Early Years Lead & Satellite Provision Lead - Full-time - Special Needs Position

Danecourt School, Gillingham

• Ref:MED887-7031-194L
• Posted:10/12/2025
• Pay:MPS/UPS and TLR
• Start Date:ASAP or Easter
• App Close Date:16/01/2026 at 14:00
• Interviews:20th January 2026

Advert

Early Years Lead & Danecourt@Featherby Satellite Provision Lead

Lead. Inspire. Shape the future of Early Years SEND education.

Hours: 27.5 per week
Contract: Permanent
Term Time Only: 39 weeks
Start Date: ASAP or Easter
Salary: MPS/UPS + TLR

Danecourt School is a Primary Special School seeking an inspirational teacher to become our Early Years & Satellite Lead, working across our main site and our Danecourt@Featherby provision. This is a key leadership role, combining high-quality teaching with strategic responsibility for EYFS development.

About the Role

As part of our skilled and passionate EYFS team, you will help shape exceptional early years practice for pupils with a range of complex needs, including autism and communication differences. You will lead our EYFS approach across both sites and teach a Reception class within a nurturing, child-centred setting.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and manage the Early Years curriculum across the school and satellite provision

• Support, develop and coach staff to ensure high-quality teaching

• Lead, organise and monitor assessment across EYFS

• Work closely with the leadership team to strengthen EYFS provision

• Provide consistently high-quality teaching in your Reception class

• Ensure a positive, nurturing environment where every child can thrive

• Contribute to the wider strategic development of Danecourt

This is a unique opportunity to lead practice at a specialist level while remaining closely connected to the joy of classroom teaching.

Who You Are

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about Early Years and SEND

• An experienced teacher with a strong track record in EYFS

• Skilled at leading, motivating and developing others

• Knowledgeable about high-quality early years practice

• Committed to inclusion, high expectations and child-centred learning

• Able to think creatively and work collaboratively

Leadership experience is desirable but not essential if you can demonstrate strong potential.

What We Offer

At Danecourt, you’ll join a supportive and ambitious team that lives our STARS values every day. As part of the Maritime Academy Trust, you’ll benefit from:

• Tailored CPD and leadership development

• Coaching and mentoring from experienced leaders

• Cross-school collaboration through the Maritime Outreach Service

• A strong, supportive team culture across all provisions

• Innovative CPD through our LearnUpon platform

• A staff wellbeing offer including EAP and wellbeing leads

Danecourt is proud to be a winner of the Medway Parents & Carers SEND Award and holds the Inclusion Quality Mark’s Inclusive School Award, reflecting our commitment to excellence for our children and families.

Ready to Make a Difference?

We would love to welcome you for a visit. Please contact the school office on 01634 232589 or speak with Lou Elliott for more information.

Apply now via My New Term. We may interview as applications are received, so early application is encouraged.

Danecourt School and the Maritime Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and online checks.

Information about the school

Danecourt School is part of the Maritime Academy Trust, an innovative partnership of schools in Greenwich, Bexley, Kent, and Medway. Across the Trust, we believe in transforming education through collaboration, creativity, and an entrepreneurial curriculum that equips children with essential life skills.

At Danecourt, we are proud to be a specialist primary school for pupils with a wide range of needs — including complex learning difficulties and autism. Every child here is valued, supported, and challenged to achieve their personal best.

Our mission is to help all pupils become “STARS” -

S - Self reliant T - Team Players A - Aspirational R - Resilient S - Successful

We achieve this through a personalised curriculum tailored to each child’s individual needs. Our highly trained and dedicated staff have the highest expectations for every pupil — celebrating difference, encouraging curiosity, and unlocking potential in every lesson.

Collaboration sits at the heart of all we do. We work closely with families, carers, and specialist agencies to ensure every child thrives academically, emotionally, and socially. Pupil progress and achievement are celebrated in meaningful ways that reflect the uniqueness of each learner.

If you’re interested in joining our community, we warmly welcome you to visit us — meet our pupils and staff, see our approach in action, and experience the truly special atmosphere that defines Danecourt School.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Maritime Academy Trust
• Address:50 John Harrison Way, Greenwich, London, SE10 0BG
• Telephone: 020 8858 0394
• Email: recruitment@maritimeacademytrust.org

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Application Pack