Specialist Teacher (SLCN)

The Complex Communication Team is part of Coventry’s SEND Support Service. We are a traded service and are widely respected in Coventry schools. We are specialist teachers who work closely with pupils, their families and our colleagues in education, health and care to improve outcomes for children and young people with autism and/or Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN). In addition, we staff the Enhanced Resource Provision for SLCN at President Kennedy secondary school.

We offer a wide variety of services including informal specialist assessment; lesson observations and advice; one to one work with students; meetings with parents; and bespoke training for settings.

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

This is an exciting, hybrid role based in the ERP for two days a week and delivering outreach and training in schools across the city for three days. It will involve:

• providing direct speech and language support to secondary pupils in the ERP at President Kennedy School
• providing support, advice and training in primary and secondary schools across the city to enable them better to meet the needs of their pupils with SLCN
• planning one-to-one and group interventions for pupils with SLCN
• writing a variety of reports for schools and parents that need to be both professional and accessible
• supporting the Team Lead and Assistant Team Leads in developing and rolling out the SLCN outreach offer for the city

This is a term-time-only role, so you will not be entitled to annual or flexi leave.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

You will have experience of working with children and young people with a range of SEN and a desire to share good practice. You have an in-depth knowledge of language development and use your enthusiasm to engage even the most reluctant learners. You enjoy training others and developing staff expertise in supporting children with SLCN.

You are confident to positively manage distressed behaviour and can look beneath the behaviour to see what the child or young person is trying to communicate. You understand the important role that parents play and work in partnership with them to ensure the best outcomes for their child.

No two days are the same: you will need to be flexible, sensitive and able to think on your feet. Excellent interpersonal skills and a positive attitude are essential.

When writing your personal statement, you will need to cover all aspects of the person specification, with particular regard to the following:

• An in-depth knowledge of strategies to support children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) within a mainstream school environment so that they can flourish
• A commitment to working in partnership with pupils and parents: a sensitive, respectful approach and the desire to use pupil and parent voice to shape our service
• The ability to put others at ease, gain trust and build relationships in a short space of time

• A positive, can-do attitude; a calm, flexible approach and a willingness to see the best in people

If you have any questions or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact the CCT Team Lead, Emma Whitmarsh-Knight via email: emma.whitmarsh-knight@coventry.gov.uk

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans

• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
• For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date(s): Classroom observation on 10/11 June, followed by an interview on 16 June 2026.

For a January 2027 start, or sooner if possible.

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies