Support For Learning Service Manager in Port Talbot

We are currently seeking a highly experienced and qualified individual to join our team as a Manager of the Support for Learning Service. The successful candidate will work alongside services within the Education Directorate as well as wider agencies, including Health and Social Services, to assist the local authority in ensuring the early identification, assessment and provision for Children and Young People (C&YP) with Additional Learning Needs (ALN).

The post holder will have due regard for the Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales (2021), ensuring that the current and new legal frameworks are embedded in effective practice. They will ensure there is effective support for schools and the Local Authority in ensuring high quality Inclusive Learning Provision (ILP) and Additional Learning Provision (ALP), is in place, and there is appropriate workforce development and training in place to ensure an inclusive and effective education for all.

This role will have direct management responsibility for the Support for Learning Service, including the Communication and Autism Team, Sensory Team, Literacy Difficulties Team, Support for Learners with Physical and Medical needs and also Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy, which are commissioned through the local health board.

The Support for Learning Service forms part of the Inclusion Service within the Education Direction, which was recognised as good practice within the 2025 Estyn Local Authority Inspection.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct line management and strategic direction for the teams within the Support for Learning Services.
• Ensure there is an effective and consistent professional learning offer for all schools, which is informed by Local Authority data, Inclusion Service data and school data.
• Coordinate and contribute to the annual Plan and Review programme across all schools and work alongside Inclusion Managers in thematically analysing data to inform service delivery and ensure a comprehensive training programme for ALNCOs across schools and clusters, including training for newly qualified ALNCOs and Headteachers.
• Ensure the Local Authority is fulfilling its duties of keeping ALP under review, through the coordination and contribution of reviews of Learning Support Centres and Special Schools alongside the wider Inclusion Service Team.
• Work collaboratively with wider Inclusion Managers and Education Support Officers, in supporting schools achieve positive outcomes. This includes support for schools pre and post Estyn inspection.
• Contribute to training and workforce development in relation to ALN across the Post 16 sector and Early Years.
• Represent the Education Directorate within regional, national and local partnership boards and steering groups where required and work in close collaboration with local health board managers to ensure a co-ordinated approach to commissioned service delivery.

Qualifications

• Extensive management experience (or equivalent) within the field of Education, including the line management responsibility of staff.
• Extensive experience of assessing, monitoring and reviewing the progress of learners with ALN.
• Successful track record of collaborative working with social services, health and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes for children, young people and their families.
• Significant experience of successfully managing budgets and resources.
• Successful track record of coordinating and delivering training, and making presentations to Conferences, and wider audiences.
• Extensive experience of commissioning services and developing service level agreements.
• Significant experience of effective self-evaluation processes in order to improve service delivery.
• Thorough understanding of the Additional Learning Needs Code of Practice for Wales 2021 and the Additional Learning Needs Education and Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018.
• A significant understanding of regulatory inspection frameworks for schools and local authorities e.g. Estyn, CIW, Audit Wales.
• Significant knowledge of school systems and structures across the primary, secondary and special sector.
• Degree plus relevant Post Graduate training and qualification such as PGCE or equivalent.
• Additional Qualifications within the field of Additional Learning Needs.

Preferred Experience

• Senior leaders within Education and / or Health.
• Experienced and well qualified ALNCOs.
• Specialist Advisory Teachers.

Benefits

• Hybrid working (in some roles) and flexible working schemes to improve your work life balance.
• Benefit from a competitive employee package with a remarkable 15.3% employer pension contribution.
• Enjoy a holiday entitlement of 25 days, increasing to 32 days after 5 years’ service (not forgetting the additional 8 bank holidays too).
• Access discounted gym membership with Celtic Leisure.
• Utilise the cycle to work scheme with up to 40% off bikes and cycling equipment.
• Purchase a new car through Tusker salary sacrifice scheme.
• Enjoy exclusive discounts at local and national retailers with the Smart Spend app through our staff wellbeing group.

Neath Port Talbot Council is totally committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Our employees are equally committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all children and young people and will take action to safeguard their wellbeing.

The recruitment process for this post will be underpinned by rigorous safer recruitment assessment to ensure that children and young people are protected.

Welsh Language skills are not required. Applications may be submitted in Welsh, applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates who have a disability and armed forces veterans. In support of employees of Tata Steel who are at risk of redundancy, or have been made redundant in 2024, Neath Port Talbot Council is offering a guaranteed interview for jobs across the Council. Please note that applicants must meet all the essential criteria, as shown in the person specification, to qualify for a guaranteed interview.

This post is subject to an enhanced with adult barred list DBS disclosure.