At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children with learning needs and transform education practices in Bracknell Forest.
- Company: Join a supportive council dedicated to inclusive education and community wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving positive change in local education.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping inclusive education.
- Qualifications: Experience in supporting learning needs and a relevant professional qualification required.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
The SEND Cognition and Learning Advisor is a specialist role within the newly established Experts at Hand (E@H) service, supporting Bracknell Forest’s SEND reform and wider system transformation. Based in the integrated central hub at the Child Development Centre in Great Hollands, Bracknell, you will work closely with education and health partners to provide expert, needs-led advice for children and young people aged 0–25.
At Bracknell Forest, we are proud to be a stable, well-managed council where employees can thrive in a supportive and collaborative environment. We value a healthy work-life balance and offer a range of flexible working practices, including remote and home-working options where these meet the needs of the service. This role includes an expectation to work from the Child Development Centre, Bracknell one day per week and two to three days per week in education settings, alongside flexible working arrangements.
As a SEND Cognition and Learning Advisor, you will bring substantial experience of supporting children and young people with cognition and learning needs, with the confidence to translate specialist knowledge into practical, inclusive strategies for education settings. In this role, you will help mainstream education settings respond confidently and proactively to children and young people’s identified needs by shifting the local educational system from a reliance on statutory processes and crisis intervention toward early identification, needs-led pathways, and sustainable, inclusive practice within mainstream settings.
By upskilling, coaching, and modelling evidence-informed practices for education staff, as the SEND Advisor, you will help build local capacity, improve parental confidence, and deliver better outcomes for children and young people with learning delays or difficulties, by strengthening capacity across the partnership you will help make inclusion part of everyday practice.
You will hold a recognised professional qualification or a relevant postgraduate qualification linked to specific learning difficulties, inclusion or SEND practice. You will have a strong understanding of the graduated approach, national SEND legislation and the importance of needs-led support. You will be skilled in coaching adults, supporting environmental adaptations and adaptive teaching practice across a range of settings. Above all, you will be committed to inclusion, collaboration and improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
Experts at Hand will play a central role in delivering Bracknell Forest’s SEND reform plans. This multi-disciplinary team, based at the Child Development Centre, will provide responsive, needs-led support to education settings and partner services. This is an exciting opportunity to join the service at a pivotal stage, helping to strengthen inclusive practice, promote early intervention and build workforce confidence.
Working across education, health and social care, you will support innovation, influence practice and help shape a more equitable, responsive and needs-led SEND system for the future.
Key responsibilities:
- Work as an Experts at Hand (E@H) specialist to support Bracknell Forest’s SEND reform and system transition.
- Deploy directly into early years settings, mainstream schools and post-16 providers to strengthen local capacity, align the graduated approach with National Inclusion Standards, and equip educators with effective cognition and learning inclusive strategies.
- Support education settings to identify cognition and learning differences at the earliest opportunity.
- Help schools develop strong universal and targeted approaches, reducing reliance on statutory Education, Health and Care Plans and crisis-led responses.
- Collaborate with mainstream settings and Specialist Resource Provisions (SRPs) to baseline current practice, build capacity and embed inclusive provision in line with National Inclusion Standards, the Graduated Approach and the Ordinarily Available Offer.
- Design and deliver training aligned with BFC recommended approaches.
- Enable professional reflection, coaching and mentoring so education staff can confidently support children and young people with a range of learning differences and delays.
- Model and support the use of evidence-informed approaches, including adaptations to the environment for a range of specific learning needs and other BFC recommended strategies.
- Develop opportunities for networking, collaboration and shared knowledge across BFC education settings to promote consistency, confidence and sustainable inclusive practice.
Our benefits:
- 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
- Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Paid employee volunteering scheme.
- Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
- Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
- Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing.
- Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.
Our values:
At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day.
If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.
Reasonable adjustments:
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.
Disability confident and inclusive recruitment:
Bracknell Forest Council is proud to be an inclusive employer. If you tell us on your application form that you have a disability, are an armed forces veteran or are a care leaver, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.
Interview date: Interviews will be held on 3rd August 2026. Interviews will be held in person, giving candidates the opportunity to meet the team and learn more about our working environment. We will review applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note that AI must not be used during the interview. Any candidate found to be using AI during the interview process will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question? For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact: Catherine Reynolds, Principal Educational Psychologist Email: Catherine.Reynolds@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK. Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
Equal Opportunities: Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
SEND Cognition and Learning Advisor Experts at Hand in Bracknell employer: Bracknell Forest Council
Bracknell Forest Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals facing addiction challenges. With extensive training programmes, generous leave policies, and opportunities for career development, employees can thrive both personally and professionally while contributing to the well-being of the community in Bracknell. The council's commitment to employee welfare, including hybrid working options and a strong emphasis on work-life balance, makes it an attractive place for meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SEND Cognition and Learning Advisor Experts at Hand in Bracknell
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We think you need these skills to ace SEND Cognition and Learning Advisor Experts at Hand in Bracknell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Bracknell Forest Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Bracknell Forest Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bracknell Forest Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
