Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner

Salary: Grade 4/5 Term Time Only- £30,279 to £33,983 FTE (Actual £25,927.88 to £29,099.61)
Location: Addington Valley Academy, Field Way, New Addington, CR0 9AZ
Working Pattern: Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 4.15pn and Friday 8.30am – 4.00pm
Are you looking for somewhere truly special to work? A place where you can help make special happen every single day for students with autism and severe learning difficulties? Addington Valley Academy is a special free school in Croydon for children and young people aged 4 to19 with autism and complex learning needs. Since opening, we have grown into a vibrant community, offering places for students with a wide range of social communication, cognitive, sensory, emotional, and behavioural needs.
The new purpose designed school is equipped to meet the needs of students and includes sensory gardens, indoor sensory rooms, soft-play area, and a large cookery room along with other facilities to encourage students to learn skills to live independently. Students access specialist support enabling them to learn and achieve in a nurturing and aspirational environment.
At Addington Valley Academy, special happens through the passion of our staff, the progress of our students, and the shared commitment to creating the best possible outcomes for every learner. It’s a rewarding, inspiring place to work – where your dedication can truly make a difference.
We are seeking a passionate and skilled Positive Behaviour Support Practitioner to join our team, supporting the delivery of high-quality, person-centred practice across Addington Valley Academy. The role focuses on embedding Positive Behaviour Support and Active Support approaches within classrooms, coaching staff, modelling effective practice, and helping pupils increase their engagement, participation, communication and independence. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with staff and leadership teams to create inclusive, supportive environments that enable every pupil to thrive.
Key Responsibilities:
• Model and embed high-quality practice within classrooms to increase pupil engagement, participation, communication and independence.
• Support staff teams to implement Positive Behaviour Support Plans consistently and meaningfully within daily classroom routines and activities.
• Provide coaching, feedback and reflective support to develop staff understanding and strengthen Positive Behaviour Support and Active Support practice.
• Collaborate with class teams, the Connections Team and senior leaders to promote consistent, person-centred approaches across the school.
• Contribute to staff training, development and practice monitoring, supporting the continuous improvement of inclusive and supportive learning environments.
Key Requirements:
• GCSE grade 9-4 (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics, with a secure understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, pupil development and inclusive educational practice.
• Experience supporting pupils with complex needs in a school setting, including promoting engagement, participation, communication, independence and emotional regulation.
• Knowledge and experience of Positive Behaviour Support-informed, person-centred and communication-based approaches, with an understanding of safeguarding, equal opportunities, health and safety and least restrictive practice.
• Strong ability to model best practice and coach staff within classroom environments, translating guidance and Positive Behaviour Support Plans into meaningful, practical strategies while providing professional support and challenge.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organisational and IT skills, with the ability to build positive relationships, work flexibly across settings, manage sensitive situations and engage in reflective practice and ongoing professional development.
OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits:
• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.
Our Trust:
Addington Valley Academy is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.
We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.
Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.
As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.
It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.
If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.
Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.
To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form. Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.
To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.
Closing Date: Wednesday 24th June 2026
Interviews will take place week commencing 6th July 2026
To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.