Assistant Headteacher - SENCO (Statutory SENCO & AIP Lead)

NEWLY CREATED LEADERSHIP ROLE

Leadership Scale: L1–L4

Full time, non teaching

Start Date: September 2026

School: Taylor Road Primary School, Leicester

Please note that applications will be reviewed as received and should a suitable candidate be identified, we may close the vacancy early. Therefore, early application is encouraged.

A new role, created for the children who need us most

We are proud to announce the creation of a new Assistant Headteacher position at Taylor Road Primary — a role designed to meet the rising complexity of SEND needs across our school. As our pupil profile evolves, we are strengthening our leadership capacity with a dedicated Statutory SENCO & Alternative Internal Provision (AIP) Lead who will shape, deliver and champion the highest quality provision for pupils with special educational needs.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence whole school practice, and lead a highly specialised internal provision supporting pupils with EHCPs, autism, communication needs and regulation barriers.

Our School

Taylor Road Primary School is a popular 3-form entry, maintained school, located close to the centre of Leicester on the St Matthews estate.

We are an inclusive school community, which celebrates its diversity. In our busy and purposeful learning environment, a broad and balanced curriculum is supported by a range of enrichment opportunities and extracurricular activities. If you are uncompromising about achieving excellence for all and passionately believe that this is best achieved in a rich and diverse education setting that values the curriculum, then this opportunity will excite you.

Our Ofsted Inspection was in January 2025, when the school was judged “Good” in all areas, and certain areas of the school’s performance were singled out for particular praise.

The staff are committed in continuing to move the school forward in order to give every child the very best experiences and opportunities to succeed. Our pupils are fantastic – enthusiastically involved in their learning and the life of the school as a whole, taking on significant areas of responsibility.

About the role

As the newly appointed AHT for SEND, you will:

• Lead all statutory SEND responsibilities across the school

• Drive high-quality operational SEND systems (EHCPs, Annual Reviews, APDR cycles, provision mapping)

• Shape and lead our specialised Alternative Internal Provision (AIP),

• Ensure pupils with the highest level of need have personalised, communication-rich, low-arousal learning pathways

• Work closely with external professionals to embed SaLT/OT/EP recommendations

• Support teachers to implement effective, inclusive classroom practice

• Build strong, positive and empowering relationships with families

• Lead and develop a skilled team of SEND and AIP staff

You will work alongside our Deputy Headteacher (Behaviour & Inclusion), who retains strategic oversight of SEND, Behaviour and Safeguarding. This new structure gives you the time, status and capacity to have maximum impact where it is most needed.

Benefits of Joining Taylor Road Primary School:

• Wonderfully Diverse Catchment: Engage with a multicultural student community and contribute to their educational journey.

• Close to Leicester City Centre: Convenient location with access to a range of amenities and resources.

• Great Team: Collaborate with a supportive and inclusive team of educators dedicated to pupil success.

• Learning Development Opportunities: Enhance your skills and expertise through continuous professional development initiatives

Who we are looking for

• A qualified teacher with substantial SEND experience in mainstream and/or specialist settings

• This role requires substantial prior experience as a SENCO, Acting SENCO or a leading role within SEND, with a proven record of leading statutory processes independently.

• Knowledgeable and passionate about autism, communication needs, sensory regulation and personalised curricula

• Skilled in using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), visuals and structured teaching approaches

• Experienced in leading EHCP processes and multi-agency work

• Committed to co-produced, family-centred practice

• Emotionally intelligent, organised and calm under pressure

• Able to inspire, model and raise expectations across staff teams

You must hold the NASENCO or be willing to complete the NPQ for SENCOs within three years (DfE requirement).

What we offer

As this is a new role, you will have:

• The opportunity to shape and define the SEND systems you lead

• Dedicated leadership time to focus on SEND and AIP excellence

• Strong support from an experienced Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher

• High-quality CPD, including NPQ routes

• A vibrant, diverse community with children who inspire us every day

• A chance to make a lasting difference to families and the local community

Visits encouraged

We warmly welcome visits from potential candidates who want to understand our children, see our ethos in action, and learn more about this new role.

How to apply

Please complete the application form and include a supporting statement clearly demonstrating how your skills and experience meet the requirements of this newly created role.

For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact the school office who will happily organise a convenient date.

Safeguarding Statement

Taylor Road Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Employment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Taylor Road Primary School recognises and celebrates the diversity of its school and community. There is a shared commitment across the school to develop further a culture of respect, where discrimination is not tolerated, and individuals are treated equitably and fairly and feel a sense of belonging. We strive for an inclusive environment where staff, children and students are comfortable to express their own identity, should they wish, in which diversity and inclusion is of mutual benefit for everyone in our schools. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups including those based on ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

Taylor Road conduct thorough pre-employment background checks, which may include a review of publicly available social media profiles and the use of anti-AI software to ensure that candidates meet our school's standards and align with our values. This process is carried out in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and we respect the privacy of candidates throughout the evaluation process.