Cover Teacher

Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only
Hours: Full-time preferred; part-time applications may be considered
Salary: M1–M6 + Fringe Allowance, dependent on experience
Qualification: Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) essential
Responsible to: Deputy Head – Academic / Headteacher

About Moon Hall School

Moon Hall School, Reigate is a specialist independent school for pupils with dyslexia and associated learning differences. We provide a nurturing, academically ambitious environment in which pupils are supported to understand their individual learning profiles, develop confidence and achieve their potential.

Our school values are centred around ensuring every pupil has a strong sense of belonging and is encouraged to Believe, Belong and Become.

The Role

We are seeking an enthusiastic, flexible and skilled Cover Teacher to join our teaching team.

The successful candidate will provide high-quality teaching and supervision when colleagues are absent, ensuring that pupils experience continuity in their learning and that established classroom routines and expectations are maintained.

Unlike a traditional cover supervisor role, this position requires a qualified teacher who is confident working across different subjects and year groups and who can actively support pupils' learning rather than simply supervise pre-set work.

We would ideally appoint someone on a full-time basis, as continuity and familiarity with our pupils are particularly important within our specialist setting. However, applications from candidates seeking part-time employment may also be considered.

Key Responsibilities

The Cover Teacher will:

• Provide effective classroom teaching and cover for absent teachers across the school.
• Deliver work and lesson activities provided by subject teachers, adapting delivery where appropriate to ensure pupils can access the learning.
• Provide clear explanations, guidance and support to pupils during lessons.
• Maintain high expectations for pupil engagement, behaviour and learning.
• Develop positive, professional relationships with pupils so that cover lessons remain purposeful, calm and productive.
• Become familiar with individual pupils' learning needs, strategies and reasonable adjustments.
• Use appropriate dyslexia-friendly teaching strategies and support pupils with associated needs including ADHD, autism and other learning differences.
• Provide appropriate feedback to the substantive teacher regarding learning, behaviour and any work completed.
• Follow departmental schemes of work, resources and teacher instructions wherever these have been provided.
• Where necessary, plan suitable learning activities when work has not been provided.
• Support pupils to develop independence, resilience and confidence as learners.
• Provide additional classroom or academic support when cover is not required.
• Undertake small-group teaching, intervention or individual academic support where appropriate.
• Support school activities, enrichment, trips, examinations and other duties where required.
• Contribute positively to the wider life of the school.

Teaching and Learning

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Demonstrate consistently strong classroom practice.
• Adapt teaching to meet a range of learning needs.
• Present information clearly and in manageable stages.
• Check pupils' understanding and respond appropriately when pupils require additional explanation.
• Use visual, practical and multisensory approaches where these support learning.
• Understand that pupils with dyslexia may have significant strengths alongside areas of difficulty.
• Promote positive attitudes towards learning and encourage pupils to recognise their own strengths.
• Ensure pupils are appropriately challenged as well as supported.

Pastoral Responsibilities

All teachers at Moon Hall have an important pastoral role.

The Cover Teacher will:

• Promote the welfare, confidence and wellbeing of pupils.
• Establish warm but appropriately professional relationships with pupils.
• Follow the school's behaviour, pastoral and safeguarding procedures.
• Recognise when a pupil may require additional pastoral or SEND support and communicate concerns appropriately.
• Promote the school's values and expectations throughout the school day.

Safeguarding

Moon Hall School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

The postholder must:

• Understand that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
• Follow all school safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures.
• Complete all required safeguarding training.
• Report concerns promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or appropriate member of staff.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with pupils at all times.

The successful applicant will be subject to the school's safer recruitment procedures, including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and other statutory pre-employment checks.

Person Specification

Essential

The successful candidate will:

• Hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Have experience of teaching children or young people.
• Be an effective and confident classroom practitioner.
• Be able to establish positive relationships with pupils quickly.
• Have strong classroom and behaviour-management skills.
• Be flexible and comfortable teaching or supervising across different subjects and age groups.
• Be able to adapt explanations and resources to meet individual learning needs.
• Have high expectations of pupils and a commitment to helping every pupil succeed.
• Be organised, dependable and able to respond positively when arrangements change at short notice.
• Communicate effectively with teaching, pastoral and support colleagues.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding and pupil wellbeing.
• Be willing to contribute to the wider life of the school.

Desirable

It would be advantageous to have:

• Experience of working within a specialist SEND setting.
• Experience supporting pupils with dyslexia.
• Knowledge or experience of ADHD, autism or other neurodivergent profiles.
• Experience teaching across more than one subject or Key Stage.
• Experience of intervention or small-group teaching.
• An understanding of dyslexia-friendly and inclusive classroom practice.

The Person We Are Looking For

This role would suit a teacher who enjoys variety and building relationships across the whole school. We are particularly looking for someone who is:

• Calm and confident.
• Warm and approachable.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Reliable and organised.
• Comfortable stepping into different classrooms and subjects.
• Able to quickly establish clear expectations.
• Positive about neurodiversity.
• Willing to learn about individual pupils and the strategies that enable them to succeed.

Above all, we are looking for someone who understands that effective cover is about much more than supervising a classroom. The successful candidate will provide consistency, reassurance and high-quality teaching so that learning continues effectively when a pupil's usual teacher is unavailable.

Terms and Conditions

Salary: M1–M6 plus Fringe Allowance, dependent upon experience.

Contract: Term Time Only.

Working pattern: Full-time preferred to provide consistency and continuity for pupils. Part-time arrangements may be considered for an exceptional candidate.

Start date: To be agreed.

Moon Hall School is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks.

Pay: £34,925.40-£47,557.60 per year

Benefits:

• Canteen
• Company pension
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person