UWCSEA Dover is seeking a Teacher of Middle and High School Learning Support (Local contract) from August 2025 to join our dynamic and flexible support team. The Learning Support position focuses on fostering an inclusive environment that prioritises a student-centred and strength-based approach. UWCSEA are in the initial phases of implementing a tiered support model, and this role involves collaborating with the team around the child to ensure all students can thrive within the UWCSEA learning programme. The successful candidate will be required to have an understanding of tiered support structures and systems within large and dynamic educational organisations.
The candidate should have recent Middle and/or High School teaching experience, understand the unique challenges faced by Middle and High School students and hold relevant qualifications that support students with learning differences. The candidate should be willing to work in both Middle and High School.
Main Responsibilities
- Teachers should contribute positively to the collaborative culture of the Middle/ High School team.
- Teachers should construct learning experiences that challenge students, support diverse learners in each classroom, and demonstrate a strong commitment to concept-based teaching and learning.
- Teachers should utilise the UWCSEA Learning Principles as a foundation for effective teaching and learning.
- Teachers should keep parents informed about the learning of their children, and be proactive in communication with parents.
- Teachers should be willing and eager to participate in the five key elements of a UWCSEA education: Academics; Activities; Outdoor Education; Personal and Social Education and Service
Working with students
- Understand and leverage students' strengths and support their overall well-being through a holistic approach to their academic and personal development.
- Be responsive to students' learning and socio-emotional needs through implementing a range of strategies relevant to individual strengths and challenges.
- Collaborate with students to set their own goals, plan coaching sessions, and create personalised support to achieve those goals, while also encouraging self-advocacy and regularly monitoring their progress
- Guide students in understanding their unique learning profiles and teach them self-advocacy skills to thrive during their school journey, preparing them for successful transitions to post-secondary opportunities
- Foster positive relationships and promote student well-being to create a supportive learning environment.
Collaboration and Partnerships
- Work in partnership with teachers across various subjects to co-plan and implement strategies that address student needs to help strengthen Tier 1, and draw on the principles of Universal Design for Learning.
- Collaborate with the Learning Support team, Heads of Grade and teachers to identify students for support and monitor student progress as needed.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with other staff members throughout the Middle and High School and K-12 Learning Support team.
- Work effectively to ensure a smooth transition for students and parents.
- View parents as partners in the support process and take relevant actions to foster this.
Data & Assessment - As part of holistic support
- Confidently use and gather different types of data from multiple sources to monitor student progress and well-being around specific educational goals.
- Is confident with understanding external examination board requirements for access arrangements
- Use educational assessments to help guide effective student plans and communicate key information with teachers
Systems & Documentation
- Maintain student learning records in line with department policies.
- Collaborate with students and parents to create and update student learning plans, ensuring that students are actively advocating for their own needs and goals
- Maintain confidentiality at all times in respect of individual and family circumstance
Expectations and Standards
Person Specifications
- Relevant degree, a recognised teaching qualification, and learning support teaching qualification are required.
- Considerable Middle/High School learning support experience is required with an understanding of the unique challenges faced by Middle/High School students.
- Experience and confidence working with external examination boards for access arrangements.
- A proven track record of supporting students with a range of additional learning needs, successfully delivering targeted support and confidence in co-planning instruction with teachers as part of our Tier 1 support.
- As we are in the initial phases of implementing a tiered support model, flexibility, optimism, resilience, initiative and adaptability are essential.
- The ability to work with a high level of autonomy, while also collaborating effectively as part of both the Middle and High School Learning Support department and the K-12 Learning Support team.
- Experience and knowledge in using data from various sources to guide, implement and track the effectiveness of student support.
- A strengths-based, inclusive philosophy and approach to supporting students is essential.
- The ability to connect with students, inspire enthusiasm, and build positive relationships with both parents and Middle/High School teachers is crucial.
- To maintain a positive, solution-focused attitude in a dynamic, diverse, and high-energy environment.
- The ability to prioritise and manage projects effectively while responding proactively to emerging challenges.
- Excellent communication skills.
- The following would be an advantage:Experience providing intervention and coaching for students with executive functioning difficulties in a Middle/High School setting.
Additional qualifications in educational assessment and testing E.g CCET
Experience designing and delivering meaningful professional learning to staff within the school setting
Experience and expertise in co-planning with teachers to design effective instruction grounded in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Experience working with tiered student support structures
Previous experience as a Classroom Teacher would be an advantage.
- Academic expectations include enthusiastic participation in Professional Learning.
- Pastoral expectations include the leadership of an advisory group, unless the teacher is exempted due to other responsibilities.
- On average the College expects a yearly contribution of two sessions per week in each season to Activities and/or Service.
- The College expects that teachers will participate enthusiastically in the curricular Outdoor Education experiences which are relevant to their students and will also occasionally volunteer for holiday Outdoor Education trips and/or Service Trips.
- A commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential alongside a willingness to adapt and develop pedagogy to meet the needs of our learners.
Applications
The UWC Mission is to make education a force to unite people, nations and culture for peace and a sustainable future. We are committed to creating a community in which all members feel safe and secure, and know that their authentic selves and individual differences are accepted with respect and care. At UWCSEA, we acknowledge that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) is an ongoing and evolving process and strive to create and sustain a sense of belonging for all members of our community, past, present and future. All qualified applicants, including those who identify as a part of marginalized group(s) and individuals with (dis)abilities are all encouraged to apply. Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and all appointments are subject to interview, satisfactory references, identity and criminal record checks.
