Tower Hamlets
North East London
TBC
Respite Teacher (Independent School) January 2026 Start
Position: Respite Teacher
Curriculum Areas: English, Maths, Science, PSHE, Humanities, PE
Location: Independent School (inner London)
Contract: Full-time (details negotiable)
About the School
Parker Smith Inclusion are supporting an independent provision for young people aged 11 to 18 (KS3 through Sixth Form) who have been excluded from — or struggled to thrive in — mainstream education.
This school believes in tailoring the education to the student, not forcing the student to fit the system. Strive to provide a fresh start for young people, offering a calm, nurturing and creative environment where they are met with understanding and respect, and supported in building toward a positive future.
To support the diverse needs of their pupils, they offer flexible learning pathways (full-time, part-time, and blended learning) and small class sizes, ensuring each student receives personalised attention and support.
Beyond academics, prioritise holistic development — social, emotional, and mental well-being — with an emphasis on personal and social growth embedded across our curriculum.
The ethos is summed up in: “Every Young Life Matters.” Committed to giving every learner — regardless of background or previous difficulties — equal opportunities to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
About the Role
They are seeking a resilient, compassionate, and adaptable Respite Teacher to join their team. In this role, you will deliver lessons across English, Maths, Science, PSHE, Humanities, and PE, while embedding personal and social development within every lesson.
You will work with students who have experienced exclusion or significant challenges in mainstream settings. Although students may not be working toward formal qualifications, you will help them grow, learn, and build confidence.
You will be supported by a small, dedicated team — including a Teaching Assistant and a Behaviour Mentor — to manage and support student learning and behaviour effectively.
Your responsibilities will include:
Delivering engaging lessons tailored to individual needs.
Embedding social, emotional, and personal development into your teaching.
Managing and de-escalating challenging behaviours with empathy, consistency, and professionalism.
Building trusting relationships with students, offering stability, care, and positivity.
Collaborating with support staff to create a safe, structured, and supportive learning environment.
About You
We are looking for someone who is:
Experienced in managing challenging behaviours, ideally within SEND, alternative provision, or similar contexts.
Patient, empathetic, and passionate about working with young people who may have experienced trauma, exclusion, or disruption in their education.
Flexible and creative — able to adapt teaching methods and curriculum to meet individual emotional and learning needs.
Committed to holistic education — supporting not only academic learning, but personal growth, wellbeing, and social development.
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is desirable but not essential for the right candidate with strong experience in behavioural support and working with excluded or vulnerable students.
Why Join Us?
Be part of a small, dedicated team where your contribution genuinely matters and your work directly impacts young lives.
Work within a supportive, flexible, and caring school ethos — where education adapts to the student, not the other way around.
Help provide a second chance to young people who’ve been let down by mainstream education.
Help build not just academic understanding, but confidence, wellbeing, and hope for the future
If you believe you have the resilience, passion, and commitment to join us — and you’re ready to make a genuine difference — we would love to hear from you.
Please apply with your CV or call on 0203 011 4848 asking for Elise @ Parker Smith Inclusion, elise.harnwell@psinclusion.co.uk
