SEN Department Lead - Teacher

Castle Academy, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 2TR

24 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  12 April 2026 at 3:52pm

• Date listed

  19 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: 32,916.00 - 51,048.00

SEN Department Lead - Teacher job summary

Your Role

Your career #EMATters! We are currently recruiting a Lead Teacher – Caterpillar Pod who inspires learning beyond the classroom. At EMAT, we value and celebrate our diverse workforce and are committed to innovation, inclusivity, and making a real impact. Join us to lead outstanding provision and help shape the learning journey of our youngest learners. 

About EMAT

EMAT is an exciting, innovative, and growing organisation where we strive to do things differently, aligned with our core values and purpose: that every child deserves to be the best they can be. Our Trust was incorporated in July 2012 to establish, maintain, manage, and develop academies and free schools as world-class centres of excellence. We are a collaborative partnership that currently includes an all-through school in Northampton, a secondary school in Oundle, and five primary schools in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes. By working for our Trust, you’ll be able to take advantage of a wealth of professional development and support opportunities, as well as a range of employee benefits.

These include:

• Continuous professional development and training opportunities.
• Career and leadership opportunities within our growing family of schools.
• A confidential 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
• A corporate eye care plan.
• Flu jabs for all staff.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Access to health and wellbeing benefits, including an online GP.
• Access to an employee lifestyle savings platform.
• Generous family leave.

 

About the School

Castle Academy is a local school with a global vision, and this is at the very core of our curriculum offer. Every school in the East Midlands Academy Trust (EMAT) is committed to providing the highest standard of education so that all children are supported to be the best that they can be. This will be achieved by the delivery of a well-planned and highly effective inclusive curriculum which is driven by our values.

 

 

General Roles and Responsibilities:

The Lead Teacher – Caterpillar Pod, under the direction of the Head of School, will:

• Lead and coordinate teaching and learning for children in EYFS and KS1 with SEND, ensuring high-quality, individualised provision that supports each pupil’s progress and wellbeing.
• Be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Caterpillar Pod, including classroom organisation, resource management, and oversight of interventions.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate high-quality EYFS and KS1 teaching, adapting approaches to meet individual pupils’ needs.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and professional support to colleagues within the Pod, fostering collaboration and reflective practice.
• Participate in statutory duties including Annual Reviews, EHCP consultations, and admissions, and work in partnership with parents, carers, and multi-agency teams.
• Maintain safeguarding standards, liaising with the DSL where appropriate, and ensure pupils’ safety both on-site and off-site.
• Lead by example, combining classroom teaching with leadership responsibilities, promoting the ethos and values of the Caterpillar Pod and Trust.

For more information or an informal conversation, please contact Hannah.fajemiyo@central.emat.uk

 

A Note for Recruitment Agencies

We have a team of internal recruiters, and we advertise our vacancies to attract candidates and not agency suppliers. If we need agency assistance, then we will reach out to our trusted partners. Any speculative CVs we receive will not be accepted as an introduction.

EMAT reserves the right to withdraw this advert early if a suitable candidate is found.

EMAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). References will be taken up before interviews are offered.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, or age.

EMAT encourage a “Speak Up” culture where colleagues are encouraged to raise any concerns relating to risk or wrongdoing. You will be responsible for ensuring that colleagues are supported where necessary to raise concerns without blame or recrimination and should pro-actively raise concerns should they come to your attention.

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

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

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 Castle Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 451 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Castle Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/castle-academy-northampton

Castle Academy is a town centre school with pupil progress and achievement for all at the heart of its vision. We have happy, welcoming children who are keen to learn. We are a friendly, supportive and dedicated staff team and a rich vibrant curriculum and excellent facilities. As part of the East Midlands Academy Trust we can provide a network of professional colleagues who are supportive, friendly and experienced. We offer a proactive, forward thinking and exciting journey where everyone deserves to be the best they can be
Our aim is simple, to offer an outstanding education for the pupils in partnership with Parents and Governors.
It is our belief that each individual pupil should receive an education that is rich in terms of knowledge, skills concepts and relationships, developing the ability to challenge and communicate as well as supporting the individual in developing self-confidence and self-belief. We educate our pupils to reach their full potential in an inclusive, happy and secure environment

School location

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