Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage the strategy for Alternative Provision, ensuring quality education for vulnerable learners.
- Company: Join a dedicated team focused on improving educational outcomes in North London.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, predominantly remote work, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of children who need support to access education.
- Qualifications: Degree in education or social care, with experience in SEND or alternative provision.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for collaboration and impactful leadership.
Alternative Provision Operational Lead
Salary: £400- £500 / Day
Job type: Long Term Contract
Location: North London
Job Title: Alternative Provision Operational Lead
Service: Education and SEND Service
Reports to: Service Manager (Education Inclusion / SEND)
Working Arrangements: Predominantly Remote, Occasional Onsite Working
Job Purpose
To lead, develop, and manage the Local Authority’s strategy, systems, and processes for Alternative Provision (AP), ensuring high-quality education and outcomes for children and young people who cannot access mainstream education.
To oversee commissioning, quality assurance, and monitoring of AP providers, ensuring they meet statutory requirements and deliver inclusive, safe, and effective provision.
To work collaboratively with schools, families, providers, and multi-agency partners to ensure early intervention, effective placement, and smooth reintegration into education.
To contribute to the Local Authority’s statutory duties in relation to education, SEND, and safeguarding.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Lead on the development, implementation, and monitoring of the LA’s Alternative Provision strategy in line with statutory requirements and local priorities.
- Support the Service Manager in shaping policy, procedures, and commissioning arrangements for AP, ensuring value for money and high-quality outcomes.
- Provide expert advice and guidance to schools, colleagues, and partners regarding AP pathways and statutory responsibilities.
Operational Management
- Oversee day-to-day management of referrals, placements, and monitoring of children and young people in AP.
- Manage and quality-assure contracts, service level agreements, and provider relationships.
- Ensure compliance with Ofsted, DfE, and safeguarding expectations.
- Monitor attendance, attainment, progress, and reintegration of pupils accessing AP, identifying trends and reporting on impact.
Partnership & Collaboration
- Work closely with schools, academies, colleges, providers, and social care to ensure coordinated support for children and young people.
- Build positive relationships with parents/carers and young people to ensure that their voice informs provision and planning.
- Develop multi-agency approaches to support vulnerable learners and reduce exclusions.
Data & Reporting
- Maintain robust systems for data collection, analysis, and reporting on AP usage, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.
- Prepare reports and briefings for senior managers, elected members, and external agencies.
Safeguarding & Inclusion
- Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are embedded across all AP commissioning and monitoring activities.
- Promote inclusion, equity, and access to education for all children, particularly those with SEND or facing additional vulnerabilities.
Person Specification
- Degree-level qualification in education, social care, or a related field (essential).
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent education-related qualification (desirable).
- Evidence of continuous professional development in leadership, safeguarding, or SEND (essential).
- Substantial experience working within education, SEND, or inclusion services (essential).
- Proven track record of managing or commissioning alternative provision, PRUs, or specialist services (essential).
- Experience of partnership working with schools, multi-agency teams, and families (essential).
- Experience of managing budgets, contracts, and service level agreements (desirable).
- Experience of using data to evaluate impact and drive service improvement (essential).
- Strong knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance, and policy relating to Alternative Provision, SEND, exclusions, and safeguarding (essential).
- Understanding of effective practice in inclusive education and reintegration (essential).
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills with a range of stakeholders (essential).
- Ability to analyse complex information and produce clear, concise reports for different audiences (essential).
- Strong organisational and project management skills (essential).
Why Choose Ackerman Pierce?
Ackerman Pierce calls upon over 15 years\’ worth of experience in recruiting directly into the Social Work Sector. We can offer a unique experience within recruitment where you have your own personal consultant, a DBS and Compliance service with a quick and easy registration process. We pride ourselves on a guaranteed weekly payment process.
To discuss this vacancy further or any other opportunities, please contact Elise Revett or email in your updated CV to us at Ackerman Pierce.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Alternative Provision Operational Lead employer: Ackerman Pierce
Contact Detail:
Ackerman Pierce Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Alternative Provision Operational Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those involved with Alternative Provision. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show up and shine! Attend relevant workshops, seminars, or conferences related to SEND and Alternative Provision. Not only will you learn a lot, but you'll also meet key players in the field who might just have the perfect opportunity for you.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see a school or organisation that aligns with your values, don’t wait for them to post a job. Send them a message expressing your interest and how you can contribute to their mission. You never know what might come of it!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got a range of opportunities waiting for you. By applying directly, you’ll ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, and you might even get a chance to connect with us personally during the process.
We think you need these skills to ace Alternative Provision Operational Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Alternative Provision Operational Lead role. Highlight your experience in education, SEND, and any relevant leadership roles. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about alternative provision and how your skills can help us achieve high-quality outcomes for children and young people. Keep it engaging and personal.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've improved educational outcomes or managed successful projects in the past. We love seeing measurable impact!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ackerman Pierce
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Alternative Provision Operational Lead. Brush up on your knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance, and policies related to Alternative Provision and SEND. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that highlight your operational management skills and partnership working. Think about times when you successfully managed contracts or improved outcomes for children in alternative provision. Real-life stories can make a big impact!
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare some insightful questions about the Local Authority’s strategy for Alternative Provision or how they measure success. This shows you’re genuinely interested and engaged, plus it gives you a chance to assess if the role is right for you.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Data
Since data collection and analysis are crucial for this role, be prepared to discuss how you’ve used data to drive service improvement in the past. Bring examples of reports you’ve prepared or trends you’ve identified, as this will showcase your analytical skills and attention to detail.
