At Spark Academy, we believe every child deserves to belong, grow and thrive.
We are a specialist education provider committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people through high-quality, trauma-sensitive 1:1 tuition. We are looking for compassionate, skilled SEN tutors to support primary and secondary learners in your local and surrounding areas.
This is a rewarding in-person role for tutors who can build trust, adapt learning creatively and help children and young people re-engage with education, confidence and hope.
About the role
This role offers the opportunity to do the kind of teaching many educators value most: focused, relationship-based work with the same students each week.
As a Spark Academy tutor, you will deliver 1:1 in-person tuition to children and young people with SEND and SEMH needs. Because tutors often work with the same learners each week, you have the opportunity to build strong relationships, provide consistent support and see the impact of your teaching over time. Most of our tutors go on to build a consistent weekly timetable with recurring students, offering valuable continuity for both tutors and learners.
Many of our tutors support 1 to 3 pupils per day, creating a timetable that offers both variety and consistency. Without the demands of a full classroom, you can focus on personalised teaching, adapt lessons in the moment and respond to each learner’s individual needs, interests and barriers.
Each student typically receives 15 hours of weekly tuition, usually made up of English, Maths & Mentoring.
Sessions are delivered in person, usually in the student’s home or in a local community venue such as a library.
This is a meaningful opportunity for tutors who want flexibility, purposeful work and the chance to help vulnerable learners rebuild confidence, re-engage with education and make sustained progress.
Why join Spark Academy?
At Spark, our values are more than words. They shape how we support our young people and how we work together as a team.
Belong
- Join a warm, values-led organisation where relationships matter
- Be part of a supportive tutor community that shares ideas, resources and best practice
- Receive dedicated support from our SEN/SEND support team throughout each placement
Grow
- Access ongoing CPD and upskilling opportunities
- Use ready-made lesson resources to support high-quality delivery
- Continue developing your practice in SEND, SEMH and trauma-sensitive approaches
Thrive
- Enjoy flexible part-time or full-time opportunities
- Deliver meaningful in-person tuition that changes lives
- Work with a child-centred organisation focused on long-term educational and emotional progress
- Be part of a role that supports both learner outcomes and tutor wellbeing
Who we are looking for
We are seeking a patient, adaptable and experienced Specialist SEND Tutor to provide a highly personalised education package for a learner with significant and complex additional needs.
The learner is working at an early developmental level and requires a structured, low-demand and relationship-based approach. They have significant learning, communication, physical and social, emotional and mental health needs. Communication is limited, so learning must be supported through visual resources, modelling and, where appropriate, alternative or augmentative communication methods.
The successful candidate will provide consistent adult support and supervision, creating a calm and emotionally safe learning environment in which the learner can build trust, participate and make meaningful progress.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and deliver an individualised programme matched to the learner’s developmental level, interests and needs.
- Focus on functional communication and the development of practical English skills.
- Support speech, language and communication development using visual or alternative communication approaches.
- Break learning into small, clear and achievable steps.
- Use repetition, modelling, visual prompts and highly scaffolded activities.
- Deliver early literacy and numeracy activities at an appropriate level.
- Use motivating, engagement-based activities to build confidence, self-worth and a positive relationship with learning.
- Support emotional regulation through calm, consistent and psychologically informed practice.
- Recognise signs of distress or dysregulation and adjust expectations and activities accordingly.
- Maintain a predictable, flexible and low-demand learning environment.
- Provide regular prompting, reassurance and supervision throughout sessions.
- Record engagement, progress and emerging needs accurately.
- Work collaboratively with the family, local authority and other professionals involved in the learner’s support.
- Follow all safeguarding, confidentiality, health and safety, risk-assessment and reporting procedures.
Person specification
The successful candidate will ideally have:
- Experience supporting learners with moderate to severe learning difficulties and complex SEND.
- Experience working with learners functioning significantly below age-related expectations.
- Knowledge of early developmental learning and engagement-based practice.
- Experience supporting significant speech, language and communication needs.
- Confidence using visual communication tools and alternative or augmentative communication strategies.
- Experience supporting emotional regulation and behaviours that may communicate distress.
- An understanding of trauma-informed or psychologically informed approaches.
- The ability to remain calm, patient and consistent.
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
- The flexibility to adapt sessions in response to the learner’s presentation and level of engagement.
- A relevant teaching, tutoring, SEND or therapeutic qualification, or substantial equivalent experience.
- A sound understanding of safeguarding responsibilities.
Experience of working alongside speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, occupational therapists or other multidisciplinary professionals would be advantageous.
Approach required
This role would suit someone who understands that progress may begin with building safety, trust, communication and engagement. The learning programme must be:
- Highly personalised
- Flexible and responsive
- Calm and low-demand
- Structured and predictable
- Relationship-based
- Developmentally appropriate
- Focused on meaningful, achievable outcomes
Essential requirements
You must have:
- experience teaching or tutoring the British National Curriculum
- experience supporting children or young people with SEND and/or SEMH
- availability during school hours, typically 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
- a full UK driving licence and access to reliable transport
- willingness to travel to students in your local or surrounding areas
- access to your own laptop and smartphone for communication, planning and role-related administration
- the right to work in the UK
- a degree and/or a relevant teaching or education qualification
- a strong commitment to safeguarding and professional conduct
- willingness to work on a self-employed basis
Desirable
It would be beneficial if you have:
- QTS or QTLS
- experience supporting learners with autism, ADHD, anxiety, MLD or SLD
- mentoring or pastoral experience
- an Enhanced DBS certificate for the child workforce, ideally registered with the DBS Update Service
- two professional references
Application process
We would love to hear from you if you feel you could make a meaningful difference as part of the Spark Academy team.
Our recruitment process includes the following stages:
Stage 1: Initial screening
Please apply through Indeed by completing the screening questions and submitting your CV.
Stage 2: Application form
If shortlisted, you will be invited to complete a formal application form.
Stage 3: Formal online interview
Candidates who successfully complete the application form stage will be invited to attend a formal online interview.
We aim to review applications promptly and, where suitable, progress candidates through each stage as quickly as possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Spark Academy is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people feel they belong, can grow and are supported to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and value the diversity of experience, perspective and identity within our team.
Safer Recruitment Policy Statement
Spark Academy is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services. All successful applicants will undertake pre-employment checks, and a Disclosure & Barring Service check. Please note, this role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Freelance
Pay: £25.00-£28.00 per hour
Benefits:
Application question(s):
- Are you able to deliver in-person 1:1 tuition in the advertised area and surrounding communities? If yes, please state the maximum distance or travel time you are willing to travel from home.
- Do you have a full UK driving licence and access to reliable transport?
- Are you available to work during school hours, typically 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday?
- If you are available during the school day, how many hours per day are you typically available during these times?
- If successful, how soon could you realistically start tutoring with Spark Academy?
- Do you have experience teaching or tutoring children or young people with SEND and/or SEMH needs? Please provide us with the information.
- Please outline your relevant teaching or education qualifications.
- Do you currently hold an Enhanced DBS certificate for the child workforce registered with the DBS Update Service, or would you be willing to obtain one if successful?
- This is a self-employed position. Applicants on a UK Student Visa are not eligible to undertake self-employed work. Are you eligible to accept self-employed work in the UK?
Work Location: In person
