Head of SEND

Location: Trust wide role (across all academies)

Contract: Permanent

Salary: Leadership scale L3-L7

Start date: 01/09/2026

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and values driven Head of SEND to provide strategic leadership for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across our Trust.

This is a senior Trust wide role with responsibility for shaping and delivering an inclusive, ambitious SEND vision aligned with the Schools White Paper and the Trust’s priorities. The successful candidate will ensure that all children—regardless of need or background—receive high quality support that enables them to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

You will lead SEND strategy across all academies, ensuring strong practice, statutory compliance, and continuous improvement in outcomes, accessibility, and life chances for pupils with SEND. Working closely with headteachers, SENDCos, trustees, and external partners, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening inclusion, improving consistency of provision, and ensuring early identification and effective support.

This role is central to delivering our Trust’s vision of Championing Children—ensuring every child is safe, happy, included, and able to achieve their potential.

Key Responsibilities

As Head of SEND, you will:

• Act as the Trust’s strategic lead for SEND, behaviour, accessibility, and Looked After Children (LAC).

• Drive improvement in early identification, graduated response, and high quality provision across all schools.

• Provide strategic oversight of Trust SEND services and specialist provision, including partnership arrangements such as Experts and Hands, ensuring impact, coherence, and value for money.

• Work closely with the Trust SEND Trustee, providing strategic advice, assurance, and clear reporting on SEND priorities and outcomes.

• Ensure Trust wide compliance with the SEND Code of Practice, the Equality Act 2010, and all relevant statutory guidance.

• Lead SEND quality assurance, data oversight, and the production of the Annual SEND Report for the Standards Committee.

• Oversee the Trust’s approach to Alternative Provision, Educational Psychology, and specialist interventions.

• Lead and develop the Trust SENDCo Cluster and provide professional leadership, coaching, and induction support.

• Provide line management and professional oversight of the Trust Speech and Language Therapist.

• Support headteachers in the strategic and effective use of SEND and LAC funding to maximise impact for pupils.

About You

We are looking for a leader who:

• Has significant experience in SEND leadership, ideally across more than one school or setting

• Has a strong understanding of SEND legislation, safeguarding, and inclusive practice

• Can think and act strategically while building positive, collaborative relationships

• Is committed to equity, inclusion, and improving outcomes for children with additional needs

• Is confident working at senior leadership and governance level

You will be a skilled communicator, an advocate for children and families, and a calm, credible leader able to navigate complex and sensitive issues with professionalism and integrity.

Why Join Us?

GLA Trust is driven by a clear purpose: Championing Children. Our work is focused on ensuring every child is safe, supported, and able to achieve their potential.

As Head of SEND, you will have Trust wide influence, shaping SEND provision across our schools and leading improvement for our most vulnerable learners. You will join an organisation that invests in people, uses resources wisely, and is committed to continuous improvement.

This is an opportunity to lead inclusion at scale and make a lasting difference to children and families across the Trust.