Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities Job Vacancies
Join our inspirational and dynamic team of SEND Practitioners who are highly committed to innovating practice that inspires learners with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) to be highly successful and reach their full potential.
Are you an experienced SEND professional? A recent graduate or aspiring apprentice that wants to create brighter futures working with young people and adults with SEND? We also have a number of key business support roles that are integral in supporting the systems and processes within the faculty.
To support your journey to professionalise and qualify in SEND and Inclusivity, we offer a fully supported programme of training at all levels. Many staff within the faculty begin a Support Workers or Job Coaches and move through our motivational career structure to qualify as teachers, advanced practitioners and managers establishing an area of expertise within the wide range of neurodiversity.
If you are unsure which role would best suit you at this time, we will support you to match your current skills, knowledge and experience to the staff roles in order for you to confidently begin your career in SEND. Staff who join the faculty, stay in the faculty due to the diverse progression opportunities available.
Join a highly ambitious team of SEND Practitioners working across all our different campuses with a full salary, holiday, and pension package.
Apply now and find out how you can work within a multi-disciplinary team to ensure learners with SEND reach their aspirational potential, empowering their independence and progressing to sustainable destinations.
The Faculty of Inclusive Practice continues to lead the field, sharing good practice and developing innovative specialist provision for learners with SEND that leads to excellent sustainable outcomes.
The Faculty encompasses the following areas:
- Full time programmes of Study for Learners with SEND which includes 4 areas - Preparation for Work, Supported Internship, Extension Studies and Re-engage
- Sensory Learning Base for learners with Profound and Complex Needs
- Specialist Autism Residential Training Facilities
- Learning Support
- Supported Employment Excellence Hub
- SEND Professional Development Programmes from level 2
- HE Programmes in SEND and Inclusive Practice.
We are also one of 3 SEND Centres for Excellence the UK, an accomplishment which showcases the high standard of practitioners and professionalism within the College, which has helped us achieve the following results for our learners:
- 97.3% Attendance
- 96.3% Retention
- 91.2% Achievement.
Our foundation learning programmes are courses that offer a flexible curriculum that enhances our students’ learning experience and provides them the strong ‘foundations’ that will benefit them as they prepare for adult life towards outcomes for working life, independent living and good health.
Our Foundation Learning courses offer support for learners of all ages in:
- Extension Studies, Entry Level
- Preparation for Life, Entry Level
- Re-engage, Entry Level
- Sensory Learning, Entry Level
- Supported Internship: Into Work, Entry Level
- Aspirations, Level 1
We believe in fostering a motivational career structure that empowers individuals to thrive and reach their full potential. We understand the importance of providing a clear and exciting progression route, showcasing the myriad opportunities for professional growth and development. Whether you're just starting your journey or looking to advance your career, our inclusive practices ensure that every member of our faculty has the support and resources needed to succeed. Join us as we pave the way for your future success, unlocking a world of possibilities within the Inclusive Practice Faculty:
The Unique Specialist Model gives more detail as to which areas you can specialise in within SEND.
If you have a disability, neurodivergence, or a condition that may impact your performance during our selection process, we are happy to accommodate your needs. You will have the opportunity to inform us of any necessary adjustments throughout the application and selection process. As an employee, we will continue to discuss and work with you to ensure you have the necessary accommodations to succeed in your role.
Some examples of possible adjustments include:
- Allowing extra time for online assessments
- Providing alternative accessible formats
- Sharing interview questions beforehand
- Offering additional information about what to expect
- Providing an office orientation before an in-person assessment.
If you have any questions about the adjustments process at Weston College, please contact hr@weston.ac.uk .
Want to ask a question ahead of applying? Click here to book a phone call with a member of the team
RECENT NEWS STORIES
<div style="float:right;width:50%;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oqTGkFNRcLU?si=3X3tHv_TzROLSBQN" width="560"></iframe></div><p>Supported internships can be a powerful tool to unlock young people’s potential, and also support employers with attracting a wider talent pool, which can be highly effective.</p><p>Supported internships offer a valuable chance for young individuals aged 16-24 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to acquire significant work exposure, all under the guidance of a skilled job coach. The job coach works closely with both the individual and the employer, to find a successful match.</p><p>The aim is to support young people into sustainable paid employment, giving them the confidence and skills to work independently.</p><p>They are also a fantastic opportunity for employers, not only to gain extra support, but often young people on supported internships will bring fresh ideas and new approaches, which can be highly beneficial. Through supported internships employers can create a more diverse and inclusive workforce.</p><p>We caught up with a few of our learners, who are on their supported internship, to see how they were getting on:</p>
<div style="float:right;width:50%;"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oeWk0CxblmI?si=46WOepQfs45F5Boe" width="560"></iframe></div><p>It’s official, <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/">University Centre Weston (UCW)</a> is among the best places to study at university level in the UK, according to the results of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) published on September 28th 2023.</p><p>The TEF panel considered the overall rating for UCW to be Gold, placing it among the country’s best university and college higher education providers. This recognition by the TEF Panel reflects UCW’s unwavering dedication to providing outstanding education to a diverse student body and places it within the top 20% in the UK and one of only six colleges nationally to achieve the status.</p><p>The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS) that aims to encourage higher education providers to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.</p><p>The TEF does this by assessing and rating universities and colleges for excellence above a set of minimum requirements for quality and standards.</p><p>Providers that take part in the TEF receive an overall rating as well as two underpinning ratings – one for the student experience and one for student outcomes.</p><p>The ratings reflect the extent to which a provider delivers an excellent experience and outcomes for its mix of undergraduate students and across the range of its undergraduate courses and subjects.</p><p>Hundreds of higher education institutions in England, Wales and Scotland have had their teaching quality, learning environment, and student outcome data assessed by the TEF Panel and rated as either Gold, Silver, Bronze or Requires Improvement.</p><p>The TEF Panel judged that UCW delivers consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students, which is of the highest quality found in Britain.</p><p>Jacqui Ford, Interim Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group expressed her delight, saying,</p><p>“This achievement represents a significant milestone for our region, confirming the excellence of our institution for higher education. Furthermore, it underscores the Weston College Group’s positive impact on learners both locally and nationally. Attaining Gold status also validates UCW’s approach of seamlessly blending high-quality academic learning with practical, career-oriented education, providing our students and university partners with confidence in our offerings.”</p><p>Ford extended her gratitude to the dedicated staff at UCW, Weston College, and partner universities, recognising their instrumental role in achieving this remarkable status. She noted:</p><p>"Our journey to this point would not have been possible without the invaluable support of my predecessor Sir Paul Phillips who led the Weston College Group since 2001 until his retirement in August 2023, our partner universities, the University of the West of England, Bath Spa University, and Hartpury University, as well as UCW’s Vice Principal for Higher Education, Sadie Skellon. The dedication of our staff, and governors, and the collaborative efforts with the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership and North Somerset Council have also been essential in reaching this remarkable achievement.”</p><p>UCW’s Vice Principal for Higher Education, Sadie Skellon added:</p><p>“The TEF Panel has recognised the efforts of the talented and dedicated students and staff that we have at UCW and across the Weston College Group, and the value of the outstanding support we provide.</p><p>“UCW is committed to being an inclusive institution, promoting participation from students from all backgrounds and supporting students to ensuring positive outcomes for all. We have strategic aims to articulate this and are pleased the OfS has acknowledged that UCW ‘tailors provision and succeeds in its aim of supporting underrepresented groups of students from its region to achieve in their studies’.</p><p>In addition to praise for the student experience, UCW was praised for its supportive learning environment, offering students access to a wide range of high-quality academic support tailored to their needs. The institution has also demonstrated a commitment to embedding employability and entrepreneurship into its course content, preparing students for successful futures.</p><p>UCW’s dedication to research, innovation, scholarship, professional practice, and employer engagement further enhances the academic experience, contributing to the institution’s outstanding standing in the TEF.</p><p>This Gold rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework solidifies UCW’s status as a leading institution committed to excellence in higher education.</p><p> </p>
<p>Weston College recently took part in the 2023 Planet Earth Games, an <a href="https://www.aoc.co.uk/">Association of Colleges (AoC)</a> competition which uses games and challenges to engage colleges and students in climate action.</p><p>The AoC and Planet Earth Games <a href="https://planetearthgames.org/2023-college-event-launched/#:~:text=Promo… this as a “Global Movement”</a>, and have co-produced a project aimed at educating, promoting and advocating for colleges in climate action, and sustainable consumption this academic year.</p><p>The College had many activities taking place across the week, particularly in the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…; and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/cours… Practice</a> departments.</p><p>The Faculty of Inclusive Practice (FIP) launched the ‘Wheels to Work’ campaign, where a number of staff cycled from Yatton and Clevedon through to Weston. Alongside this, free bike checks, services and cleans were offered to learners and staff.</p><p>Extension studies and Engineering also took part in a Beach Clean across Weston Seafront, to improve the beach experience for the community and help preserve the coastline.</p><p>Live salads and 100 tree saplings were planted at Butcombe farm by the learners, to assist with the environment and carbon emissions.</p><p>The engineering learners also collected reusable plastics, and moulded them into various items. The learners from FIP then sold them in their pop-up shop.</p><p>Jo Philpott, Vice Principal – Curriculum Delivery & Technical Innovation, commented on the success: “We are incredibly proud of the dedication our learners had towards the Planet Earth Games initiative and the impact this has had since. We believe it is incredibly important to do our part when it comes to sustainability, and AoC’s Planet Earth Games is the ideal way to get learners engaged. I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone involved!”</p>
OUR SEND VIDEOS
BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THE COLLEGE
Over recent years, the College has gone from strength to strength, proving to be one of the top education providers in the country.
The College has also been featured in the ‘Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For’ list and the top-ranked college nationally.
Furthermore, the College holds the highest possible Investors in People ‘Platinum accreditation, which demonstrates our commitment to continually invest in our staff to achieve their full potential.
Our higher education provision University Centre Weston is graded ‘Gold’ by TEF, putting us amongst the top universities in the UK, and in 2018 we received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.
All establishment staff at Weston College are entitled to a minimum of 30 days plus statutory bank holidays per year (allocated on a pro rata basis for part time staff).
All staff are automatically entered into a pension scheme relevant to their role with generous employer contributions.
Business support staff are automatically entered into the Local Government Pension Scheme, provided by the Avon Pension Fund.
Teaching staff are automatically entered into the Teacher’s Pension Scheme, a contributory scheme administered by Teachers’ Pensions on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
We provide an excellent programme of staff development and CPD opportunities to all staff through internal development courses and training or through programmes such as LinkedIn Learning.
Not JUST available to students, college staff are also eligible to purchase a student discount card through Totum.
As well as access to the college’s in house student-led training restaurant, staff members also receive a 10% discount at The Green House coffee shop.
All employees of Weston College, are able to benefit from a free subscription to Microsoft 365 whilst employed by the College.
All staff are eligible for the Discount for Teachers scheme offering a wide range of discounts across all sectors.
Throughout the year, staff will also be notified about exclusive deals and discounts for local tourist attractions or businesses.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is very important, so as well as an excellent Occupational Health referral system, the College offers the following to all staff:
• Health Assured EAP Scheme (Employee Assistance Programme). This health programme is available to all staff. The service provides free and confidential support that is available 24 hours a day.
• A dedicated Staff Welfare Officer.
• Eyesight tests - The College will contribute towards the cost of your eye examination and up to £40 towards the cost of glasses, if it is deemed necessary for your role.
• College Fitness Suite - All staff have access to the fully equipped, sport and fitness centre on the 7th floor of the Knightstone Campus. There are no membership fees involved, however a full gym induction must be completed.
• Hair, beauty and relaxation treatments - Discounts are available to all staff across the College on a wide range of hair and beauty treatments including hair cuts and colours, massage and manicures. The treatments are carried out by our Weston College students under the close supervision of the highly qualified hair and beauty lecturers.
We recognise that many of our staff have responsibilities for family or dependants and operate a number of initiatives to help colleagues balance these responsibilities with work.
The College has a number of schemes that cover the following family circumstances:
• Maternity leave
• Paternity leave
• Adoption leave
• Parental leave
• Dependant's leave
• Fertility treatment leave.
We are happy to consider requests for flexible working in line with the Flexible Working Policy.
We recognise that many of our staff have responsibilities for family or dependants and operate a number of initiatives to help colleagues balance these responsibilities with work.
The College has a number of schemes that cover the following family circumstances:
• Maternity leave
• Paternity leave
• Adoption leave
• Parental leave
• Dependant's leave
• Fertility treatment leave.
We are happy to consider requests for flexible working in line with the Flexible Working Policy.
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OUR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS STAFF STORIES
WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY
Toby
"Weston College has changed my life for the better in nearly every way possible. When I first started, I was at my lowest point, but the college has given me confidence, happiness, friends and a direction. I cannot thank the staff enough forever changing my life for the better.”
Paige
“Paige joined the College in 2019 after transitioning from a local school and has since made exceptional progress and has achieved so much on her journey from championing neurodiversity to overcoming social communication difficulties and challenging stereotypes.”
VIDEOS
Only 16% of autistic adults in the UK are in full-time paid employment. Nick is grateful that due to the support received from Weston College, he is within that 16%. Watch his inspiring story.
Watch our learners and staff on an exciting trip to Buckingham Palace to be awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for our dedicated special educational needs and disability provision, and their impact at a local, regional, national and international level.
One Message, Different Voices
Take a look at this powerful film made by the staff of Weston College to show how important it is for everyone from different backgrounds to be included. The film shares heartfelt stories and interviews with a diverse group of staff, showing how accepting different identities and backgrounds can make a big difference. Its purpose is to encourage viewers to think about their own biases and work towards making our community more welcoming to all. We invite everyone, regardless of their background, to join us and be a part of our journey toward a more inclusive future.
Our workplace champions the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee's ability to succeed.
FAQ's
Yes – you will be placed on Weston College’s internal teacher training programme or the Education Training Foundation’s ‘Taking Teaching Further’ programme. This will include undertaking a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (or equivalent/higher level teaching qualification).
Yes – we would still encourage applicants to apply. Candidates can organise a virtual discussion with one of our team to discuss further. Please find the booking link above.
Yes – Weston College actively promotes staff to maintain industry currency and/or membership. The College provides an extensive CPD programme whilst supporting staff to engage with industry-specific training.