SEND Consultant

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking to appoint a new secondary SEND Consultant to our central team of subject specialists. We want to hear from experienced teachers who have gained experience in a middle leadership role, and who have a track record of raising achievement within a department. The successful applicant will join an established team of specialists, working to further raise standards and further drive improvement across the Harris Federation. The role of SEND Consultant is an exciting post providing enormous scope for a talented and creative practitioner to work collaboratively across a group of academies.

The role is mostly school-based and covers our secondary academies across London and Essex. While we aim to minimise travel by allocating support locally, candidates should be able to support Essex schools and provide assistance to London academies when needed. The post is based at the Harris Federation office near East and West Croydon stations, with occasional meetings at the central office. Flexibility and willingness to travel are essential.

The post would suit an ambitious middle leader with at least three years' SEND teaching experience and two years in a management role such as SENDCo or Co-SENDCo. A thorough understanding of the needs of students with SEND and Quality First Teaching is essential.Although based at Harris Federation offices near East and West Croydon stations, your time will be spent working across academies in both London and Essex.

We look for talented individuals who want to be a part of transforming education in London and Essex, and helping create exceptional places of learning. The successful applicant will be resilient, creative and a dynamic practitioner, and must hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant degree. You will be fully supported through a comprehensive Induction Programme both within and across the Harris Federation.

What the school offers its staff

The Harris Federation is a leading education charity with 54 Harris primary and secondary academies across London and Essex. The founder, Chairman and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We now educate some 38,000 young people and closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers has always been a core mission.

The Harris Federation has a track record of accomplishment in achieving success through rapid school improvement and has built an unrivalled reputation for running outstanding academies in London.

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Further details about the role

The role will be multi-faceted and involve coaching and mentoring, sharing of best practice, developing robust improvement strategies, assisting Harris academies in recruitment and selection, helping to establish new departments or lead rapid recovery where required. Our central team consultants work strategically with Principals, senior leadership teams and support academy departments to improve standards and the outcomes for our students.

As a senior leader, you will have the opportunity to develop and advance your career within a Federation established in developing practitioners and nurturing excellent future leaders. You will have unrivalled opportunities for progression; whatever your aspirations as a senior leader, our Teaching School Alliance provides a range of bespoke courses and qualifications, including our Aspiring Leaders NPQSL and NPQH programmes to help you achieve your ambitions more quickly. The Federation operates twin Teaching Schools as well as a number of highly successful CPD Networks, and the post holder would have the opportunity to play a key role in this work.

We are looking for an experienced teacher with a deep passion for SEND. Our consultant roles are suitable for those with management experience (ideally but not necessarily at Head of Department level or alternatively be an aspirant Leading Practitioner). The post would suit an ambitious middle leader looking either to broaden their subject expertise and responsibilities, or who may be considering a future leadership pathway to their first headship.

Commitment to safeguarding

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.