Jobs

We are seeking an experienced and innovative teacher to join our team of supportive and enthusiastic professionals in September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Candidates must hold a mandatory qualification for teaching children and young people with vision impairment or be willing to complete a post graduate diploma in this field.

If you do not hold the mandatory qualification to teach children and young people with vision impairment, completion of the 2-year post graduate training course will be funded by the local authority and completed within the first 3 years of employment. Following training, it would be anticipated that you would work with Durham Sensory Team for a minimum of 2 years.
 
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
This is a peripatetic post supporting children and young people with vision impairment and their families in homes, mainstream and specialist educational settings across all age ranges from birth to 25. Ideally, you will have worked across the primary/secondary sector and have extensive experience and understanding of the modification of curriculum delivery to meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability.
 
We encourage you to contact Yvonne Galloway (Team Leader for Children and Young People with Vision and Multi-Sensory Impairment) via email at yvonne.galloway@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role.  
 
WHAT WILL I NEED?
You should have an extensive teaching background with demonstrable experience of working with children with Special Educational Needs and Disability. It would be beneficial if you have experience of working with children with vision impairment, including those with complex needs. 

You should understand how accessibility features in mainstream technology can support access to the curriculum for children with vision impairment and be willing to develop your skills in the use of specialist equipment.

You need to be committed to developing your understanding of new technologies and you should be able to support others to understand how technology is used to reduce the barriers to accessing the curriculum and the wider world.
 
You should have a commitment to inclusive teaching practice, the ability to form effective partnerships with parents, schools and other professionals and a willingness to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to support the needs of children and young people with vision and multi-sensory impairment.

Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria. 

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.
 
Our commitment to safeguarding 
Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore if successful in your application, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought inclusive of a check of the Children's Barred List and Adults Barred List, due to the position working in regulated activity. Applicants should be aware that the DBS check will disclose both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, in line with current legislation.
 
INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held during the week beginning 11th May 2026.
 
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
 
OUR OFFER TO YOU
Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. This post is subject to teachers’ pay and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
 
HOW TO APPLY 
Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted.

Please visit our website to understand our position on using AI to support your application and for guidance on completing your application.
 
If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email RecruitmentCYPS@durham.gov.uk
 
All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.
 
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Company: Durham County Council

Salary: MPS1 - UPS3 (32,916 - 51,048) plus SEN 1-2 depending on QTVI Status (pro rata to hours worked)

Location: Spennymoor, Durham

Sector: Education

Job Role: Teaching Assistant