienced primary leader and teacher who has the passion and expertise in supporting pupils with a range of additional needs, particularly Cognition and Learning and Social, Emotional and Mental Health.  The SEND Unit Lead will manage and lead a team consisting of teachers and learning support staff in the Pinecone area of the academy; they will be expected to drive the provision whilst supporting all staff to ensure the highest quality offer and delivery. 

 Alongside the teaching commitment the Unit Lead would have responsibility for the organisational management of the Unit, such as admissions, consultations, liaison with the Local Authority and professionals, and the statutory annual review cycle. 

As a member of the SEND Leadership Team, the successful candidate will be invited to join leadership meetings to ensure it becomes integral to the provision of the whole academy.  They will be expected to model a commitment to the wider development of the academy and to be a role model in their professional attitude and conduct. 

This is an exciting role and is a key appointment in developing the progress of students with SEND within the academy. The role is based at Shirebrook Academy and will involve working collaboratively with other academies across the trust.  If you are looking for an exciting new role, then you are warmly encouraged to pursue an application with us. We would also welcome you if you would like to visit us. If you have any questions or wish to visit, then please contact – Katy.wright@astoncetrust.org

This position requires the candidate to:

·         Be a qualified primary teacher with SEN experience who has a commitment to ongoing professional development. 

·         Hold, or be willing to complete, the NASENCO qualification.

·      Be able to develop positive relationships with pupils to ensure they feel safe, develop self-belief and, through high expectations, achieve the best possible outcomes personally and academically. 

·       Play a full part in the life of the academy and be committed to working in partnership with staff, parents, governors, other professionals and wider stakeholders.

·         Demonstrable experience of leading, managing, and developing a team, including line management, coaching, and performance support.

·         Champion inclusive practice and promote Quality First Teaching across the Unit and wider academy. 

·        Fulfil the safeguarding elements of the role the successful candidate will also hold, or be willing to complete, Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Lead  Training.

·         Provide a rich and ambitious curriculum that is adapted and personalised to the needs of students placed in the SEND Unit.

·     Demonstrate the ability to assess, track, and analyse student progress and use assessment information to inform planning, intervention, and provision.

·         Be an outstanding practitioner who has a secure understanding of high-quality teaching and learning for students with SEND. 

·         Be ready to utilise the benefits of a blended curriculum that is innovative and flexible in terms of delivery and content; this will include designing a bespoke curriculum and managing the resources that meets the needs of a variety of learners across several phases.

·         Have strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload, manage competing demands, and maintain accurate records.

·         Be an enthusiastic team player who is always willing to go above and beyond to model, share best practice themselves, inspire and motivate the staff they lead and work with. 

·         Demonstrate experience of planning, delivering, and reviewing personalised learning programmes, including IEPs and EHCP outcomes, to support progress and inclusion. 

·         Engage fully in Shirebrook Academy’s ethos by promoting positive values, attitudes and behaviour and by thinking creatively and reflectively within a forward-thinking aspirational team, whilst keeping the needs of the students firmly at the centre.

·         Be able to contribute to CPD of colleagues within the academy and the wider ACET trust.

Safeguarding

ACET is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All applicants should read our safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy, which are available on the ‘policy’ section of our academy websites.

It is an offence to seek employment in regulated activity if you are barred from working with children.  This post will involve regular contact with children and therefore is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants are therefore not entitled to withhold information about convictions, cautions or bind-over orders which for any other purposes are “spent” under the provisions of the Act.  Any information that is “protected” under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 will not appear on a DBS certificate and does not need to be declared.  Guidance on this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974

Successful candidates will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration related to their criminal record or any information that would make them unsuitable to work with children.  Additional checks in relation to the Childcare Disqualification Regulations will be undertaken for successful candidates to junior academies. If you have lived or worked outside of the UK, additional information may be required from you to satisfy safer recruitment checks.

Equality

ACET is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity throughout the recruitment process.  We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and your application will be assessed purely on your ability to do the job.

We undertake to make any ‘reasonable adjustments’ to a job or workplace to counteract any disadvantages a disabled person may face. Where required, we will make reasonable adjustments to the selection process for an applicant with a disability.