Speech & Language Therapist / Communication Specialist

We are a specialist school with an outstanding residential provision, supporting pupils aged 4-19 with autism and communication and interaction needs, alongside learning needs. We place the child firmly at the centre of everything we do. Through strong relationships with pupils, families and professionals, we create a safe, nurturing environment where pupils feel respected, understood and able to thrive. A significant proportion of our curriculum is dedicated to Communication, Language & Literature, underpinned by a Total Communication approach. Communication is central to wellbeing - supporting pupils' health & happiness, enabling them to connect, express themselves, and participate fully in their community. The Role: We are seeking a passionate and skilled professional to lead communication practice across the school. This is a key role in helping us: · Deliver the highest-quality universal communication offer across all classrooms and environments · Build consistent, confident practice rooted in respect and kindness · Provide high-quality targeted intervention for pupils with identified speech, language and communication needs You will play a central role in ensuring that communication is not an add-on, but something that shapes every interaction, every relationship, and every learning experience. You will lead communication provision across our pathway model (Explore, Discovery and Investigate), ensuring that approaches reflect individual need while enabling pupils to build independence and develop their voice within the school community. This post is open to candidates who are either:

• · a qualified Speech & Language Therapist, or, Leading Whole-School Communication
· Lead and embed a consistent Total Communication approach across the school · Ensure AAC systems are used effectively and consistently across environments · Promote a culture where pupils are listened to, respected and actively supported to communicate Speech, Language and Communication Planning · Assess pupils' needs and develop clear, practical communication plans · Ensure plans are implemented consistently and reviewed for impact · Align provision with EHCP outcomes and wider developmental goals Universal Offer and Targeted Intervention · Strengthen the school's universal communication offer, ensuring high-quality provision for all · Deliver or oversee targeted interventions where more specialist support is required · Ensure a clear link between need, provision and impact Workforce Development & Line Management · Train, coach and support staff to develop confident, consistent communication practice · Line manage a specialist Teaching Assistant, ensuring strong delivery of interventions and strategies · Build staff capability so that communication approaches are embedded across the school community Family Partnership & AAC Funding · Work closely with families, recognising their essential role within our community · Support families to access funding for AAC devices, offering advice and contributing to applications and reviews · Ensure communication strategies support consistency between school, home and wider environments Collaboration & Impact · Work in partnership with external professionals and services · Contribute to EHCP processes, reviews and multi-agency planning · Monitor and evaluate impact, ensuring a strong focus on pupil outcomes and wellbeing Our Total Reward Offer: The Special Partnership Trust recognises the importance of developing a properly implemented People Strategy to underpin the overall strategic aims of the Trust. Our People Strategy is designed to help us attract prospective high calibre candidates, as well as drive engagement, productivity and retention of our high performing and high potential employees. It reflects our belief in putting our people first. This does not mean putting our learners second. It is based on the philosophy that if we create a positive and rewarding work environment, if our staff feel motivated, well managed and well supported, they in turn will provide the best possible outcome for our learners., Orchard Manor School would like all candidates to answer specific questions for the personal statement section. For reference, here is a preview of the questions/headings: 1. This important part of your application will be used to decide if you meet the criteria and should be shortlisted for interview. Refer to the role information supplied and tell us how your skills and experience match. Use examples where possible and provide the situation or task, your action(s) and the result. If you are applying for your first job, provide examples of other relevant experience that will help us decide your suitability, e.g. gained through education, the community etc. 2. We are committed to safeguarding children and young people. From your training and/or experience, please give examples which demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to safeguarding and how you would ensure these vulnerable groups remain in a safe environment. Word Limit: 200 words


• · a specialist practitioner with expert knowledge in Total Communication and exceptional AAC practice, with a proven ability to influence and develop others
  
  Orchard Manor School, Dawlish (EX7) | Part of the Special Partnership Trust
Welcome to Orchard Manor School At Orchard Manor School, we are proud to be a truly inclusive community where every pupil is known, valued and supported to belong. Our work is grounded in our core values of respect, relationships, kindness, community, and health & happiness, which are lived through daily interactions across our school.

We recognise that our total reward offer, has got to consist of more than just money. We seek to provide our staff with a diverse range of benefits that support their day to day needs both at work and outside of work. These include generous leave entitlements and pension scheme as well as access to health/wellbeing tools, training & development, career pathways and opportunities to ensure they feel valued.