SEN Teacher | Autism & Complex Needs | Sunderland

Location: Sunderland
Job Type: Full Time
Start Date: September 2026
Contract: Long-term / Permanent Opportunity
Hours: Monday–Friday, school hours
Salary: £31,650–£51,048 per annum / PAYE, dependent on experience and qualifications

Are you passionate about helping pupils with complex needs thrive?

Protocol Education are working with a specialist education setting in Sunderland to recruit an experienced and compassionate SEN Teacher for a September 2026 start.

This role would suit a teacher who enjoys creating highly personalised learning experiences and understands that progress for pupils with complex needs can look very different from traditional academic progress.

You will play a key role in supporting pupils to develop communication, independence, social skills and confidence, alongside their academic development.

The Pupils

You may be supporting pupils with a range of needs, including:

• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).
• Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD).
• Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).
• Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).
• Complex learning needs.
• Sensory needs.
• Communication difficulties.
• Additional physical or medical needs.

Your Responsibilities

As the class teacher, you will:

• Plan and deliver personalised learning programmes.
• Adapt lessons to individual abilities and communication styles.
• Use visual, sensory and practical approaches where appropriate.
• Develop pupils' communication and interaction skills.
• Promote independence and life skills.
• Support pupils to work towards their EHCP outcomes.
• Monitor and assess individual progress.
• Use assessment to inform future planning.
• Create engaging and accessible learning resources.
• Work closely with Teaching Assistants and other support staff.
• Liaise with therapists and other professionals.
• Maintain a safe, positive and inclusive classroom.
• Support pupils' emotional wellbeing.
• Communicate effectively with families and carers.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will have:

• QTS or an appropriate teaching qualification.
• Experience teaching pupils with SEND.
• A strong understanding of autism and/or complex needs.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A patient and nurturing approach.
• Strong classroom management.
• The ability to differentiate effectively.
• A genuine commitment to inclusive education.

Experience within a specialist school or complex needs environment would be particularly advantageous.

What Protocol Education Offers

• Competitive salary/pay.
• Weekly PAYE payments.
• FREE SEND and CPD training.
• Dedicated consultant support.
• Access to long-term and permanent roles.
• Ongoing professional development.
• £50 Refer a Friend scheme.

If you're looking for a role where every achievement matters, this could be the opportunity for you.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see visit the Protocol Education website.

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