Head of Additional Learning Support in Bedford

Location: Bedford College – Cauldwell Street Campus

Salary/Benefits: Salary between £47,972 and £62,099 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 35 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, Local Government Pension Scheme, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

Note: This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. We are unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About the role

• Strategic Leadership – Lead the ALS department in line with the College’s strategic plan, overseeing SEND provision, policy implementation, and quality assurance to ensure outstanding learner outcomes and compliance with Ofsted and the SEND Code of Practice.
• Operational Management – Coordinate assessment, planning, and delivery of support for learners with SEND and EHCPs, ensuring consistency, effective resource deployment, and a high-quality learner experience across all campuses.
• Staff Development & Performance – Line manage ALS staff, including recruitment, training, appraisals, and observations, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Compliance – Build strong relationships with local authorities and external partners, manage funding claims and high-needs costs, and ensure accurate records and reporting for internal and external stakeholders.
• College-Wide Contribution – Represent ALS at college-wide meetings and events, contribute to risk management and strategic planning, and support cross-college initiatives including open evenings, parent events, and CPD.

About you

• Qualifications & Expertise – Holds a relevant degree or Level 5 qualification in SEND, a teaching qualification (PGCE/Cert Ed), and GCSEs in English and Maths, with strong knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice, ALS funding, and Ofsted expectations.
• Leadership & Experience – Proven experience in managing SEND provision, leading teams across multi-site environments, and supporting learners with a range of additional needs including autism, dyslexia, and behavioural challenges.
• Strategic & Operational Skills – Skilled in curriculum development, quality assurance, data analysis, and planning inclusive support strategies that drive up standards and improve learner outcomes.
• Professional Attributes – Strong interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills; able to lead by example, promote the College’s values, and build effective cross-college relationships.
• Commitment & Flexibility – Demonstrates integrity, resilience, and a commitment to safeguarding, CPD, and educational excellence, with a flexible approach to working across all college locations and a full UK driving licence.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: TBC

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork – We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously – We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred – At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive – We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring – We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence – We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year. Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport portal alongside Silverstone racetrack. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding

The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy. Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.