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Special Needs Teacher - Full-time - Special Needs Position

Five Acre Wood School, Maidstone

  • Ref:KCC886-7056-885T
  • Posted:20/03/2026
  • Pay:ECT/MPS/UPS +SENA
  • Start Date:1st Sept 2026
  • App Close Date:13/04/2026 at 10:00
  • Interviews:TBC

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Five Acre Wood is a vibrant, outward‑looking and expanding special school based across four sites in and around Maidstone. With over 800 pupils aged 4–19, we are one of the largest special schools in the country, supporting a diverse range of profound, severe and complex needs. All pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan and learn through one of our six approaches: Early Years, Practical, Sensory, Formal, Structured and Functional.

We are seeking enthusiastic, creative teachers to join our friendly and dynamic community. Whether you are an experienced SEN teacher, an ECT eager to grow or a mainstream teacher looking for a rewarding new direction, we would love to hear from you. We have a strong track record in developing colleagues from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be an ‘Outstanding’ school and an IQM Flagship School, known for our warm culture, innovative practice and commitment to ‘Only the best will do’. Our rich provision includes hydrotherapy, multi‑sensory spaces, soft play, therapy dogs, Forest School, outdoor learning areas, a life‑skills lodge, shop and our hospitality training café in partnership with Costa Coffee. Specialist therapy, NHS partners and a dedicated family liaison team work closely with our staff to support every child.

Our vision is to empower every individual in a safe, creative and inclusive community to thrive, achieve and prepare for life’s journey. We do this by delivering personalised learning, nurturing wellbeing, celebrating achievements, expanding life experiences and working in strong partnership with families and professionals.

Our values—Belonging, Integrity and Innovation—shape how we work every day. Through the Five Acre Wood Way, we commit to being 'Together Stronger,' putting 'Pupils First', and recognising that 'Every Moment Matters'. These principles guide our culture, decisions and the consistent, positive environment we create for pupils and staff.

 

You will benefit from a comprehensive induction, a buddy and mentor, a highly supportive leadership team and extensive professional development. Relationships, teamwork and wellbeing are at the heart of our culture.

In addition to salary, SEN allowance and pension, staff benefits include:

  • Confidential counselling service and Employee Assistance Programme
  • School Counsellor (for staff and pupils)
  • Wellbeing app
  • Annual flu vaccinations
  • Strong social, supportive staff community
  • Development opportunities

We encourage you to explore our website to see our unique facilities—including a library housed in an aeroplane and a counselling space in a lifeboat—plus examples of our innovative approaches to learning across all sites.

Five Acre Wood is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks, online searches and additional employment references in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025).

We look forward to hearing from you!

Information about the school

Five Acre Wood is an “Outstanding", forward looking school with an international reputation. We are ambitious for our pupils, and we pride ourselves on working with many leaders in the field of special education.

We play an important role in our community and enjoy strong local links which give our pupils opportunities to play active and meaningful roles in their own communities.

We are an innovative school and have worked on a number of unique projects to provide pupils with unique and diverse learning opportunities. These include; - FAWrient Express café in a train carriage, giving pupils hands-on experience in hospitality training - 7FAW7 - a library inside a real plane fuselage designed to meet the diverse needs of our pupils - FAWtilus - a dedicated counselling space for pupils and staff - FAWbulous Bus - a soft-play facility that also teaches pupils how to safely board a bus - Platform FAW - our new coffee roastery where pupils can learn to roast and bag their own coffee - Peggy’s FAWtique - a shop space where pupils can develop valuable sales techniques - Radio FAW All - our very own radio station, which offers pupils exciting opportunities to get involved in radio broadcasting and research - FAW Records - our own record label. We have released a number of singles and music videos - Five Acre Woodstock Festival - our annual festival created especially for pupils to experience the sights, sounds and atmosphere of a real performance.

It may need to be seen to be believed! Please click this link to view our videos: https://www.youtube.com/@FiveAcreWoodRecords

Five Acre Wood is committed to the safeguarding of all its pupils, you will therefore be subject to an enhanced disclosure process. As part of our responsibility for safeguarding, in addition to the Kent policy of one employment and one personal reference, the school will request additional employment references.

Job Contact Information

  • Name:Nicola Devereux
  • Address:Boughton Lane, Maidstone , Kent, ME15 9QF
  • Telephone: (01622) 743925
  • Email: hr@five-acre.kent.sch.uk

Fax: 01622 744828

Documents

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We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students. You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.