Learn to Play Teacher
We are looking for a passionate and empathetic special education teacher to deliver our play-based program, Learn 2 Play. This program uses play-based learning to help children develop their pretend play skills and social interactions. We provide opportunities for students with additional needs to develop play skills that allow them to explore the world and learn about themselves. We use pretend play to improve multiple areas of child development, including language, self-regulation, social interactions and problem-solving.
We highly value applicants with experience and passion for students with learning needs. The successful teacher will be working with the Specialist Team providing time release for classroom staff, by taking 1-hour sessions for a range of classes from foundation to grade 4 in our primary area of our school. The successful candidate will join an enthusiastic team of educators at our school. Our classrooms have no more than 10 students and teachers are supported by an average of 2 education support staff per classroom. Each classroom is also supported by a timetabled team including a Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Allied Health Assistant. We follow the Victorian Curriculum and report to families each semester. Assessment is done via formative assessment as well as using Cross-checks and staff report against the Victorian standards, our students are usually graded from A to D and some students access curriculum from F to 2. Teaching staff also are provided with 4 hours of time release through our specialist program that includes Physical Education, Visual and Performing Arts, Learn 2 Play and Kitchen Garden. Staff work in collaborative teams and are supported by Leading Teachers and Learning Specialists for additional 40 minutes weekly time release to focus on planning, assessment, PL as well as a focus on wellbeing. Like all schools, Sunshine SDS has an Instructional Model, a phonics program in addition to 1:1 AAC iPad program to facilitate language acquisition.
Key Selection Criteria
SC1 Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.
SC2 Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.
SC3 Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
SC4 Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
SC5 Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated experience in reflecting upon practice and engaging in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.
Responsibilities
Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students;
Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school;
Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal;
Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions;
Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.
Who May Apply
Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.
Diversity and Inclusion
The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via .
Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
Child Safe Standards
Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at: pal/child-safe-standards/policy
DE Values
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at: pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview
Location Profile
Located in Melbourne's Western suburbs, Sunshine Special Developmental School (SDS) offers a unique and innovative learning environment for students aged from 5-18 years with moderate to severe Intellectual Disabilities. Sunshine SDS is a P-12 school and is organised around a Primary and Secondary Learning Centre Model. The school is home to a wide range of students from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds. Our Vietnamese community is strong, and we welcome an increasing number of Burmese and African families into our learning community.
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