SPEECH AND Language Therapist - Abbey Hill

Dated: 04 Feb 2026

Required as soon as possible - Permanent Post

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPIST

32.5 hours per week, term time + 1 PL Day

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust consists of 8 Academies, Abbey Hill, Westlands, Green Gates, Hollis, Archway, Woodlands, The Meadows and Mo Mowlam. The academies serve a population in excess of 1000 students aged 5 to 18 with a broad range of learning difficulties.

Abbey Hill Academy & Sixth Form provides for approximately 360 young people and we are at the forefront of current developments in the education of young people with special needs. We specialise in meeting the needs of students aged 11 to 18 who have a full range of learning difficulties as well as other physical and social needs.

The Trust wishes to appoint a Speech and Language Therapist with relevant experience who will be responsible for providing a SALT service to the academy trust. The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with teachers and support staff, including our educational psychologist, health professionals and stakeholders.

We are looking for an enthusiastic person who will have the patience and empathy to work with pupils with a whole range of needs and who is keen to ensure that all pupils reach their potential. This is an exciting opportunity for therapists interested in developing their experience with special educational needs within an educational setting.

The speech and language therapist has responsibilities which include:

• Promoting strategies to develop the awareness and understanding of the whole academy community around SLCN and effective communication and interaction
• Supporting and advising teachers and teaching assistants in order to create a Communication Friendly Environment throughout Abbey Hill
• Liaising with staff in order to identify students’ communication strengths, needs and any specific interventions needed
• Providing support for identifying targets, and advice regarding bespoke communication strategies
• Providing specialist support and interventions for students who have been identified as having this need

Experience of the following would be hugely beneficial but appropriate training can be provided if needed:

• Knowledge and experience of communication aides due to the growing number of students using Augmentive and Alternative Communication devices.
• Knowledge and experience of developing communication partners including strategies such as:
  Intensive interaction, colourful semantics, Makaton, Gestalt language processing, SCERTS, Blanks Levels, Widgit, Talking mats

Although there is an expectation that all our staff will work across the Trust as necessary, this post will be primarily based at our Abbey Hill Academy site. There may be some flexibility available around working hours for the right candidate.

Visits to the school are actively encouraged and highly recommended. To arrange this please email  or telephone on

Completed application forms should be returned by 12 noon on Friday 27 th February to HR Department c/o Abbey Hill Academy, Ketton Road, Stockton-on-Tees. TS19 8BU
or by email to  .

Horizons Specialist Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. As part of our recruitment process, online searches will be conducted. Any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check and appropriate references

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