SEN Teacher

Full Job Description

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Job Title:  SEN Teacher
Location:   Abbey Gardens School, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6SA
Hours:  37.5 per week | Monday to Friday | 8.30am – 4.00pm
Salary:  £39,000.00 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:  September 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

We’re looking for a passionate and creative SEN Teacher to join our specialist school and help young people overcome barriers, discover their strengths and achieve things they may never have thought possible.

This is a role where relationships matter just as much as results. You’ll get to know each pupil as an individual, understand how they learn best and create lessons that build confidence, curiosity and a genuine love of learning.

Whether you’re an experienced SEN teacher or an excellent mainstream teacher ready for a new challenge, we’ll give you the support, training and professional development to thrive in specialist education.

No two days are the same but every day gives you the chance to make a lasting difference.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver tailored lessons for individual students and small groups, following the school’s curriculum and policies.
• Monitor, assess and record student progress, contributing to school development priorities and improvement planning.
• Develop, implement and review individual education and behaviour plans in collaboration with colleagues.
• Create a safe, stimulating and well‑organised classroom environment, ensuring appropriate use and maintenance of resources.
• Support students with challenging behaviour, promoting the development of self‑regulation and positive learning habits.
• Work collaboratively with Learning Support Assistants, care staff and multi‑disciplinary colleagues to ensure consistent, holistic support.
• Maintain effective communication with staff and home, ensuring continuity between school and home environments.
• Uphold safeguarding responsibilities and meet all professional standards and regulatory expectations.

What You’ll Bring

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent required.
• Full UK driving licence is required.
• A genuine passion for helping children and young people overcome barriers to learning.
• Creativity, flexibility and the ability to adapt teaching to individual needs.
• A calm, patient and resilient approach, with the confidence to support pupils with additional needs.
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach to working with colleagues and wider professionals.

About Us 

Abbey Gardens is a brand-new specialist school, part of Acorn Education, supporting young people aged 11–16 with SEMH needs. Opened in June 2026, we provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where every pupil is supported to thrive.

Our personalised curriculum builds on the National Curriculum while being adapted to each pupil’s individual needs, strengths and aspirations. We combine academic learning with personal development, helping pupils build confidence, resilience, independence and essential life skills.

As the school grows, our curriculum will remain relevant, engaging and purposeful, with Key Stage 3 and 4 pathways offering recognised accreditation wherever possible. Our aim is simple: to help every young person overcome barriers, experience success and build a positive future.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the 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.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
  • Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
  • Hundreds of UK and international discounts
  • Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
  • Critical illness cover
  • Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

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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