Job title: Area Lead Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Salary: MPS/UPS + 2 SEN + TLR 2B

Hours: 32.5 per week- Teachers Pay and Conditions

Contract: Permanent

Location: City-wide. Office Base: Technorth, 9 Harrogate Rd, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3NB

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Leeds Visual Impairment Team. We are looking to appoint a qualified and experienced teacher of the visually impaired to the role of a city-wide lead in one of the following designated fields

Early Years education and development (Birth to end of Foundation Stage)
Primary education,
Secondary education (including 6^th form)
Additional needs and vision impairment

The postholder will work within a team of professionals supporting visually impaired children and young people across the city in homes and mainstream and specialist settings. Successful experience of multi-agency working which improves outcomes for children is essential, as is experience of working supportively with families. The teacher appointed will lead the development of practice for children and young people with visual impairment in one of the above designated fields, advising professional colleagues and delivering training for staff in settings across the city.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As an Area Lead you will bring to the role:

Qualified teacher status Mandatory qualification for Teacher of the VI or MSI
Excellent leadership and management skills
Up to date and in-depth knowledge ofone of the following areas and how to raise achievement for VI learners: Early Years education and development (Birth to end of Foundation Stage) Primary education, Secondary education (including 6^th form) Additional needs and VI MSI.
Experience of management within an education service, school or a service for vision impaired children.
Experience of working as a Teacher of the VI, or MSI including working in a peripatetic/advisory role
Experience of working in partnership with, and influencing, families and professionals to improve outcomes for CYP with VI/MSI

About the role

You will need to be an enthusiastic, motivated professional with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills, flexibility, the ability to work collaboratively to contribute to the wider SEND Inclusion Team within the Service.

As an Area Lead you will lead and manage VIT staff allocated to the specified Area of need, providing a professional lead and supervision as well as day-to-day management, modelling restorative, reflective and child‑centred practice,

As our next Area you will be part of the Senior Management Team within VIT and will play a role in contributing to service development, policy implementation and ongoing performance improvement, ensuring that the children and young people meet their potential, have equitable access to the curriculum and develop skills and independence to prepare them for adulthood.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact contact

Ellen Maher, City Lead Teacher of the Visually Impaired Tel. 07891 270446, email ellen.maher@leeds.gov.uk

Closing Date for applications will be 14/05/2026

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying

Job description

Job Purpose: Assist the City Lead Teacher in enabling all VI children in the specified Complex Needs Area to achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes as identified in the Children and Young People’s Plan.

All staff are required to support the services main purpose of encouraging and enabling children to develop, behaviourally, educationally and emotionally. To create and maintain a customer focused attitude and approach at all times that promotes positive relationships and generates a culture of openness and trust. To deliver efficient, effective and quality services by way of flexible working. To work together with colleagues from other service areas and organisations to provide and maintain a safe secure and learning environment that promotes the safety and welfare of children in which they can prosper, develop and achieve. To foster, maintain and support pro-social behaviour, a restorative and solution focussed approach with, children, and colleagues.

Responsibilities:

Responsible for the provision of service to learners with VI in the Complex Needs Area
Ensure referrals are addressed, assessments conducted and provision is in place
Lead, manage and deploy VIT staff allocated to the specified Area, providing a professional lead and supervision as well as day-to-day management
Ensure the highest quality of provision from VIT professionals working in the specified area
Monitor the outcomes for VI children in the specified Complex Needs Team Area
Advise the Area Lead for Complex Needs regarding individual children
Liaise effectively with other professionals in the given Area and cluster, to ensure a joined-up approach around individual children and families
Liaise effectively with all relevant professionals and agencies in a spirit of partnership
Contribute to the overall development of the Sensory Service and the Area Complex Needs team
Perform the role of Teacher of the VI in relation to pupils in the designated Complex Needs Area of need
Assess and provide advice on the individual needs of children, including statutory advice
Provide training to mainstream staff and other professionals
Devise educational plans and teaching as appropriate
Set pupil targets in liaison with other professionals and be accountable for progress and outcomes as appropriate
Deliver teaching of the mainstream and/or specialist curriculum as appropriate
Monitor, report on and respond to the progress of children in relation to the mainstream and/or specialist curriculum and adjust interventions as appropriate
Promote and monitor the outcomes for children as laid out in the CYPP including the social and emotional welfare of children
Enable and promote a cohesive multi-disciplinary and multi-agency approach to meeting children’s needs.
Promote the engagement and influence of children and families in their education and in service delivery
Take appropriate steps to promote and ensure the safeguarding of children while following agreed policies and practice
Maintain effective relationships with staff at all levels within Children’s Services, other Council Directorates, Elected Members, external agencies and the general public.

The post holder will also take a city-wide lead in one of the following designated fields:

Early Years education and development (Birth to end of Foundation Stage)
Primary education,
Secondary education (including 6^th form)
Additional needs and vision impairment

This will include:

Developing good practice, policies and protocols in the service in relation to the designated field
Providing advice and updates to Service staff and others regarding developments and good practice in the designated field whether related to mainstream curriculum initiatives or specialist good practice.
Work with colleagues to ensure good transition processes are in place between phases
Developing strategies for ensuring the influence of the voice of the child
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the grade for this post.

Qualifications:

Qualified teacher status Mandatory qualification for Teacher of the VI or MSI

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements. Progression through the grades will be linked to the appraisal process and subject to you performing your key tasks to a satisfactory level, and where appropriate successful completion of examinations.

Skills required

Effective leadership and management skills
Excellent teaching skills in planning, delivery, assessment and monitoring
Excellent skills in training and advisory work
Excellent skills in communicating with and influencing children, families and professionals
Good ICT skills

Knowledge required

Effective leadership and management skills
Excellent teaching skills in planning, delivery, assessment and monitoring
Excellent skills in training and advisory work
Excellent skills in communicating with and influencing children, families and professionals

Experience required

Experience of providing advice and support to colleagues
Experience of working as a Teacher of the VI, or MSI including working in a peripatetic/advisory role
Experience of monitoring, analysing and evaluating service impact and outcomes for children
Experience of seeking and listening to the voice of children and families in shaping service delivery
Experience of working in partnership with, and influencing, families and professionals to improve outcomes for CYP with VI/MSI

Behavioural & Other Related Characteristics required

Have high expectations of children with VI/MSI
Committed to partnership working with relevant agencies, children, young people and families
Committed to the full inclusion of children with SEN in educational settings
Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS:

It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates. Progression through the grades will be linked to the appraisal process and subject to you performing your key tasks to a satisfactory level, and where appropriate successful completion of examinations.

Experience of managing others