Assistant Headteacher

Job Description

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

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.

Information about the School

Doucecroft School is a specialist co-educational school for children and young people with autism and additional complex needs, age 3 –19 years. Established in 1973, we are experienced and successful in meeting the needs of students with wide-ranging strengths and needs, providing a nurturing environment where students are able to thrive and grow in independence and self-esteem.

Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy are provided on-site by our experienced therapy team.

Doucecroft School is part of Autism Anglia, a regional charity working with children, adults and families affected by Autism.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.