Salary: Grade: I £34,434 - £36,363 (£29,617 - £31,988 pro-rata, pay award pending)
Hours of work: 37 hours per week – term time only plus INSET days
Contract type: Permanent
A bit about us:
Downland School is a co-educational maintained community special school for pupils aged between 10 and 16 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Our pupils have varying aptitudes and abilities; we are extremely proud of all their achievements and progress. Our pupils have a range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) including: Autism (ASC); attachment disorders and Social, Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties. We seek to ensure that, by the time they leave us, our pupils emerge as self-confident individuals able to manage their own learning; equipped with the skills and competencies to successfully take the next steps in their lives.
We are a friendly, happy and caring school, providing a positive, inclusive and enriching educational experience for our young people. We view each of our pupils as unique and shape our provision to meet their individual needs and accelerate their progress in a variety of areas e.g. personal, social, academic and well-being. Our commitment to supporting the ‘whole’ child and their development is underpinned by our strong pastoral systems and our committed and trained staff. At Downland we promote inclusion and equality and celebrate diversity.
We offer staff a breaktime snack, tea or coffee and a free lunch from our kitchen, which cooks on site every day.
Our mission statement is ‘Aspire, Achieve and Thrive’.
All about the role:
We are now looking to appoint a dedicated and resilient School SEND Lead Worker who is committed to inclusion and who has the desire to maintain the highest standards of provision for SEND pupils. This is an exciting opportunity to join our enthusiastic, dedicated and professional school. The role of School SEND Lead Worker is a highly rewarding one, as you will have the opportunity to support all of our pupils to achieve their full potential whilst benefitting from working with a cohesive and supportive staff team.
You will fully participate in developing SEND provision across the whole school. You will have a strong commitment to the wider pastoral role and wish to make a significant positive impact on our young people’s lives, securing the very best outcomes for all pupils.
Key areas of work will include:
- Be a point of regular and consistent contact for pupils with SEND and their families.
- Develop and implement SEND policies and strategies, which reflect the school’s commitment to high achievement of all pupils and which identify clear targets, timescales and success criteria in line with the School Development Plan.
- Facilitate a well co-ordinated review process and single ‘holistic person centered’ plan that focuses on the child or young person’s educational, health and social care needs in line with the Education Act 2011 and other legislation and organisational policy and reviews.
- Ensure that each need identified in the EHCP and associated outcomes in the plan are fully reviewed annually. Fully enable young people and their families to express their views within the review and make necessary amendments to plans as circumstances change.
- Be responsible for reviewing and making amendments to EHCPs in agreement with young people, families and other stakeholders. Ensure that all statutory timelines are met and follow up that corrections and amendments are implemented.
Enthusiasm and commitment to working with and raising achievement for pupils with SEND is paramount to us; you will be expected to actively demonstrate the school’s core values and embrace ‘The Downland Way’.
Find out more and apply:
To apply, you should submit a letter addressed to Mrs Keily-Theobald (Headteacher) of no more than 2 sides of A4 with your application form addressing the requirements of the post, as outlined in the Job Description and the Person Specification provided. We are particularly interested in how you would undertake this role at Downland School and about your relevant skills, qualities and experience to date. Applications received without a supporting letter will not be considered and CVs will not be accepted.
Please email completed application forms and your covering letter to Tanya Rhodes, Bursar, at [email protected] by 9.00am on Monday 22 June 2026
We welcome visits to the school. Please contact Tanya Rhodes on 01380 724193, if you would like to arrange a visit in advance of applying.
Atlternatively, to apply, please download the application form and click the ‘apply now’ button below to upload your completed application form and covering letter online. Please note: CV's will not be considered.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by e-mail. If you do not hear from us by Friday 26 June 2026, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Closing date (and time): 9.00am 22 June 2026
Interview date: w/b 29 June 2026
Commencement date: 1st September 2026
Downland School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Please note that this appointment is subject to enhanced DBS, medical and reference checks before appointment is confirmed.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants must disclose all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings that are not ‘protected’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 & 2020). An enhanced DBS check will be required for the successful applicant.
Downland School job applicant privacy notice
Equality and diversity monitoring form (to support application forms)
