Job Introduction
The Assistant Headteacher – SEND will provide strategic and operational leadership within the SEN school, ensuring the highest standards of provision for learners. The post holder will champion SEN, high expectations, and person‑centred planning, ensuring all learners are safe, supported, and able to achieve their full potential.
The role will involve leadership of SEND provision, curriculum adaptation, and close collaboration with families, therapists, and external agencies
Location: Doucecroft School, Eight Ash Green, Colchester, CO6
Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience)
Hours: Hours as required, Monday to Friday, 39 weeks per annum plus training days
Contract Type: Permanent
The role:
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), shaping the school’s strategic direction and ensuring its effective operation.
- Acting SENDCo, leading staff development, ensuring statutory compliance, and working in close partnership with families and external agencies.
- Contribute to, promote, and uphold the school’s vision, aims, and objectives.
- Regularly meet with line-managed staff to gather insights and identify development priorities to feed into the SLT.
- Provide professional guidance to colleagues and work collaboratively with parents, staff, and external agencies.
- Key lead on annual reviews, working alongside careers lead and external providers, ensuring continuity for pupils moving into post 16 provision.
Strategic Leadership (SEND)
- Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of SEND across the school
- Ensure provision meets the needs of pupils with a wide range of complex needs (e.g. ASD, PMLD, SLD, SEMH, sensory and medical needs)
- Ensure full statutory compliance with SEND Code of Practice (2015), EHCP requirements, and LA expectations
- Oversee annual reviews, EHCP outcomes, and person‑centred planning
Applications are welcome from Teachers with the following:
- Extensive experience as a senior leader in a specialist school for pupils with complex communication needs
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Undergraduate Degree
- SENDCo experience
- In‑depth knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and relevant education legislation
- Qualification/training in special education
- Training in the management of challenging behaviour
- Team Teach
- Qualifications specific to teaching children with Autism and Anxiety
The school:
Doucecroft School is a vibrant, dynamic, and highly supportive specialist co-educational school for children and young people with autism and additional complex needs, aged 3 -19 years. Doucecroft has a "Good" Ofsted rating, where we provide a nurturing environment where students can thrive and grow in independence and self-esteem.
Offering bespoke, individualised education with a proven track record of dramatically raising the outcomes for the students who have completed their education with us. Our approach ensures that through our curriculum and delivery, we focus on delivering quality-of-life outcomes, with specialist therapists and professionals providing expertise in addition to the highly skilled education team.
To apply:
Apply now by clicking on the link below and a member of the recruitment team will be in touch.
Autism Anglia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and online checks.
Autism Anglia is positive about inclusion and welcomes applications from individuals who can meet the requirements of the job position and may wish to request flexible working or reasonable adjustments to support them.