Specialist Advisory Teacher

South Gloucestershire Council is launching Experts at Hand, a specialist support service designed to strengthen inclusion and deliver the next phase of SEND reform. We believe every child and young person should be able to learn, belong and thrive within their local community. Experts at Hand will play a central role in creating a more inclusive education system by building workforce confidence, strengthening ordinarily available provision and ensuring expertise is shared across the whole education system.

As a Specialist Advisory Teacher, you will work alongside early years settings, schools and post-16 providers to develop inclusive practice, remove barriers to participation and achievement, and improve outcomes for children and young people. Rather than providing a traditional referral-based service, you will focus on building the confidence, knowledge and capacity of professionals through consultation, coaching, modelling and collaborative problem-solving. Working as part of a multidisciplinary locality team, you will help shape and deliver a preventative, evidence-informed approach that enables children and young people to receive the right support at the right time and thrive in mainstream education wherever possible.

• You will provide consultation, coaching, collaborative problem-solving and specialist advice to early years settings, schools and post-16 providers, supporting them to strengthen inclusive cultures, develop effective graduated responses and enhance their ordinarily available provision.
• Through coaching, mentoring and professional learning, you will build the confidence and capability of teachers, SENDCOs, teaching assistants and leaders to meet a wide range of needs.
• You will model effective inclusive practice and support settings to develop evidence-informed approaches that improve participation, belonging, engagement and achievement.
• Working collaboratively with education professionals, families and partner agencies, you will help identify and remove barriers to learning and inclusion, providing coordinated support alongside educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and other specialist professionals.
• Contributing to the development of South Gloucestershire's Universal Inclusion Offer and wider Inclusion Strategy, you will help drive sustainable improvement across the education system through early intervention, preventative support and effective practice.
• You will identify emerging themes, barriers and opportunities to inform the ongoing development of South Gloucestershire's SEND Reform Programme and may be required to undertake locality or operational leadership responsibilities.

• It is essential you hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a degree-level qualification and have significant experience supporting children and young people with SEND, promoting inclusive practice within education.
• With a strong understanding of a broad range of learning, communication, sensory, emotional regulation and participation needs, you will be able to tailor your approach to respond effectively to individual needs.
• Being skilled in consultation, coaching, facilitation and professional learning, you will support sustainable improvements in the practice of others, with a commitment to evidence-informed approaches and continuous improvement.
• You will understand the principles of the graduated response, ordinarily available provision and inclusive education.
• Given the nature of the role, you will have experience of working collaboratively with families, schools and multi-agency partners, with a strong track record of improving outcomes for children and young people through high-quality inclusive practice.
• You must be passionate about inclusion and motivated by creating sustainable change that builds capacity within mainstream settings.
• A specialist SEND qualification, National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO), NPQ SENCO, postgraduate qualification or recognised specialist accreditation would be desirable.

• Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.
• You will work across early years settings, schools and post-16 providers so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel.

Interviews will be held on 26th and 27th October 2026.

• As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. 
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
• If you want to develop a specialism, you’ll get the support you need and your cases will be aligned with your areas of expertise.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life.
• We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference, be part of it!

To view the full job description, please click this link: EAH Specialist Advisory Teacher - Job Description