Creativity Tutor

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four ?

Our colleagues' wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we're always looking for new ways to improve everyone's work/life balance. We're taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we'll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group - so there's never been a more exciting time to join !

Job title: Creativity Tutor

Location: Higford School, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 9ET

Salary: £24,316.00 per annum (not pro rata)

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Permanent; Term Time only

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Creativity Tutor to join our close-knit team at Higford School, part of Options Autism.

About the role

This is an exciting and rewarding role, ideal for someone passionate about using creative arts to support young people with complex needs. We are seeking a subject-specific tutor with responsibility for Art, Music, and Drama.

The Creativity Tutor will lead the planning and delivery of creative sessions across the school. This role involves taking an imaginative and inclusive approach to teaching, adapting lessons to meet the individual needs of our students. The tutor will work closely with class teams to support engagement, promote expression, and encourage skill development through the arts. They will also be responsible for subject-specific planning, ensuring a clear learning journey and meaningful assessment of progress with the support of teaching and support staff.

The successful candidate may also be eligible to apply for the Outcomes First Group Teachers of Tomorrow Programme, offering three funded routes into teacher training, enabling you to develop your career while continuing to work.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Plan, deliver and teach creative arts sessions (Art, Music, and Drama) to individuals or small groups, aligned with the school's curriculum framework and in liaison with class teachers and curriculum leads.
• Monitor, record, and report on student progress, working collaboratively with education staff.
• Promote, in line with school policies, the creative, educational, and social development of students.
• Contribute to the development of a creative and engaging learning environment that supports students' personal and academic progress.
• Work with class teachers to organise the learning environment, resources, and groupings to create an inclusive and stimulating space.
• Collaborate on risk assessments and plan safe and engaging activities both on and off site.
• Support students in developing regulation strategies through the arts and manage challenging behaviour when necessary.
• Actively contribute as part of the school's multi-disciplinary team, building effective relationships with colleagues.
• Maintain regular communication and ensure individual learning needs are understood and met.
• Keep up-to-date with developments in creative education and strategies to support autistic learners.
• Ensure that all relevant policies and procedures are followed, including safeguarding protocols.
• Safeguard all students and ensure their safety and wellbeing at all times.

About Us

Options Higford is a special school set in 28 acres of beautiful Shropshire countryside. We provide a high quality, holistic education for up to 60 autistic students who also have associated behavioural needs. Class groups have five students in with at least 1:1 staffing. We provide personalised curriculums for each student based on their individual needs and aim to support them to make progress academically, socially, with skills for life, regulating their emotions and accessing the community.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And that's not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

You'll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit