Job description
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Does working 4 days a week but with FULL pay sound like a dream?!*
It doesn't have to be! Have a better work/life balance and come and work for Outcomes First Group!
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Job Title: Director of Education Practice and Standards
Location: Bolton (Hybrid)
Salary: £90,000 + £4,000 Car allowance
Hours: Monday-Friday 37.5 hours
Role Purpose
The Director of Education Practice and Standards will provide strategic leadership to ensure excellence in teaching, learning, and practice standards across all SEN schools within the organization. You will champion high-quality, inclusive education for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ensuring compliance with statutory regulations, promoting innovation, and driving continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
* Develop and implement a visionary education strategy that promotes outstanding practice and aligns with the organization’s mission and values.
* Ensure all SEN schools achieve or exceed the required standards set by Ofsted or relevant inspection bodies.
* Lead on the development of consistent, evidence-based teaching, learning, and assessment strategies tailored to SEN settings.
Quality Assurance and Compliance
* Monitor and evaluate the quality of education and practice standards across all sites, ensuring compliance with national legislation, statutory frameworks, and local authority requirements.
* Lead on the development and implementation of key policies and procedures related to SEN education and safeguarding.
* Use data, metrics, and qualitative insights to identify areas for improvement and implement targeted interventions.
Curriculum and Innovation
* Oversee the design and implementation of inclusive, personalized, and innovative curricula to meet the diverse needs of students with SEND.
* Foster the use of technology and assistive tools to enhance teaching, learning, and accessibility.
* Keep up to date with developments in SEN education and embed best practices across the organization.
Professional Development
* Design and deliver comprehensive training programs to ensure staff are skilled in SEN-specific teaching methodologies, behavior management, and therapeutic interventions.
* Provide mentorship and guidance to headteachers and senior leaders in each school.
* Promote a culture of continuous professional development (CPD) and reflective practice across all levels of staff.
Stakeholder Engagement
* Build strong relationships with parents, carers, local authorities, and external agencies to ensure a collaborative approach to student progress and well-being.
* Represent the organization at national and local forums on SEN education and policy.
* Act as a key spokesperson for the organization, advocating for the needs of students with SEND.
Operational Leadership
* Support the recruitment, retention, and development of high-caliber staff who are passionate about SEN education.
* Manage budgets effectively to ensure resources are allocated to areas of greatest impact.
* Work collaboratively with other directors to ensure organizational goals are met.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Experience:
* Significant leadership experience in SEN education, preferably at a multi-school or strategic level.
* Proven track record of driving improvement in SEN schools or settings.
* Experience in curriculum design, quality assurance, and staff development for SEN environments.
Knowledge and Skills:
* Deep understanding of SEND legislation, including the SEND Code of Practice and EHCP processes.
* Expertise in SEN-specific teaching and therapeutic approaches.
* Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
* Ability to use data effectively to inform decision-making and measure impact.
Desirable Criteria
* Experience working with residential SEN settings or therapeutic provisions.
* Knowledge of assistive technologies and their application in education.
Key Attributes
* Visionary leader with a commitment to achieving the highest outcomes for students with SEND.
* Collaborative and empathetic approach, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
* Resilient, adaptable, and solution-focused in challenging situations.
Why join Outcomes First Group?
About the Group
Outcomes First Group is the leading provider of specialist education in the UK. We exist to give neurodivergent children and young people access to a great education that caters to their specific needs, abilities and aspirations.
There are three brands in our Outcomes First family: Acorn Education, Options Autism and Momenta Connect. Together, we educate, care for and support children, young people, and adults across the UK, empowering them to be happy and make their way in the world.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.
Our Vision
We believe that with a great education, every neurodivergent pupil can thrive and make their way in the world.
Our Mission
Every day we improve the lives of our pupils, their families, and local communities through a relentless focus on wellbeing and learning.
Our Promise*
We are kind to ourselves and each other…We work together… and we make things happen.*Our Promise sits alongside our Vision and Mission. It describes the sort of people we are and our commitment to how we treat each other, work together, and behave.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
* Life Assurance
* Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
* “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
* Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
* A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
* 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
* Cycle to Work Schemes
* Electric Car Purchase Scheme
* Critical illness cover
And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
We're on a mission to give our colleagues an amazing work/life balance!
Work 4 days, be paid for 5 *T&C's apply - following successful completion of the probation period