SETPD & Functional Skills Tutor (Aylesbury)
New Meaning Centre: NMT Enrichment Centre, Aylesbury
Employer: New Meaning Training (NMT)
Type: Permanent, Full-time, All-year-round
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Schedule: Monday to Friday 08:30-16:30
Job Reference: BUCSETFSAY072508RW2
Introduction
Some qualifications help young people move forward. Confidence helps them believe they can.
At New Meaning Training, we work with young people aged 15–25 who haven't always had a positive experience of education. Some arrive with low confidence. Some have SEND and SEMH needs. Some have spent years feeling like they don't quite fit. What they often need isn't just a qualification — it's the chance to develop the skills, confidence and independence to build a future that feels achievable. That's where this role comes in.
We're looking for a SETPD & Functional Skills Tutor to join our Aylesbury Enrichment Centre. You'll deliver a combination of Functional Skills and Supported Employment, Training and Personal Development (SETPD), helping young people develop the practical, personal and employability skills they need for adulthood.
This is not a traditional classroom teaching role where success is measured purely by exam results. Of course, qualifications matter, and you'll be expected to deliver high-quality teaching. But the real impact comes from helping young people develop confidence, resilience, communication skills and independence alongside their academic progress.
We're looking for a qualified and experienced teacher who can create engaging learning experiences, build strong relationships with learners, and maintain high expectations whilst adapting their approach to meet a wide range of needs. If you're passionate about helping young people develop not just skills, but belief in themselves, we'd love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and deliver engaging Functional Skills English and Maths sessions at Entry Level and Level 1.
- Deliver Supported Employment, Training and Personal Development (SETPD) sessions that help learners develop employability, independence and life skills.
- Create schemes of work, lesson plans and learning resources that meet the needs of learners with SEND and SEMH needs.
- Differentiate teaching to ensure learners of varying abilities can access and make progress within lessons.
- Support learners to develop communication, confidence, resilience and workplace readiness.
- Monitor learner progress and maintain accurate records, targets and documentation.
- Contribute to EHCP reviews, learner reviews and progression planning where appropriate.
- Build positive and professional relationships that encourage engagement, attendance and achievement.
- Work closely with Learning Support Assistants and wider colleagues to provide a joined-up learner experience.
- Apply trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches to support behaviour and wellbeing.
- Support learners to progress into employment, training, volunteering, supported internships or greater independence.
- Contribute to curriculum development and the continuous improvement of the SETPD programme.
You will have
- A recognised teaching qualification such as a Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET), Cert Ed, PGCE or equivalent.
- Previous teaching experience with responsibility for planning, delivering and assessing learning.
- Experience teaching Functional Skills English and/or Maths.
- Experience supporting learners with SEND, SEMH needs or additional learning needs.
- A strong understanding of effective teaching, assessment and differentiation strategies.
- The ability to create engaging lessons that make learning feel relevant and achievable.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Strong organisational skills and confidence maintaining learner records and documentation.
- The ability to balance high expectations with patience, empathy and flexibility.
- Confidence using Microsoft 365 and digital learning systems.
- GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent).
- A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle and a willingness to travel between our Buckinghamshire centres as needed.
Desirable
- Experience teaching personal development, employability, life skills or workplace skills.
- Experience working within alternative provision, further education or SEND settings.
- Knowledge of EHCP outcomes and annual review processes.
- Experience delivering project-based or practical learning approaches.
- Understanding of trauma-informed practice and relational approaches to education.
You'll Be Someone Who...
- Sees potential before problems.
- Builds trust whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
- Understands that progress isn't always linear.
- Believes that education is about more than qualifications alone.
- Wants to play a meaningful role in helping young people prepare for adult life.
About Us
New Meaning Training offers education with a difference. We work with young people aged 15–25 who haven’t always had a straightforward experience of education. Some have been misunderstood, some have disengaged, and some are still working out where they fit. What they find here is something steadier — a place where there’s time to settle in, where expectations are clear, and where they’re not judged on what’s gone before.
We now operate across six centres in High Wycombe (our HQ), Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Reading, Stratford-upon-Avon and Nuneaton, supporting around 320 learners in the 2026–2027 academic year.
Across all centres, we offer a growing range of “Introduction to” programmes, with several new courses launching this September. These courses — spanning areas such as Motor Mechanics, Construction, Hair & Beauty, Creative Arts, Computing, Sport, Retail and Hospitality — are designed to give young people the chance to try things out properly, build practical skills, and start to see what they might be good at. Everything is grounded in learning through doing, with a focus on making education feel possible from the start.
Each of our centres has its own rhythm, but there’s a shared way of working across the organisation. Teams are close-knit, supportive, and practical — people step in for each other, share ideas, and keep things moving on days that don’t go to plan (which happens). There’s a steady sense that everyone’s working towards the same thing. There are also moments that don’t feel like a typical education setting at all. From wellbeing activities to calm, flexible approaches to the day, we create an environment where young people can feel settled enough to take part. It’s not a headline feature — it just reflects the kind of place this is.
Alongside our centre-based provision, we run a Transition Support programme for young people with an EHCP who are not yet ready for that environment. This sits separately from our main delivery and is designed to help them move towards their next step at a pace that works for them. Most of the young people we work with are referred through schools, PRUs and SEND services. That means we’re always balancing two things — creating an experience where young people feel understood, while also delivering something clear, structured and trusted by the professionals around them. We don’t expect things to change overnight. We focus on helping things feel possible again — and building from there.
Why work for New Meaning Training?
Generous annual leave
- 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
- Up to 10 additional “gifted” days off each year (taken during school holiday periods)
- Annual leave increases with length of service, up to a maximum of 24 days
Pension
- Auto enrolment into The People’s Pension
- 5% employee contribution with 3% employer contribution
Blue Light Card
- Access to hundreds of national discounts (retail, food, travel, days out)
- Admin fee fully reimbursed by NMT
Service recognition
- Additional annual leave as a thank you for long service
- Gift rewards at key milestones (e.g. 5 and 10 years)
Wellbeing benefits
- Annual flu vaccination voucher (paid for by NMT)
- Birthday gift voucher to celebrate your day
Sustainable travel schemes
- Cycle to Work scheme (salary sacrifice)
- Electric Vehicle scheme via Octopus Energy (salary sacrifice)
- Green Travel to Work initiatives with rewards for taking part
A supportive, values-led workplace
- Strong focus on staff wellbeing, development, and collaboration
- Training and CPD supported as part of your role
- The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in young people’s lives
Safeguarding
New Meaning Training is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and adhere to our safeguarding and professional conduct policies.
- Checks: This post involves regulated activity and is subject to an Enhanced DBS check (including a Children’s Barred List check) and satisfactory professional references.
- Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA): This role is exempt from the ROA 1974. Applicants must disclose all convictions and cautions that are not ‘protected’ under the Exceptions Order 1975 (as amended 2013 and 2020). For guidance on which offences are ‘filtered’ and do not need to be disclosed, please refer to the DBS filtering guide.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £24,784.50-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Sick pay
Experience:
- supporting young people with SEMH &/OR SEND needs?: 1 year (required)
- Teaching: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
