Special Needs Class Teacher, Small Group Instruction - Kotkan kaupunki - Kotka, Finland

The Kotka Education Department is recruiting for a special needs class teacher position for small group instruction, to be filled indefinitely from August 1, 2026. The position is city-specific and located in basic education. The first placement is at Kotkansaaren School. Kotkansaaren School is a comprehensive school with approximately 660 students, operating at two campuses. Haukkavuori campus serves grades 1-5, and Keskuskoulu campus serves grades 6-9. In addition to general education groups, Kotkansaaren School has special education groups and a flexible basic education group. The school also offers music-oriented education and bilingual instruction (English-Finnish). The position involves providing small group instruction as a support measure for students. In small groups, instruction is based on the objectives and content of the national curriculum for basic education, with teaching methods, content, and scheduling adapted to students’ needs. The goal is to ensure a smooth school day for each student and support their academic progress. The role also includes acting as an expert in learning support at the school, participating in planning and implementing student support, and collaborating with class teachers, subject teachers, and other special needs teachers. We are seeking a professional in special education pedagogy who demonstrates respectful interaction, commitment, genuine collaboration, a willingness to experiment, and positive thinking. We are looking for a solution-oriented, development-minded teacher with good IT skills and a desire to learn new things. Applicants should be willing to develop and implement flexible teaching arrangements and collaborate across subject and grade boundaries in accordance with the curriculum goals, as well as be prepared to teach students from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The qualification requirement is a valid qualification for a special needs class teacher as specified in the Decree on Qualifications for Teaching Staff (986/98). Certificates demonstrating qualification will be checked during the interview. The selected candidate must provide a satisfactory health statement and a criminal background check related to working with children and young people (504/2002) before the appointment is confirmed. The position is subject to a six (6) month probationary period. Salary is determined according to the municipal collective agreement for education staff, with a starting salary of €3,662.69/month (40304012).