SEND Leader - 14+ Academies

What You Will Do

• Provide strong leadership of SEND provision across the 14+ Academies, ensuring that inclusive practice is embedded and consistently meets high standards.
• Lead on the development and implementation of strategies to support learners with SEND, ensuring that provision is effective, responsive and aligned with statutory requirements.
• Ensure that all learners with SEND make at least good progress from their starting points, with robust systems in place to track, monitor and evaluate outcomes, and clear accountability for learner achievement.
• Be proactive, solution-focused and persistent in identifying and implementing interventions that support learners to meet and exceed their individual targets.
• Lead and coordinate statutory SEND processes, including Education, Health and Care Plans, Annual Reviews and Exam Access Arrangements, ensuring compliance and high-quality practice.
• Work collaboratively with staff, parents/carers, local authorities and external agencies to ensure that learners receive appropriate, well-coordinated support.
• Support and develop staff through training, guidance and professional dialogue to ensure high-quality inclusive teaching and learning.
• Contribute to the development of a positive, inclusive and learner-centred environment where all young people feel valued, supported and able to succeed.
• Effectively lead and manage staff, ensuring high expectations, accountability and continuous improvement.

About You

• A relevant qualification, with significant experience working with young people aged 14–16, particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and high needs.

• Strong knowledge and understanding of current SEND legislation, including the SEND Code of Practice, and confidence in leading statutory processes such as Education, Health and Care Plans and Annual Reviews.

• The ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including parents/carers, local authorities and external agencies, to support learners effectively.

• Experience of using data and tracking systems to monitor learner progress, evaluate the impact of provision and implement targeted interventions.

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and maintain accurate records.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide clear guidance, offer appropriate challenge and build positive professional relationships.

• A clear commitment to inclusion, with high expectations for all learners and a passion for enabling young people to achieve their full potential.

Benefits

The group offers a range of excellent benefits, including:

Annual leave: 
Curriculum and Management: 44 days plus bank holidays
Curriculum support and business support: 39 days plus bank holidays

Pension schemes with generous employer contributions:
Teachers’ Pension Scheme
Local Government Pension Scheme
People’s Pension Scheme

CPD opportunities:
Annual staff conference plus 2 additional staff development days.
Qualifications including PGCE, Apprenticeships, Leadership and Management courses.

Employee wellbeing initiatives: Family Friendly Policies, discounted onsite spa     (Printworks) and gym (Park Lane).

Travel and commuting: Discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.

About Us

The 14+ Academies are made up of the 14+ Apprenticeship Academy and 14+ P-TECH Academy. We are an alternative environment for young people in Years 10 and 11 who require a different education environment to what is offered in a mainstream school. Learners leave their previous education establishment and join the 14+ Academies full time. 

The 14+ Academies is a safe and inclusive environment that is accepting of everyone. The design and ethos of the 14+ Academies allows young people to flourish with smaller class sizes, a reduced curriculum, and focus on vocational based learning. The 14+ Academies provides opportunities to young people to maximise their potential, raise aspirations and embrace their individuality. Relationship building is at the heart of its ethos, and a high staff to student ratio allows learners to thrive and develop holistically.

For more information about the 14+ Academies, click here:

https://leedscitycollege.ac.uk/14-16/14-academies/ 

SAFEGUARDING

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references. Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recruitment is key to our Group’s values. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, where every candidate is treated with fairness, respect, and equity. 

Our recruitment processes are designed to ensure equal opportunities, remove bias, and promote a diverse talent pool. To find out more about what our commitment to EDI means to us please Click here to learn more about our EDI objectives.

RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

We do not accept unsolicited CV’s and applications from agencies and will not be liable for any fee in connection with a candidate that has been submitted speculatively through any agency that has not been expressly instructed for a particular vacancy as part of our Preferred Supplier List.