Head of Alternative Provision (SEND & SEMH)
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Location: Northampton
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Start Date: January 2027 start or sooner
Salary: £42,123 to £54,927
An exciting opportunity to lead, develop and shape a unique SEND & SEMH alternative provision.
Are you an experienced SEND or Alternative Provision (AP) leader who is passionate about helping children and young people overcome barriers to learning and achieve their potential?
Here at Aspire People, we are seeking an inspiring, committed and forward-thinking Head of Alternative Provision to lead the next stage of development at a growing education provision on the rural outskirts of Northampton.
This is a rare opportunity to become the first dedicated Head of AP within a small, specialist setting, shaping its educational vision, strengthening its impact and building a provision where children and young people can thrive.
The role
As Head of Alternative Provision, you will take overall day-to-day leadership of the educational provision, ensuring it is safe, effective, well organised and responsive to the needs of the learners and the expectations of commissioning schools and local authorities.
Your responsibilities will include:
Educational leadership and quality
Safeguarding, welfare and compliance
Partnerships and commissioning
Leadership and development
About you
We are looking for an experienced, compassionate and proactive education professional who understands the needs of vulnerable learners and has the leadership skills to help a specialist provision develop and flourish.
You will bring:
- Experience in a senior or leadership role within SEND, alternative provision, specialist education, pupil referral units or a similar setting.
- A strong understanding of the needs of children and young people with SEND, SEMH needs and barriers to mainstream education.
- A clear commitment to safeguarding, child protection, inclusion and learner wellbeing.
- Experience of developing or overseeing personalised learning, assessment and progress monitoring.
- The ability to build positive relationships with learners, families, schools, local authorities and external professionals.
- Strong organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
- The confidence to take ownership, establish effective systems and work independently within a small organisation.
- A flexible, practical and solution-focused approach, with the ability to balance strategic development with day-to-day operational responsibilities. Desirable experience and qualifications
- A recognised teaching qualification or relevant professional qualification in education, SEND or a related field.
- Leadership experience in an alternative provision, specialist school, PRU or SEMH setting. xgikmsk
- Experience of working with local authority commissioners and school referral processes.
- Experience of quality assurance, safeguarding leadership, inspection prepa...
Head of Alternative Provision in Kingsthorpe employer: Aspire People
Aspire People is an exceptional employer for FE & College Lecturers in South Wales, offering competitive pay rates of £28 - £45 per hour along with a £100 sign-up bonus after 20 days of work. With a strong commitment to employee growth through free CPD and safeguarding training, as well as dedicated consultant support, Aspire People fosters a flexible and inclusive work culture that empowers educators to inspire the next generation while enjoying meaningful and rewarding employment.
