Cover Supervisor

Full Job Description

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?

At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.

That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.

Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So, whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.

Job title:  Cover Supervisor

Location: Smallbrook School, Shrewsbury, SY4 3HE

Salary:     £25,000 per annum (Not pro rata)

Hours:     37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday

Contract: Fixed Term, Term Time Only

Start Date: November 2025

UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

At Smallbrook School, part of Acorn Education, we believe every young person deserves a second chance — and that starts with the right support, structure, and opportunity. Many of our pupils have struggled in mainstream settings, but here, they’re seen, heard, and given a fresh path forward.

We’re looking for a Cover Supervisor who’s confident, proactive, and passionate about helping young people thrive — someone who can step into the classroom and keep learning on track when regular teachers are away. But this role is more than cover — it’s about connection, consistency, and care.

About the Role

This is a varied and rewarding role where you will support the continuity of learning by covering lessons and supporting pupils in the absence of teaching staff. You will play a vital part in maintaining a safe, structured, and engaging school environment for our pupils.

You’ll play a key part in maintaining a safe, structured, and inspiring environment, helping pupils stay focused and engaged, and supporting the wider school community in various ways.

What you'll be doing

• Delivering high-quality lessons in the absence of teaching staff
• Providing support across the school where needed — including 1:1, small group, and TA cover
• Helping pupils stay focused, engaged, and on track to meet lesson goals
• Ensuring a safe, respectful classroom environment using positive behaviour strategies
• Supporting intervention programmes and catch-up sessions
• Coordinating internal and external exams as the school’s Exams Officer
• Collaborating with teachers, SLT, and the wider team to keep everything running smoothly
• Jumping into new situations with confidence, flexibility, and a can-do attitude

Who we are looking for

• Confidence in leading a classroom and adapting quickly to changing situations
• A calm, patient, and consistent approach — even in challenging moments
• Strong communication, organisation, and teamwork skills
• Experience working in a SEND or SEMH setting (desirable)
• Understanding of, or willingness to adopt, trauma-informed approaches
• A genuine belief in the potential of every learner to succeed

About us

Smallbrook School is a co-educational day school based halfway between Shrewsbury and Wem in Shropshire. We are currently expanding our capacity from 50 to 80 students, with significant investment in our site to develop our KS2 and sixth form provision.

We cater to pupils aged 7–18 with a range of complex needs, including social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, as well as those diagnosed with autism or displaying behaviours associated with autism.

At Smallbrook, we provide a therapeutic, supportive, and inclusive learning environment, committed to raising achievement and enabling pupils to recognise and reach their potential. Through a personalised and engaging curriculum, we focus on developing the foundational knowledge and skills that ensure a smooth and manageable transition to the next stage of life.

Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education. 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 Acorn Education? 

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults 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 and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

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:

• 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.
• One Moment In Time

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

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