About The Role

As SENCO and Inclusion lead, you'll be a high-quality teacher with a passion for supporting pupils with special educational needs. The postholder is responsible for ensuring that inclusion drives whole-school standards so that pupils with SEND achieve highly within the same ambitious culture as their peers.

The Assistant Principal for Inclusion is a core member of the Senior Leadership Team and shares collective responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and strategic direction of the academy. The postholder is also a member of both the Teaching and Learning Team and the Safeguarding Team, ensuring inclusion is embedded across school standards, safeguarding practice and staff development.

The SENCO/Inclusion Lead should be prepared to lead on such areas as:

Inclusive Provision & Statutory Processes:

• Identification, assessment and review of pupils with SEND in line with the Code of Practice
• Effective implementation and review of EHCPs and graduated response provision
• Completion of statutory documentation and coordination of external professional involvement

Teaching & Classroom Practice:

• High-quality adaptive teaching across the academy so pupils with SEND access the full curriculum
• Training, coaching and support for teachers and co-teachers to meet pupil needs effectively
• Deployment and development of support staff to maximise impact on learning

Pupil Support & Wellbeing:

• Provision for pupils with SEMH and additional needs, including the academy’s mental health support
• Early identification and intervention through multi-agency working
• Successful transition into, within and beyond the academy

Partnerships & Communication:

• Productive relationships with families and external agencies
• Clear communication of pupil needs and strategies to staff teams
• Collaboration with Ark and Local Authority services to secure appropriate support

Whole-School Inclusion:

• A culture where pupils with SEND are fully included in curriculum, routines and wider school life
• Strategic use of resources to ensure provision is effective and sustainable

As a member of the senior leadership team, the SENCO will also be centrally involved in the overall leadership and management of the academy and will help to establish a school culture that is both nurturing and rigorous.

Outcomes and activities:

Teaching & Subject Leadership:

• To be an excellent classroom practitioner, undertaking a substantial teaching commitment as a core component of the Assistant Principal role, typically around 1–2 days per week, with the proportion reviewed in line with strategic priorities and school need
• To lead a designated curriculum subject area, ensuring ambitious curriculum intent, clear progression and successful access for pupils with SEND
• To operate as a member of the Teaching and Learning Team, contributing to coaching cycles and whole-school instructional improvement
• To work alongside teachers through co-planning, modelling and instructional coaching to embed inclusive classroom practice
• To develop staff expertise in meeting additional needs through professional development, rehearsal and feedback
• To quality assure teaching and provision through lesson visits, work scrutiny and pupil voice, ensuring consistency across classes
• To support subject leaders in adapting curriculum delivery so pupils with SEND achieve within the same ambitious framework as their peers

Leadership and Management:

• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, to contribute to the strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the academy
• To be accountable for the progress, attainment, attendance and inclusion of pupils with SEND across the academy
• To analyse assessment, behaviour and attendance data to identify trends and implement targeted strategic responses
• To evaluate the impact of provision and interventions, ensuring effective use of staff time and resources
• To line manage co-teachers and identified support staff, setting clear expectations and developing leadership capacity within the team
• To oversee transition processes and ensure pupils with SEND are prepared for the next stage of education and increasing independence
• To contribute to whole-school decision making including curriculum, behaviour, safeguarding and staffing priorities

School Ethos and Culture:

• To provide a visible and proactive leadership presence across the academy, including the playground, dining hall and transition points, setting the standard for behaviour, expectations and relational practice
• To ensure behaviour systems and routines are inclusive, consistent and understood by all staff
• To support staff in managing complex pupil needs while maintaining high expectations for learning and conduct
• To undertake regular duties, including gate supervision and end-of-day collection, modelling high expectations and building positive relationships with pupils and families
• To lead complex conversations with families regarding provision, support and placement, maintaining trust and clarity
• To work with families and external agencies to secure appropriate support for pupils

Other:

• Undertake any other professional duties as set down in the Ark schools pay and conditions of service document, and as directed by the principal
• Person Specification: Assistant Principal, SENCO and Inclusion Lead.

Benefits:

• Opportunities for career progression.
• Admissions priority for children of school’s staff
• Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale.
• Twice as many training days as standard.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers
• Interest-free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
• Gym discounts – offering up to 40%.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support

Find out more about the benefits of working for Ark at https://careers/why-work-with-us/.

About Us

We are a multicultural, three form entry Primary School. Through our motto Striving for Excellence, we aim to ensure that children, par