SEND Class Teacher
Sherwood Foundation School, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7NP14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
7 October 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
23 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher or lecturer
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3
Working pattern
- Full time: Full time, Permanent
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £37,870–£50,473
Additional allowances
SEN Allowance (1 or 2 points)
What skills and experience we're looking for
About the role: We are looking to appoint a dedicated and compassionate teacher with a passion for supporting children and young people aged 3 to 19 years who have severe, multiple and complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This includes learners who have highly complex access needs resulting from their physical and/or health conditions. All learners require high levels of adult support to access learning.
We are seeking an inspiring and patient Teacher to join a supportive and forward-thinking special needs school. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference to learners with complex needs, helping them to achieve their potential through creativity, care, and personalised education.
We are committed to providing a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for all. Our aim is to celebrate every achievement, build independence, and create meaningful learning experiences that help each pupil flourish.
As a Teacher at Sherwood, you will lead a small, well-supported class of pupils with profound and complex needs, delivering highly individualised lessons that promote communication, sensory engagement, physical development, and personal progress. Working closely with teaching assistants, therapists, nurses, and multi-disciplinary professionals, you will ensure that every learner’s educational, medical, and emotional needs are met holistically.
We are looking for teachers with recent and successful class teaching experience who have high expectations of what children and young people with learning disabilities and autism can achieve. Experience of teaching pupils with learning disabilities and/or autism in a special school is desirable, but we have extensive experience supporting teachers with a mainstream background to succeed. If you have been considering a move to SEND teaching, this could be the right move for you.
Key Responsibilities
Plan and deliver engaging, differentiated lessons tailored to pupils with PMLD, SLD, autism, sensory processing needs, and complex medical requirements
Focus on developing communication, independence, sensory regulation, social interaction, physical development, and emotional well-being
Work alongside speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, support assistants, and healthcare professionals
Use assistive communication tools including Makaton, AAC devices, communication switches, and sensory-based approaches
Support pupils with complex medical needs including feeding programmes, mobility support, positioning, wheelchair use, and personal care routines in line with care plans
Contribute to and review Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), ensuring all targets are relevant, measurable, and achievable
Maintain a positive, safe classroom environment, supporting learners with sensory and emotional regulation
Record and monitor pupil progress using small-step achievement frameworks
Communicate effectively with parents and carers, keeping them updated on progress and celebrating successes
What We’re Looking For
A recognised teaching qualification (QTS, QTLS, or equivalent)
Experience teaching pupils with PMLD, SLD, ASD, and complex SEND needs within a special school environment
Strong knowledge of sensory curriculum approaches, intensive interaction, and communication-focused teaching strategies
Experience supporting pupils with physical disabilities, complex medical needs, and personal care requirements
Knowledge of assistive technologies and alternative communication methods
A compassionate and adaptable teaching approach with a strong understanding of sensory learning and therapeutic practice
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with staff, families, and external professionals
What the school offers its staff
Staff Benefits
We know that to achieve our vision, it is our people who make the difference. We offer a competitive reward and benefits package:
Enrolment in Local Government Pension Scheme
Competitive Salary
Access to Employee Assistance Programme via Vita Health Care Group
Benenden Health - health care cash plan
On-site staff parking (at two campuses)
Comprehensive training and development opportunities
Opportunities for career progression across three campuses
Flexible working policies
On site staff swimming sessions
Access to school dinners
Commitment to staff health & wellbeing
Further information about the job
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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Sherwood Foundation School
- Organisation type
- Special school, ages 2 to 19
- Size
- 204 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- recruitment@sherwoodpark.org.uk
Sherwood Foundation School is a Foundation Special School located in the London Borough of Sutton and made up of three campuses:
Sherwood Hill Campus
Sherwood Hill Campus is a specialist school for autistic learners aged 3–19 years who have multiple and complex barriers to learning, requiring high levels of support to access education and learning around their peers. Many of our learners may also have severe learning difficulties and/or struggle to maintain a regulated state for learning.
Sherwood Park Campus
Sherwood Park Campus is a specialist school for learners aged 3–19 years who have severe, multiple and complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This includes learners who have highly complex access needs resulting from their physical and/or health conditions. All learners require high levels of adult support to access learning.
Sherwood Manor Campus
Sherwood Manor Campus is a specialist school primarily for autistic learners aged 11–19 years who have moderate to severe barriers to learning. Most of our pupils can access a highly adapted formal learning environment with high levels of adult support. Some of our learners struggle to deal with the demands of an adult-led learning environment so may need a highly individualised learning offer to meet their academic potential.
School location
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