SEN Class Teacher

Job Description

Main Pay Range + SEN Allowance+ well-being cash plan + pension scheme (LGPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits

Permanent, Full Time or Part Time

September 2025 or sooner start

At Columbus School and College, we are looking for a creative and inspirational PMLD teacher dedicated to pupils aged between 3 and 19 with complex learning difficulties, many of whom also have autism. We have high expectations for all our learners and are profoundly focused on preparing them for the future with a broad and ambitious curriculum tailored to their individual Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), developed in collaboration with parents, carers, and other professionals.

Here's what we can offer you:

A welcoming, skilled, and dedicated team of leaders, teachers, and staff who are passionate about our pupils.
A comprehensive induction programme and a supportive mentor to help you quickly settle in, feel a sense of belonging, and achieve success in your role.
Excellent opportunities for professional development and clear pathways for career progression.
High levels of support to enhance your teaching practice, including collaborative work with Pioneer Special School in Basildon.
Concise assessment systems designed to reduce workload, allowing you to focus on improving learning rather than just proving it.
The chance to work in some of the highest quality learning environments in the country for pupils with special needs, across our two campuses.
A culture where we want our pupils to be excited about coming to school and to truly love learning, feeling motivated and challenged every day. We achieve this by building precisely on what our pupils already know and can do.

Are you:

Passionate about providing an excellent education to pupils with severe learning difficulties and autism?
Creative and inspirational in your approach to delivering the curriculum?
Dedicated to making a real difference to the lives of young learners?

If so, we would love to hear from you! Join our thriving school and become part of a team that truly values its staff and empowers them to do their best work.

Discover more about our wonderful school!

We warmly encourage you to visit our school and experience our exceptional learning environment firsthand. To arrange a visit or schedule a friendly chat with our Principal, Mark Savage, please contact Brooke Carr, our School Operations Manager, at bcarr@columbusschoolandcollege.org. School tours are also available upon request.

Closing date : 6th April 2025

Who is Lift Schools?

We're a diverse and inclusive network of schools with one clear mission; to provide an excellent education to every child - in every classroom, every day. And we do this across each of our 57 schools. As with our students, we want our team to be empowered to do their best work, supported by the best leadership they've ever had.

We acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional efforts of everyone here in making this an incredible organisation.

We offer you:

Comprehensive training: Access a wide range of developmental training to boost your career.
Generous benefits: From your pension plan to healthcare and financial support, we've got you covered.
Lifestyle perks: Enjoy discounted gym memberships, travel deals, and even electric vehicle incentives.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.

Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Information about the School

Columbus School and College (CSC) has been established after an interesting journey dating back to 2000. CSC was formerly two separate special needs schools in Chelmsford –Woodlands School in Patching Hall Lane and The Hayward School in Maltese Road.

Woodlands School catered for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties and complex learning difficulties aged 3 – 19 years and Hayward School catered for children with moderate learning difficulties and autism aged 4 – 16 years.

The two schools federated in 2005 to form Chelmsford New Model Special School with a single governing body. There were two campuses – Woodlands Campus and Hayward Campus.

On 1st September, 2009 the two schools formally amalgamated to form Columbus School and College.

Who is Lift Schools?

Lift Schools is made up of 57 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 33,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives – and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential.

Our mission:

We will provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.
With excellent leadership and teaching in every school, we will help children go on to lead successful and happy lives.
We will work with others beyond our network to benefit more children and communities.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.