Therapeutic Primary Teacher
Silver Linings Therapeutic School
Salary: MPS/UPS (dependent on experience)
Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only
Start Date: September 2026
About the Role
Due to one of our valued teachers transitioning to our new secondary provision to continue supporting our Year 6 pupils on their educational journey, we are delighted to be recruiting a Therapeutic Primary Teacher to join our growing team.
At Silver Linings Therapeutic School, we believe that children thrive when they feel safe, understood and connected. We are seeking an exceptional teacher who shares our commitment to relationship-based practice and understands that learning cannot happen without emotional safety.
As a Therapeutic Teacher, you will play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality, inclusive education for pupils with complex social, emotional and mental health needs, developmental trauma experiences, and neurodiverse profiles. Working within a highly supportive multidisciplinary team, you will create meaningful learning experiences that promote academic progress, emotional wellbeing and personal growth.
You will:
- Plan and deliver engaging, creative and personalised learning experiences that meet the needs of individual pupils
- Create a safe, nurturing and well-organised classroom environment where children feel valued and understood
- Develop strong, trusting relationships with pupils through therapeutic and trauma-informed practice
- Support pupils to develop emotional regulation, resilience and confidence
- Work collaboratively with therapists, Teaching and Learning Assistants, families and external professionals
- Monitor, assess and celebrate pupil progress across academic, social and emotional domains
- Develop and implement personalised learning and support plans
- Use reflective practice to continually adapt teaching approaches to meet individual needs
- Promote children's physical, social, emotional and moral development
- Contribute to the ongoing development of our therapeutic provision and school community
- Champion our ethos of connection before correction in all aspects of your work
Our classrooms operate at the pace our children need, not the pace a curriculum dictates. We understand that regulation comes before learning and relationships come before outcomes. Through DDP-informed practice and the PACE approach (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy), we create environments where children feel safe enough to engage, take risks and succeed.
About You
We are looking for someone who is:
Qualified
- Holds UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
- Has a relevant teaching qualification and strong classroom practice
Therapeutic and Relational
· Understands the impact of trauma, attachment difficulties and neurodiversity on learning and behaviour (could develop this further to)
· Values connection over compliance and understands that behaviour is communication.
· Understands the principles of DDP and PACE, or is excited to develop these approaches.
· Is comfortable working at the child's pace, recognising that progress is rarely linear.
· Can balance high aspirations with compassion, curiosity and flexibility.
- Believes that behaviour is communication
- Is able to build trusting relationships with children who may have experienced significant challenges
Compassionate and Reflective
- Remains calm, curious and emotionally regulated during times of challenge
- Is committed to reflective practice and ongoing professional growth
- Demonstrates empathy while maintaining high expectations
Creative and Flexible
- Can adapt teaching approaches to meet individual needs
- Thinks creatively about engagement, learning and relationship-building
- Sees strengths and potential where others may see barriers
Collaborative
- Thrives as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Values partnership working with families and professionals
- Communicates effectively and positively with colleagues
Experience working within SEMH, specialist, alternative provision, therapeutic or trauma-informed settings would be advantageous, although we welcome applications from teachers who share our values and are committed to developing their therapeutic practice.
There is the opportunity for taking up further responsibilities in leading school improvement and a TLR for the right candidate.
Start Date
We are keen to appoint the right person to join our team and therefore offer flexibility around the start date. We recognise that exceptional candidates may have different notice periods or commitments. For the right candidate, we can accommodate a start date at any point during the Autumn Term, provided they are able to be in post by January 2027.
About Us
Silver Linings Therapeutic School is a specialist primary school supporting children aged 5–11 with complex social, emotional and mental health needs, developmental trauma experiences and neurodiverse profiles.
Our therapeutic approach is grounded in Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) and the principles of PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy). We believe that meaningful change happens through relationships and that therapy is woven throughout every aspect of school life.
We don't believe in rushing children through learning or expecting them to fit into traditional educational models. We recognise that every child arrives with their own story, and our role is to meet them where they are. Progress is measured not only academically, but in trust, confidence, emotional regulation and relationships.
Our guiding principle is simple:
Connection before correction.
We are a school where relationships matter, where reflective practice is valued, and where every adult plays a vital role in helping children heal, grow and learn.
Why Join Us?
We offer:
- The opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of children who need it most
- Very Small class sizes with high ratio of staff that allow meaningful relationships to develop
- A genuinely therapeutic and trauma-informed culture
- Protected time for reflective practice.
- Opportunities to learn alongside a dedicated therapeutic & wellbeing team.
- A leadership team who understand that staff wellbeing is fundamental to children's wellbeing.
- Freedom to teach creatively without the pressure of teaching to a standardised pace.
- Training and ongoing professional development in DDP-informed and trauma-informed practice
- Opportunities to shape and contribute to our growing provision
- A strong commitment to staff wellbeing, including an annual wellbeing day
- Staff lunch provided each day
- On-site parking
- Opportunities for career progression as our provision expands
- Dedicated team reflection and planning time
- A supportive and collaborative multidisciplinary team
- Staff health and wellbeing package, including a salary sacrifice car scheme
Safeguarding
Silver Linings Therapeutic School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to safer recruitment procedures, including enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references.
Visits to School
We warmly encourage prospective applicants to visit the school and experience our therapeutic approach first hand. To arrange a visit with our Headteacher, Daisy, please contact the school directly.
This vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if sufficient suitable applications are received. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
If you're the kind of teacher who believes relationships transform lives, who values curiosity over judgement, and who wants to be part of a genuinely therapeutic school where every adult makes a difference every day, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: £30,000.00-£40,100.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free flu jabs
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
