Specialist Teacher Required

Specialist Teacher Required – SEMH, Autism & ADHD
Hart & Rushmoor District

Hours: To be agreed
Start: September 2026
Duration: Ongoing whilst educational placement is secured
Location: Hart & Rushmoor Area

The CatchUp Academy is seeking an experienced Specialist Teacher to support an 11-year-old young person with a primary need of Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), alongside diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The young person is due to leave their current independent special primary school placement in July and currently has no educational placement identified for September. The successful candidate will play a vital role in maintaining educational engagement, emotional wellbeing, and learning continuity during this transition period.

About the Young Person

This young person is bright and capable but experiences a complex range of social, emotional, sensory, and communication challenges that significantly impact learning and relationships.

They have very low self-esteem and self-confidence, which affects interactions with both peers and adults. Anxiety is a significant feature of their presentation, particularly within educational settings and social situations. They can become highly worried about being hurt by others and may find it difficult to interpret social situations accurately. Large, busy, and noisy environments can feel overwhelming and threatening. Sensory overload can contribute to heightened anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and anger. As a result, the young person benefits from calm, predictable environments with trusted adults who can provide reassurance, consistency, and emotional support.

The Role

The successful specialist teacher will:

• Deliver personalised learning across core curriculum subjects.
• Build a trusting, positive relationship through consistency and patience.
• Support emotional regulation, confidence, and self-esteem.
• Adapt learning to meet Autism, ADHD, and SEMH needs.
• Create a calm, structured, and low-arousal learning environment.
• Use trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming approaches.
• Support social understanding and perspective-taking.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to sensory and emotional triggers.
• Help prepare the young person for future educational placement and transitions.
• Liaise effectively with parents, professionals, and commissioning teams.

We Are Looking For Someone Who:

• Has extensive experience supporting children with SEMH, Autism, ADHD, and anxiety.
• Is skilled at building relationships with children who may initially be reluctant to engage.
• Understands sensory processing differences and their impact on behaviour and learning.
• Can deliver highly differentiated and personalised learning.
• Uses a calm, nurturing, and strengths-based approach.
• Is confident supporting emotional regulation and managing challenging behaviour positively.
• Has experience of transition support and reintegration planning.

Essential Requirements

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Enhanced DBS Certificate.
• Significant SEND and SEMH experience.
• Strong understanding of Autism, ADHD, anxiety, and emotional regulation.
• Excellent communication, planning, and record-keeping skills.

This is an excellent opportunity for a specialist teacher who is passionate about supporting vulnerable young people through periods of educational transition and helping them develop the confidence, resilience, and skills needed to succeed in their next stage of education.