Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Danecourt School, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 6AA

37 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1st December 2026

• Closing date

  16 October 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  9 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full time equivalent salary: £39,481.00 - £49,817.00 Annually (FTE) Grade PO1 (point 27 - 37) £20,462.85 - £26,170.46 Actual Salary + SEND Allowance

Paediatric Occupational Therapist job summary

Join Danecourt School as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist! Use your expertise. Unlock potential. Make a difference every day.

Hours: 22 hours per week (8:30am - 4.30 pm Wed - Thurs; 8:30 - 4:00 Fri) Contract: Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover) until 30th November 2027 Term Time Only Role: 39 weeks per year Start Date: 1st December 2026 Actual Salary: Grade PO1 (point 27 - 37) £20,462.85 - £26,170.46 Actual Salary + SEND Allowance

Are you an enthusiastic, creative Occupational Therapist who is passionate about making a difference for children with SEND?

Danecourt School is looking for a motivated and collaborative Occupational Therapist to join our Integrated Therapy Team on a maternity cover contract.

This is an opportunity to work differently. At Danecourt, therapy is woven into children's everyday school experience. You'll work alongside our Education Team, co-teaching in classrooms, running groups and helping colleagues embed therapeutic strategies throughout the school day.

You'll join a fast-paced, dynamic team that responds to the changing needs of our pupils and school - working together to help children develop the skills, confidence and independence they need to thrive both at school and at home.

About the Role

As our Occupational Therapist, you'll manage a specialist caseload of pupils with SEND, assessing their needs and developing practical, evidence-informed interventions that support participation, learning and independence.

You'll work closely with teachers, support staff, therapists, families and external professionals, combining your clinical expertise with a collaborative and child-centred approach.

In this role, you will:

• Assess pupils' occupational therapy needs and provide personalised interventions

• Work alongside our Education Team through co-teaching, group work and classroom-based support

• Support pupils with sensory processing, motor development, functional skills and independence

• Use formal and informal assessments to understand needs and monitor progress

• Advise on specialist and adaptive equipment, postural management and manual handling

• Provide practical strategies, guidance and training for colleagues and families

• Contribute to EHCPs, Annual Reviews and multidisciplinary planning

You'll have professional autonomy to manage your caseload while being surrounded by colleagues who share expertise, ideas and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for every child.

Who you Are
We're looking for someone who:

• Is a qualified Occupational Therapist registered with the HCPC
• Has experience working with children with SEND
• Has a strong understanding of sensory processing difficulties and appropriate strategies
• Is confident using formal and informal assessments and specialist or adaptive equipment
• Can work autonomously while thriving as part of an integrated multidisciplinary team
• Is enthusiastic, creative and able to respond flexibly in a busy school environment
• Builds caring, trusting relationships with children and families
• Enjoys sharing expertise and working alongside education colleagues to make therapy part of everyday learning

Most importantly, you'll be someone who sees the whole child and understands the difference that the right support, relationships and environment can make.

What We Offer

Danecourt offers a welcoming and inclusive environment where support staff are valued as key members of the team. As part of the Maritime Academy Trust, we offer meaningful career opportunities, collaborative working, and the chance to help pupils with SEND thrive.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A welcoming and experienced Integrated Therapy Team

• Close collaborative working with our Education Team and other professionals

• A varied role where your professional expertise can make a visible difference every day

• Opportunities to develop and share specialist SEND practice

• High-quality professional development and Trust-wide learning opportunities

• A strong sense of purpose, where your contribution directly impacts pupil progress, confidence and wellbeing

• Local Government Pension Scheme and national terms and conditions

• Enhanced family-friendly policies

• A comprehensive wellbeing offer, including Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and Occupational Health support

• Lifestyle and financial wellbeing benefits including Cycle to Work, eye care vouchers and employee discounts

• Join a school that is proud to be the Winner of the Primary Special School Provision category at the Medway Parents and Carers Forum SEND Awards.

Ready to Make a Difference?

We’d love to welcome you for a visit — come and see what makes Danecourt so special. Please contact the school office on 01634 232589 to arrange or call to speak to Lou Elliott about the role.

You’ll find more about the role, school, and Trust in the Candidate Information Pack attached. Apply now via My New Term — we may interview and appoint as applications are received, so don’t delay!

Danecourt School and the Maritime Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We embrace diversity and equal opportunity, striving to build a team that reflects a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. The more inclusive we are, the stronger we become. All appointments are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and online checks in line with the latest safeguarding guidance.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Maritime Academy Trust is committed to recruiting with care and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS and pre-employment checks.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Danecourt School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 4 to 11
• Size: 291 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Danecourt School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/danecourt-school

Danecourt is a special school catering for primary aged children who have special educational needs. The school caters for children with a wide breadth of need including complex learning difficulties, autism and social emotional mental health needs.

At Danecourt our mission is to provide all pupils with a “stimulating learning environment that allows children to explore through a personalised curriculum to become STARS!

Self reliant Team Player Aspirational Resilient Successful

The highly trained staff teams maintain high expectations of what each individual pupil is able to achieve, striving to ensure that they all achieve their maximum potential; celebrating difference and encouraging curiosity and creativity. Staff work collaboratively with families and a range of other agencies in order to meet the pupils needs and as a result, they make strong progress academically, emotionally and socially. Pupil achievement is hugely valued and celebrated in a manner that is meaningful and appropriate for each pupil.

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