SEN Teacher

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?

At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance - and we're putting wellbeing first.

That's why we're proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.

Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW - and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So whether it's already in place or just around the corner, now's the perfect time to join .

Job Title: SEN Teacher
Location: Dibden Park School, Southampton, SO45 5TD
Salary: Up to £45,352.00 per annum depending on experience ( not pro rata )
Hours: 40 hours per week Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Contract: Permanent Term Time Only
Start: January 2026

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for an SEN Teacher to join our close-knit team at Dibden Park School, part of Acorn Education.

About the Role

As an SEN Teacher, you'll play a vital role in shaping meaningful, personalised learning experiences for our students. This is a role where your creativity, empathy, and professional expertise come together to help children and young people with additional needs thrive-academically, socially, and emotionally.

You will teach individual pupils or small groups, adapting learning to meet their unique profiles and helping them make steady, confident progress. Working within our curriculum framework and alongside a supportive multidisciplinary team, you'll help create an environment where every student feels understood, challenged, and celebrated.

What You'll Do

• Plan and deliver engaging, tailored lessons aligned with the school curriculum
• Monitor, assess, and report on student progress
• Develop and review Individual Education Plans, behaviour plans, and personalised learning pathways
• Create a safe, structured, and inspiring classroom environment
• Work collaboratively with support staff to ensure high-quality teaching and learning
• Contribute to school development initiatives and curriculum planning
• Organise resources, classroom displays, and learning materials that support student engagement
• Ensure all activities-on and off site-are planned with pupil safety and risk assessments in mind

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking a passionate, resilient, and empathetic teacher who communicates with warmth, clarity, and confidence. You will enjoy getting to know students as individuals, building trusting relationships, and tailoring your teaching to help them overcome barriers and achieve their personal best.

You will value collaboration-working closely with colleagues, therapists, families, and external professionals to ensure each young person receives consistent, holistic support.

If you're excited by the idea of working in a unique, nurturing school community where your ideas are valued and your impact is visible every day, we would love to hear from you.

Essential Requirements

• UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• Full, valid driving licence

About Us

Dibden Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school based in Southampton. We provide inclusive education within a safe and nurturing environment for students with complex needs, including social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) challenges, communication and interaction difficulties, and associated behaviours. Our focus is on meeting each pupil's individual needs and helping them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK's leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

You'll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.