Job Description

Art, Design & Technology (DT), and Food Technology Teacher - SEN
150 - 220 per day
Thetford
Are you an exceptionally creative and empathetic fully qualified (QTS) Secondary Teacher with specialist skills in Art, Design & Technology (DT), and Food Technology?
Do you have experience or a profound commitment to teaching students within a dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) setting?
Do you thrive on the challenge of translating practical, vocational, and artistic subjects into a highly accessible, multi-sensory, and therapeutically beneficial curriculum for pupils with complex needs?
We are seeking a proactive, innovative, and committed specialist Teacher to join a highly supportive, dedicated, and specialist SEN school community in the Thetford area of Norfolk. If you are passionate about using practical subjects to enhance communication, motor skills, self-expression, and independence, we want to hear from you.
The Opportunity
A unique and immensely rewarding opening exists for an experienced QTS Teacher to lead the delivery of Art, DT, and Food Technology across the school's secondary and post-16 provision. This crucial role involves teaching pupils who have complex and varied Special Educational Needs, which may include:

• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
• Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD)
• Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)
• Associated communication and motor planning challenges (e.g., EHCPs).

Your contribution will be central to helping students:

• Develop fine and gross motor skills through practical Art and DT tasks.
• Master essential life skills and independence through Food Technology (e.g., measuring, safety, cooking simple recipes).
• Facilitate emotional regulation and self-expression through creative mediums.

You will be instrumental in creating a safe, stimulating, and highly structured workshop/kitchen environment, managing risk effectively, and supervising a strong team of Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) during practical sessions.
Core Responsibilities

• Take full responsibility for planning, preparing, and delivering a highly differentiated and safe curriculum for Art, DT, and Food Technology, tailored to the specific developmental stage, communication level, and physical capabilities of each pupil.
• Adapt lesson content and practical tasks to meet EHCP targets, focusing on functional, communication, and independence goals over purely academic outcomes.
• Ensure stringent health and safety compliance within the workshop and kitchen environments, implementing appropriate risk assessments and ensuring students and staff use adaptive tools safely.
• Manage and maintain specialist equipment (e.g., kilns, adapted kitchen tools, craft materials), ensuring stock levels are maintained and resources are accessible.
• Lead and direct the work of a dedicated team of Teaching Assistants (TAs)/LSAs, ensuring their support is targeted, effective, and compliant with individual pupil needs during practical lessons.
• Conduct continuous and detailed assessment, focusing on functional progress, communication development, and independence gains, reporting accurately on development to parents and the multidisciplinary team.
• Collaborate effectively with therapists (e.g., OT for fine motor goals, Speech & Language for instructional language) to integrate therapeutic goals into the practical curriculum.

Essential Profile

• Possession of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is mandatory, ideally with a relevant subject specialism (Art, DT, Food Tech, or equivalent).
• Proven experience teaching Art, DT, and/or Food Technology to students across the Secondary/Post-16 age range.
• Experience teaching students with complex SEN (such as ASC, SLD, or PMLD) within a specialist or highly inclusive setting is essential.
• A genuine understanding of structured teaching techniques (e.g., step-by-step instruction, visual timetables) and the use of adaptive equipment to facilitate practical tasks.
• Excellent knowledge of practical workshop/kitchen safety procedures and risk management within a specialist environment.
• High levels of patience, creativity, resilience, and flexibility, coupled with a calm and consistent approach.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work confidently and proactively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Possession of an Enhanced Child DBS on the update service (or willingness to complete one promptly).

Benefits of Joining Us

• A competitive daily pay rate of 150 - 220, reflective of your QTS status and dual specialist experience (equivalent to SEN scale points).
• The opportunity to shape and lead the delivery of essential and highly engaging practical subjects within a purpose-built SEN school in Thetford.
• Access to accredited training in specific areas such as Manual Handling, Autism best practice, and complex needs curriculum adaptation.
• A profoundly rewarding role where you will see tangible improvements in students' independence and life skills.
• 300 Refer A Friend scheme (terms apply).

How to Apply
If you are a dedicated and supportive individual ready to make a difference in a school setting, please apply immediately with your CV or contact Neeraj at neeraj.kommaravalli@randstad.co.uk for more information.
We are the UK market leader for recruitment in education. We have nearly two decades of experience helping teachers and support staff find temporary and permanent roles in schools, colleges, and nurseries. We partner with over 2,500 schools each week, supporting more than 135,000 children every day across the country, which allows us to find the right match for your skills.

Skills Required