Principal Advisory Teacher - Vision Support Service (VSS)

Are you an experienced and passionate specialist teacher of children and young people with vision impairment?

Are you ready to take on a strategic leadership role within a highly respected SEND service?

Dorset Council is seeking an exceptional Principal Advisory Teacher for the Vision Support Service (VSS) to lead a skilled, committed and forward‑thinking team.

About the Role

This is an exciting senior leadership position within Dorset Children’s Services. You will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Vision Support Service, ensuring high‑quality, equitable support for children and young people with vision impairment aged 0–25 across mainstream and specialist settings.

Alongside your leadership role, you will hold a reduced specialist teaching caseload, enabling you to maintain direct professional practice and model excellence. You will champion inclusive practice, influence provision at a system level, and help shape the future of SEND services in Dorset and also in BCP through a joint arrangement.

Key Responsibilities

As our Principal Advisory Teacher, you will:

• lead, manage and develop the Vision Support Service and its specialist staff
• provide expert advice to schools, leaders and families on the educational management of children and young people with vision impairment
• ensure high‑quality assessment, planning and specialist intervention across the service
• oversee and manage specialist resources, equipment and service budgets
• work collaboratively with professionals across Education, Health and Care to secure the best outcomes for learners
• contribute to service‑wide strategy, development planning, training and CPD
• support early diagnosis and intervention through effective liaison with Health partners
• provide comprehensive reports to BCP twice a year

About You

We’re looking for an inspiring leader who can blend specialist expertise with strategic thinking. You will have:

Essential:

• Qualified Teacher Status.
• Mandatory Qualification for Teachers of Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (MQVI).
• At least 3 years’ experience as an Advisory Teacher for CYP with VI.
• A deep understanding of VI‑specific pedagogy, curriculum access, inclusion, and SEN processes.
• Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• The ability to manage competing demands, deploy resources effectively, and lead a diverse team with clarity and compassion.

Desirable:

• Management or strategic leadership experience.
• Additional specialist qualifications (e.g., MSI, ASD, complex needs).

Why Dorset?

Dorset Council is committed to inclusion, innovation and improving the lived experiences of children and young people with SEND. You’ll join a compassionate, collaborative service built on shared values: Responsibility, Respect, Recognition and One Team.

You will also enjoy:

• A supportive leadership culture
• Ongoing professional development
• The opportunity to shape a service with county‑wide impact
• A stunning coastal and rural working environment

Apply Now

If you are motivated by making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people with vision impairment—and ready for the next step in your leadership journey—we would love to hear from you.

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.