Literacy Lead Teacher – Specialist SEND School
Start Date: September 2026 (or sooner for the right candidate)
Contract: Permanent / Long-Term Opportunity
Location: West London
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience and leadership responsibilities
Horizon Teachers are proud to be working in partnership with a highly regarded specialist school in West London to recruit an outstanding
Literacy Lead Teacher.
This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and passionate educator to take a strategic lead on literacy development across a diverse and rewarding SEND setting.
The school supports children and young people aged 7–19 with a range of complex needs, including Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), severe learning disabilities (PMLD), communication and interaction needs, and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. The school has built a strong reputation for its inclusive ethos, personalised curriculum, and unwavering commitment to ensuring every learner achieves meaningful outcomes.
As Literacy Lead, you will play a key role in driving literacy standards throughout the school, developing innovative approaches to reading, writing, communication, and language acquisition that meet the needs of learners with a wide range of abilities. You will work closely with senior leaders, teachers, therapists, and support staff to embed literacy across the curriculum and champion best practice in teaching and learning.
The Role- Lead the strategic development of literacy across the school
- Develop and implement engaging literacy programmes tailored to learners with complex SEND
- Support colleagues in delivering high-quality literacy teaching through coaching, mentoring, and professional development
- Monitor and evaluate literacy outcomes, using data to inform improvement strategies
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to ensure literacy provision meets the needs of all learners
- Maintain an inspiring classroom environment and deliver outstanding teaching within your own timetable
- Contribute to whole-school improvement and curriculum development initiatives
The Ideal Candidate- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is essential
- Proven experience teaching pupils with SEND, particularly Autism and complex learning needs, is highly desirable
- Strong understanding of literacy development and evidence-based literacy interventions
- Experience leading a subject area, phase, curriculum initiative, or whole-school improvement project would be advantageous
- Excellent communication, organisational, and leadership skills
- Ability to inspire colleagues and drive positive outcomes for learners with diverse needs
- Commitment to inclusive education and raising aspirations for all pupils
Whether you are an experienced Literacy Lead seeking a new challenge or an accomplished classroom teacher ready to step into a leadership role, we would be keen to hear from you.Why Horizon Teachers?- Market-leading rates of pay and competitive salary packages
- Dedicated specialist education consultants who understand SEND settings
- Access to industry-standard training and professional development
- A personalised and supportive recruitment experience
- 4.8-star average candidate review rating
- Opportunities to progress your career within exceptional schools and provisions
This is a rare opportunity to join a well-established specialist school where literacy is recognised as a cornerstone of pupil success, communication, independence, and future life opportunities.
Apply today through Horizon Teachers to be considered for this rewarding leadership opportunity.Operam Education Group includes Provide Education | Teachers UK | Provision Recruitment | The Education Specialists | First for Education | Horizon Teachers | Key Stage Teacher Supply
We're proud to be an inclusive employer, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds and committed to creating accessible opportunities across education.
As part of our registration process, you'll need an enhanced DBS check and we'll need to see and copy your original qualifications before any placement. Teaching roles require Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent.
