With almost 500 new specialist places being made available over the next two years, the council will employ more teaching assistants, primary and secondary teachers
More than 150 jobs in Cardiff schools are on offer as part of a recruitment drive to help with the expansion of provision for children with additional learning needs, it has been announced.
Cardiff Council has said it is looking to employ a total of 40 new teachers and 120 new teaching assistants. With almost 500 new specialist places being made available over the next two years, the extra primary and secondary teachers are needed as well as TAs, the council said.
The programme to provide an added 462 specialist places in schools and special schools comes as headteachers have warned of the huge rise in numbers of children with additional needs.
The expansion in Cardiff is in response to growing numbers of ALN children. The vacancies, for jobs starting in April and September this year, are to work with ALN pupils both in mainstream and specialist provision in Cardiff. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.
The plans include 276 additional places in special schools and 186 in other school’s specialist resource bases (SRBs), to be delivered through a combination of refurbishment and new-build projects and you can read more details here.
Cardiff Council said it was responding to rising demand for emotional health and wellbeing, autism and complex learning needs places. The rise has been driven by improved survival rates for children with significant disabilities, better identification of specific needs, and increased emotional health challenges among young people.
Education bosses want to see the majority of learners with ALN taught in local mainstream schools wherever possible. When specialist provision is needed the aim is for children to stay within Cardiff, reducing reliance on pricey out of county placements and keeping pupils in their local communities.
Catrin Llwyd, a teacher at Cardiff’s special school, Woodlands High, who has nearly 20 years experience, said it’s a privilege working with ALN children.
“Being a teacher in a specialist setting is a unique and incredible opportunity. We strive to ensure that all learners achieve their potential regardless of need and ability.
“Teaching in specialist provision means being a teacher and an advocate and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Over the coming months, Cardiff will also be recruiting for around 120 teaching assistant roles in Additional Learning Needs (ALN) settings in the city. These positions will play a vital part in supporting learners and helping specialist teachers deliver high-quality, inclusive education. The council said the jobs will be advertised here.
