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Deputy Head, responsible for SEND

Location: Fishponds, Bristol

Start date: 1st September 2025

Type: Full-time, 8:30am - 4:00pm, Monday to Friday (permanent via temp-to-perm contract)

Salary: £205.12 - £246.15 per day during trial contract (equivalent £40,000 - £48,000pa)

Our brand new special school for primary-aged learners (KS1, KS2 + Yr7) opened in September 2024 in the Fishponds area of Bristol and we're recruiting for a Deputy Head responsible for SEND to join our new school & staff team from September 2025.

is open based on the successes of learner outcomes at our 6 Elmtree Learning Partnership AP sites since 2022 . Initially, we will be supporting up to 28 learners with a view to gradually increasing learner capacity in the future. 

All of the learners we support are vulnerable and have an EHCP to define their additional needs or an EHCP in progress. Creativity, perseverance and an empathetic approach when working with them is key to engaging them in education and ensuring their progression.

We are inviting applicants to join our new team and inspire our learners. Our learners need enhanced support to develop their language & literacy skills. Often, our learners have missed significant periods of education so require an empathetic, patient approach with enjoyable & accessible lessons.

This role will involve:

supporting the SEND Teaching staff team (covering for PPA time and other ad-hoc absence)

Supporting the Head of education to ensurer statutory SEND requirements are upheld (including individual learner needs)

line managing the SENDCO

General support to the Head of Education

Modelling an adapted high-calibre Primary curriculum

Modelling high-calibre individulaied learning plans & general SEND practice

Understanding and supporting the challenges of our learners through the teaching staff

Motivating & inspiring our lcollegues & earners to engage & achieve

Providing practical resources & strategies for colleagues to use & integrate into other lessons

Helping to champion our school and the work of our learners & colleagues

For the Deputy Head responsible for SEND we're looking for a qualified (QTS) primary teacher with excellent SEND experience. Applicants best suited to this role will have previous experience of having worked with learners that have SEND relating to SEMH & trauma who also have other barriers or challenges to their education.

We're growing our great team so if you love working with people who are dedicated to supporting young learners that strive to support their development in a positive setting, this is the role for you.

Every Child, Every Opportunity, The Right Opportunity

Our approach is to offer a bespoke and relevant learning program for each learner. Integration into standardised education opportunities and social integration is everything we do. No child should have their future negatively affected or be excluded in their later life due to the lack of access or support for education opportunities that are appropriate to their abilities & strengths.

We believe strongly in people and look for people that have:

Education-relevant qualifications in supporting teaching & learning

good experience in supporting young people in an education setting

understanding and expertise in supporting learners with SEND

skills & strategies in supporting emotional wellbeing

tenacity & resilience to manage, influence & effect positive behaviours & decisions in learners

the ability to present a strong role model for young people, including having fun!

collaborative and pro-active working practices

a strong sense of responsibility & work ethic

Working with our organisation is a rewarding experience. We offer an enjoyable workplace with additional employment benefits:

Bright HR - online HR management portal also offering partner discounts

Employee Assist - independent healthcare perks

Free training - role specific & relevant, accredited training

Employee Support Assistant - dedicated colleagues to support our employees

Pension scheme

Applications are welcomed from candidates that meet the vast majority of the above job & person criteria. We also recognise that many people who are interested in such a role may not have specific experience as detailed so we would still welcome an application from those that have substantial experience of supporting young people with SEND or other challenges in education.

All applications will be managed by Elementa. Successful applications will have a full-prescreen, interview, ‘insight session’ and visit to one of our Alternative Provision sites. Any appointment will be subject to a successful interview process, satisfactory references, DBS Enhanced Disclosure (which may be chargeable at £64.20 unless you have a DBS subscribed to the Update Service) and successful completion of employment trial period.

Please apply with your full up to date CV. All applicants will be promptly responded to