JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Teacher - Special
REPORTS TO: Principal
PROFESSIONAL DUTIES OF A TEACHER
TEACHERS’ (TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1987
A teacher who is not a principal shall carry out the professional duties of a teacher as circumstances may require:
1. If he/she is employed as a teacher in a school under the reasonable direction of the principal of that school;
2. If he/she is employed by a board on terms under which he is not assigned to any one school, under the reasonable direction of that board and of the principal of any school in which he/she may for the time being be required to work as a teacher.
1. Planning
1. Planning and preparing courses and lessons;
2. Teaching, according to their educational needs, the pupils assigned to him/her, including the setting and marking of work to be carried out by the pupils in school and elsewhere;
3. Assessing, recording and reporting on the development, progress and attainment of pupils.
2. General
1. Promoting the general progress and well-being of individual pupils and of any class or group of pupils assigned to him/her;
2. Providing advice and guidance to pupils on educational and social matters and on their further education and future careers including information about sources of more expert advice on specific questions, making relevant records and reports;
3. Making records of and reports on the personal and social needs of pupils except in instances where to do so might be regarded as compromising a teacher’s own position;
4. Communicating and consulting with the parents of pupils;
5. Communicating and co-operating with such persons or bodies outside the school as may be approved by the employing authority and the Board of Governors;
6. Participating in meetings arranged for any of the purposes described above.
3. Assessment/Reporting
Providing or contributing to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual pupils and groups of pupils except in instances where to do so might be regarded as compromising a teacher’s own position.
4. Staff Development/Professional Development
1. Participating, if required, in any scheme of staff development and performance review;
2. Reviewing from time to time his/her methods of teaching and programmes of work;
3. Participating in arrangements for his/her further training and professional development as a teacher.
5. Discipline/Health and Safety
1. Maintaining good order and discipline among pupils in accordance with the policies of the employing authority and safeguarding their health and safety both when they are authorised to be on the school premises and when they are engaged in authorised school activities elsewhere.
6. Public Examinations
Participating in arrangements for preparing pupils for public examinations and in assessing pupils for the purposes of such examinations; recording and reporting such assessments; and participating in arrangements for pupils’ presentation for and supervision during such examination.
7. Review and Development of Management Activities/Administration
1. Contributing to the selection for appointment and professional development of other teachers, including the induction and assessment of probationary teachers;
2. Co-ordinating or managing the work of other teachers;
3. Taking such part as may be required of him/her in the review, development and management of activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the school.
8. Number of days/Hours of work
1. A full-time teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available for work on 195 days in any year of which not more than 190 days should involve teaching children in a classroom situation;
2. A teacher, other than a teacher employed in a residential establishment, shall be available to perform such duties at such times and such places as may reasonably be specified by the Principal;
3. A teacher may not be required to teach as distinct from supervise children in a classroom situation for more than 25 hours in any week in a primary or special school and 23.5 hours in any week in a secondary school;
4. All teachers shall be required to have a break of at least 30 minutes between the hours of 12 noon and 2.00 pm.
This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage.
1. Hold a teaching qualification which meets the requirements for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland.
2. Experience of teaching pupils with severe learning difficulties in a Special School and/or Learning Support Unit for a minimum of 1 year within the last 6 years (not including teaching practice).
3. Demonstrable experience of using a range of effective classroom approaches to provide support and challenge children and young people with Special Educational Needs.
4. Demonstrable experience of developing positive relationships for learning with children and young people.
5. Demonstrable experience of working with a range of professionals to meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs.
6. Demonstrable experience of and/or continuing professional development in the use of specialist equipment, facilities or skills to meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs.
SECTION 2 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA
The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage.
1. Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the Northern Ireland Curriculum.
2. Demonstrable and current knowledge of approaches to promoting positive behaviour for learning eg. Restorative Practice.
3. Knowledge and understanding of current assessment methods used with children and young people who have Special Educational Needs.
DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.
Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate.
APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES
To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.
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