SEND Lead (Trust)

Trust SEND Lead 

Start Date: January 2026 (or as soon as possible after September 2025)

Salary Scale: : Leadership scale, scale point dependent on experience 

FTE: Part time (0.4 - flexible)

Contract term: temporary for one year initially

Place of work: Across the seven primary schools of the CLIC Trust 

Line Manager: Chief Executive Officer

Main Purpose of the Job

The post holder will be required to provide leadership and expert professional advice in all aspects of SEND, developing and implementing effective Trust wide strategies, policies and procedures that reflect best practice. This will include supporting colleagues to ensure SEND provision best meets the needs of pupils in their schools, delivering relevant training to staff, and enabling effective support for parents and carers. 

• To support the work of the SENDCos and Assistant SENDCos, in collaboration with the CEO, Education Director and Headteachers.
• Ensure our SEND provision is consistent and embedded across our Trust.
• To take the SEND strategy for the Trust beyond compliance to ensure excellent use of resources and collaboration across the schools.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee the implementation of the Trust’s SEND strategy and policy and report to the CEO and Education Director, making any recommendations for improving the effectiveness of SEND across the Trust, refining the strategy and support offer.
• Advocate for and support schools with securing good outcomes for pupils with SEND across the Trust.
• Contribute to curriculum development to ensure that students with SEND experience a broad and balanced curriculum, including overseeing curriculum development and implementation for the Trust’s specialist classes.
• Support schools to ensure a nurturing culture and bespoke provision for pupils with SEND and complex needs.
• Lead the development of the SEND Team, provide advice, guidance, and training to SENDCos on supporting pupils with SEND and further develop the network of collaboration between the SENDCos, leading the SENDCo Learning Circle.
• Monitor the quality of SEND and secure high-quality teaching and learning for pupils with SEND, ensuring the effective implementation of Education Health Care Plans, Individual Education Plans and Individual Behaviour Plans. 
• Review, monitor and assist schools with any actions resulting from any internal or external audit, where required.
• Support SENDCos in the successful deployment of staff and resources in their schools to maximise its impact on the achievement of the best possible outcomes for children.
• Ensure that all Trust schools fulfil their statutory duties and that the Trust is updated on legislation, and up to date on National and Local changes.
• Evaluate the Trust systems for the assessment and tracking of children with SEND, evaluate models that would support in the assessing of children with very complex needs.
• Analyse data and trends across the Trust each term and action as required. 
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders and agencies.
• Oversee and provide guidance to assist with the welfare of staff involved in SEND. 
• Promote and maintain up to date working knowledge of SEND legislation, ensuring consistency in approach / policy delivery across the Trust schools.
• Evaluate the impact of SEND provision and implementation. Report on standards and quality of SEND provision, together with the attainment and progress of SEND pupils across the Trust, to the Trust Board’s Curriculum, Standards and Strategic Direction Committee termly.

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. There is an expectation that the post holder will carry out such duties that reasonably fall within the general nature and the level of responsibility of the post. The post-holder will also be expected to undertake any appropriate training provided by the Trust to assist them in carrying out any of the above duties.

 About the Role

We seek to appoint an exceptional and inspirational leader to the role of Trust SEND Lead for the CLIC Trust. This role is a new post in the central Trust team structure and will play a key strategic role for SEND provision across the Trust.

The CLIC Trust is a growing family of primary schools in Greater Manchester (currently seven schools within Manchester and Tameside Local Authorities). We are driven by our vision, values and core pillars.

The CLIC vision ‘Changing Lives In Collaboration – Together We Make The Difference’ is core to the working of the Trust and underpins all strategic decision making and implementation. We collaborate when it is meaningful, will lead to a positive impact, and is wanted by stakeholders. Changing lives is about providing children with knowledge, skills and experiences that will enable them to be successful in their lives.

We are a values-led organisation and, as such, our strategy and plans for implementation align with the CLIC Trust Values: Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Kindness, Fairness, Empathy. Being established as a Cooperative Trust, we also embrace the Cooperative Values: Self-help, Self-responsibility, Democracy, Equality, Equity and Solidarity.

Absolutely central to the CLIC Trust are the pillars of: collaboration; evidence-informed practice; and strategy being shaped by the family of schools.

We are looking for an experienced senior leader who is passionate about improving the quality of education in schools and securing the best possible outcomes for pupils. Every child matters to us and the successful candidate must be committed to collaboration and partnership working to embed and expand the school improvement offer for the CLIC schools. As such, the role will suit a leader who likes to be ‘hands on’, getting into schools to see things in practice and improve them, but also someone who thrives on shaping and setting the direction.

Only applications submitted on the CLIC Trust’s application form will be considered. A full application pack, with more details about the vacancy can be downloaded below.

Closing date: noon on Monday 30th June 2025

Interview date: Thursday 03 July 2025

Only applications submitted on the CLIC Trust’s application form will be considered. A full application pack, with more details about the School, Trust and Vacancy can be downloaded above.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory references and DBS checks.

Equality

The CLIC Trust is a Cooperative Trust and does not discriminate on the basis of any individual’s protected characteristics and encourages applications from all qualified applicants. We pride ourselves on being a flexible and inclusive employer. We celebrate difference, embrace diversity and support all our people to thrive at work. If this sounds interesting - apply to join us!