Inclusion Specialist Teacher

Overview

We are seeking to appoint three enthusiastic, highly motivated and experienced teachers to join our team of Inclusion Specialist Teachers. These newly created two-year fixed-term opportunities will support the delivery of specialist SEND services, including the Experts at Hand Service, across Buckinghamshire, helping to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

The role supports children and young people with a wide range of needs, including Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Autism, Language Disorders, Down syndrome, Cognition and Learning needs, and Physical Disabilities. The primary objective is to ensure the effective delivery of both statutory and SEND support services for children and young people with SEND and their families throughout the county.

Applications are particularly welcomed from teachers with specialist expertise in cognition and learning, including relevant postgraduate qualifications or Level 7 assessment qualifications, and from those with significant experience supporting children and young people with SEMH differences.

The role is based within either the North Locality Team (Aylesbury) or South Locality Team (High Wycombe), Buckinghamshire.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is one of the largest unitary councils in England, serving a diverse and ambitious county with thriving communities, excellent schools and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people. Formed in 2020, the Council brings together services across Buckinghamshire to deliver effective, joined-up support for residents, businesses and local communities.

Within Children's Services, we are committed to ensuring that every child and young person can thrive. We are passionate about inclusion and work collaboratively with families, educational settings and partner agencies to improve outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

As part of our team, you will join a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation, collaboration and professional growth. We offer a supportive working environment and opportunities to develop your expertise while making a meaningful difference to the lives of children, young people and their families across Buckinghamshire. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home.

About the role

Buckinghamshire SEND Service delivers a range of services to support leadership, management and improved outcomes for children and young people as well as schools and early years settings across Buckinghamshire and beyond.

The Specialist Teachers work with settings to promote the inclusion and progress of children and young people with SEND to help them achieve the best possible outcomes and enable everyone working with these pupils to clearly understand their strengths and differences.

The Inclusion Specialist Teachers offer support and advice regarding strategies and interventions needed for pupils to access the curriculum, including pupils on SEND Support and those with Education Health and Care plans. You will join a supportive team of Inclusion Specialist Teachers and work alongside Education Health and Care plan Coordinators (EHCCos) and Educational Psychologists as part of the wider SEND team.

The role will involve:

• Supporting the development of inclusive practice through consultation, advice, modelling, training and early intervention approaches that improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
• Being part of a team of Specialist Inclusion Teachers to ensure the effective delivery of SEND Support and statutory services to children, young people and their families.
• Complying with statutory regulations in the assessment and review of Education, Health & Care Plans (EHC Plans) in accordance with the Children & Families Act 2014.
• Supporting the strategic development of the Specialist Inclusion Teachers within the SEND Service.
• Taking responsibility and being accountable for a caseload as required across the geographical area, ensuring that any casework is undertaken professionally, and decisions are taken in a timely manner.
• Supporting the learning and educational participation of children and young people who are out of education and contributing to reviews of their educational provision.
• Working closely with other Specialist Teachers and professionals in your settings.
• Providing high-quality advice, guidance and written recommendations following school visits, acting as an Expert at Hand to support educational settings in developing inclusive practice and effective SEND provision.
• Co-producing and delivering training on various SEND topics to schools/setting staff and other professionals within the SEND Service.
• Designing, delivering and evaluating training, guidance materials, resources and frameworks of support that strengthen workforce confidence and inclusive practice.
• Attending annual review meetings for caseload pupils and other multi-professional meetings.
• Working collaboratively with families and partner agencies, providing advice, guidance and signposting to local and national services to ensure support is child-centred, needs-led and outcomes-focused.
• Working collaboratively with SEND colleagues, including Education Health and Care Plan Coordinators (EHCCos), Educational Psychologists, Social Care and Health professionals, parents and carers, ensuring a strong and effective culture of collaboration.
• Promoting the inclusion of children with SEND.
• Embedding a culture of co-production and teamwork at all levels.
• Ensuring services provided are child-centred and needs-led.
• Proactively developing professional knowledge, skills and behaviours that support others in their continuous professional development.

Mobile:
A ‘mobile’ role gives you the flexibility to schedule your own diary, so you can meet with colleagues and clients in a variety of locations. You’ll access digital folders and resources on your laptop and be able to use the network wherever you are based. Working from home will be common, as well as meeting your team in the office where necessary.

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and is educated to degree level.
• Has significant relevant teaching experience post NQT/ECT, including a proven track record of successful classroom practice.
• Has experience of working with children and young people with SEND and their families.
• Has a strong understanding of early identification, interventions and inclusive approaches that improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
• Has evidence of further training and professional development in SEND and inclusion.
• Understands the importance of working in partnership with families to support children's educational development and positive outcomes.
• Is confident in providing advice, guidance and professional challenge to schools and educational settings regarding SEND, acting as a trusted 'Expert at Hand' to build staff confidence, strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for children and young people.
• Is confident in researching, developing and delivering training and professional development opportunities for school staff and other professionals.
• Has a solid understanding of a range of SEND needs and expert knowledge of current evidence-informed interventions and strategies.
• Has excellent IT skills, particularly in the use of Microsoft Word and Excel, to produce reports, recommendations and EHCP documentation to a professional standard.
• Is able to work collaboratively across a range of educational settings, services and professional disciplines.
• Has significant expertise in Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and/or Cognition and Learning, including experience of assessment, intervention planning and supporting educational settings to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND.
• Holds a current valid driving licence and has access to a vehicle, as the role requires travel across Buckinghamshire.
• Is committed to ongoing professional development through training, collaboration with peers and independent research.
• Is able to satisfy the requirements of an Enhanced DBS check, including Child and Adult Barred List checks.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification in SEND or a recognised SEND specialism would be advantageous.

Please see the job summary attached for full details.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Other information

This is a full-time, 2-year fixed-term position on Teachers' Pay and Conditions. There are three positions available.

If you would like to find out more about this role, please contact: [email protected]

Internal Closing date: 09/09/2026

Interview date: 14/09/2026

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Ensuring that children and young people in Buckinghamshire reach their potential is a primary focus within our Education service. It’s essential that we provide inclusive and life-long learning opportunities for all of our young people - so we look to raise standards, attainment and aspirations in a number of ways.

Our key priorities include: improving the quality and timeliness of Education, Health and Care Plans and the support families of children with SEND receive; reducing the number of exclusions both permanent and fixed term; and providing the children of Buckinghamshire with the highest quality education possible.

We aim to provide the right support, at the right time for families requiring non-statutory intervention, and provide sufficient, high quality early years and school places for children in Buckinghamshire. Despite Buckinghamshire having a higher percentage of good or outstanding Early Years providers and schools than national averages, we are not complacent.

We are keen to strengthen the services we deliver to provide the children of Buckinghamshire the highest quality education possible.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/