SEN Learning Support Team Leader

Longspee Secondary Academy is a specialist provision for students aged 11-16 with SEMH with Autism, and complex needs, and we work together as a community to ensure that our students have the best journey into adulthood. We offer a rich and high-quality learning experience, supporting our young people to become independent, successful and confident adults, with a relentless and positive focus upon Happy, Safe, Progress.

In support of ongoing excellence in Learning Support and Inclusion, we are seeking to employ an enthusiastic, excellent, compassionate and experienced member of staff.

As the Learning Support Team Leader within Longspee Secondary, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring high-quality Inclusion and Pastoral support, to empower and enable progress and aspiration. You will be managing a team of people, working in partnership to ensure positive outcomes for all students. The role will require close working with the school community, and in particular the Classroom Team, SENDCo and the Senior Leadership Team, to develop and enhance positive school-wide approaches.

To be successful at Longspee Secondary, you will need to demonstrate a high-quality flexible and dynamic approach to learning and progress, whilst being creative, open and authentic in your communication. Knowledge and experience of working with secondary pupils with additional needs would be an advantage, though the ability to make, understand and sustain positive relationships, whilst leading with compassion, understanding and clarity, is key.

You will be happily resourceful and creative, highly resilient and adaptable, able to work excellently as a member of a successful team, demonstrate highly developed interpersonal skills and have a good sense of positive humour/perspective. In addition, you will be highly organised and have excellent communication skills, with a deep understanding that success at Longspee is achieved by developing the success and independence of others. You may also have skills, interests, or an area of knowledge that you will want inspire others with.

We are looking for candidates who are passionate and ambitious with a drive and commitment to improve the life chances of our students and the wider community, with a dynamic, exceptional and creative approach to ensuring progress. We look forward to hearing from you.

What We have to Offer:  

• A visible and approachable senior leadership team and an enthusiastic and committed team of teachers and support staff. 
• A strong support network both within the school and across Authentic Education.  
• All staff are part of a professional learning community in which evidence-informed CPD is designed to meet individual needs. 
• Strong potential for career progression. 
• A culture that respects work-life balance and an ongoing commitment to wellbeing with a dedicated Wellbeing Champion.  
• An Employee Assistance Programme including in the moment support and counselling sessions with an external provider.  
• Staff benefits include free eye testing for DSE users through Specsavers, free will writing through Dunham McCarthy Solicitors and reduced price corporate gym membership through BH Live. 
• A competitive pension through Teachers’ Pensions or The Local Government Pension Scheme for support staff.   



Should you wish to arrange a visit or an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Alison Evans, HR Academy Lead at alison.evans@la.weareauthentic.education

Together we are Courageous, Innovative, Excellent