At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a specialist school for vulnerable young people, ensuring high-quality education and support.
- Company: A compassionate education provider dedicated to inclusive learning environments.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, term-time only hours, and excellent professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive team and shape the future of a growing specialist provision.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people with SEMH and SEND needs.
- Qualifications: Qualified Teacher Status and 5+ years of leadership experience in education.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 48000 £ per year.
A specialist education provider is seeking an experienced and compassionate Head of School to lead one of its SEMH and SEND provisions in Greater Manchester. This role offers an opportunity for a strong educational leader passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable young people and creating inclusive environments where pupils can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
The Role
- Take responsibility for the day‑to‑day operational leadership of the provision, ensuring high-quality education, therapeutic support, and inclusive practice.
- Combine strategic leadership, staff management, safeguarding oversight, and school improvement within a specialist SEMH and SEND environment.
- Play a key role in maintaining an Ofsted‑ready culture while embedding restorative, trauma‑informed, and evidence‑based approaches that positively impact pupil outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the daily operational management of the school, ensuring high standards across education, behaviour, attendance, safeguarding, and wellbeing.
- Drive school improvement priorities through effective use of data, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Lead and support staff performance, development, and accountability across the provision.
- Collaborate with senior leaders to ensure high‑quality SEND, SEMH, and pastoral support.
- Monitor teaching, learning, interventions, and pupil outcomes to ensure consistent and effective practice.
- Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), ensuring robust safeguarding systems and compliance.
- Promote relational, restorative, and trauma‑informed approaches throughout the school.
- Oversee behaviour systems, attendance strategies, and pupil engagement initiatives.
- Build strong relationships with parents, carers, Local Authorities, and external agencies.
- Contribute to Ofsted readiness, school improvement planning, and quality assurance processes.
- Support staff wellbeing, CPD, recruitment, and professional development.
- Promote a positive, inclusive, and aspirational culture where pupils and staff can succeed.
The Ideal Candidate
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
- Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience within a primary, secondary, specialist, or alternative provision setting.
- Strong experience supporting pupils with SEMH and/or SEND needs.
- Experience leading teams, managing staff performance, and driving school improvement.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, behaviour support, and inclusive education practice.
- Experience using data to monitor performance and improve outcomes.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and organisational skills.
- Ability to build strong relationships with families, professionals, and multidisciplinary teams.
- A resilient, reflective, and solution‑focused leadership style.
- Commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable learners.
Desirable Experience
- NPQH or working towards a leadership qualification.
- Experience within specialist education or alternative provision settings.
- Experience supporting Ofsted inspections and maintaining an Ofsted‑ready environment.
- Knowledge of trauma‑informed, restorative, and therapeutic approaches.
- Experience working within multidisciplinary or therapeutic teams.
What's on Offer
- Permanent full‑time opportunity.
- Term‑time only working pattern.
- Supportive and collaborative senior leadership structure.
- Excellent professional development and progression opportunities.
- Opportunity to shape and influence a growing specialist provision.
- The chance to make a genuine and lasting difference to young people's lives.
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Head of Primary - SEMH & SEND Provision. Job in Manchester LilyLifestyle Jobs employer: Dovetail and Slate
Join a dedicated team in Greater Manchester as the Head of Primary for SEMH & SEND Provision, where you will lead with compassion and expertise to create an inclusive environment for vulnerable young people. Our supportive work culture prioritises professional development and offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students' lives while enjoying a term-time only schedule. With a focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, this role is perfect for those passionate about educational leadership and fostering positive outcomes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Primary - SEMH & SEND Provision. Job in Manchester LilyLifestyle Jobs
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your contacts in the education sector, especially those involved with SEMH and SEND. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that might not even be advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the school’s ethos and values. Show us how your leadership style aligns with their mission to support vulnerable young people. Tailor your examples to highlight your experience in creating inclusive environments.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for a smoother process! We want to see your application, and applying directly helps us keep track of your journey. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Primary - SEMH & SEND Provision. Job in Manchester LilyLifestyle Jobs
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience with SEMH and SEND. We want to see how your background aligns with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant skills and achievements!
Show Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for improving outcomes for vulnerable young people shine through. We’re looking for someone who’s not just qualified but genuinely cares about making a difference in their lives.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key experiences and qualifications stand out without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Dovetail and Slate
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of SEMH and SEND provisions. Brush up on the latest strategies, legislation, and best practices in inclusive education. This will not only show your expertise but also your passion for improving outcomes for vulnerable young people.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership experiences and how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Think about specific examples where you’ve driven school improvement or supported staff performance. This is your chance to demonstrate your reflective and solution-focused approach.
✨Emphasise Relationship Building
Highlight your ability to build strong relationships with parents, carers, and external agencies. Be ready to share examples of how you’ve collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to support pupils. This role is all about creating an inclusive environment, so showing your interpersonal skills is key.
✨Prepare for Ofsted Questions
Since maintaining an Ofsted-ready culture is crucial, be prepared to discuss your experience with inspections and quality assurance processes. Think about how you’ve contributed to school improvement planning and how you ensure compliance with safeguarding systems.
