Assistant Principal - Inclusion
Lower Meadow Primary School, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S8 8EE12 days remaining to apply
Closing date
4 October 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
18 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Deputy headteacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £56,297.00 - £62,131.00 Annually (Actual) LS 2-6 £56,297 - £62,131
Assistant Principal - Inclusion job summary
Assistant Principal - Inclusion
Lower Meadow Primary Academy
Full Time | Permanent
Leadership Scale LS2-6
Lower Meadow Primary Academy is a welcoming and ambitious school committed to ensuring every child feels valued, supported and empowered to achieve their full potential. We believe that inclusion is at the heart of exceptional education and that every pupil deserves the opportunity to attend, engage, succeed and thrive. Through strong relationships, high expectations and a collaborative approach with families and external partners, we strive to remove barriers to learning and create an environment where all children can flourish.
We are seeking an exceptional, values-led leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Assistant Principal - Inclusion. This is a significant whole-school leadership opportunity for an individual who is passionate about supporting children and families, developing outstanding provision and driving meaningful improvement across inclusion, SEND and pastoral care.
As a non-teaching member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will have the capacity and influence to lead strategic developments, support staff, work closely with families and ensure the best possible outcomes for all pupils.
The RoleThe Assistant Principal - Inclusion will provide strategic and operational leadership across inclusion, SEND, safeguarding, attendance, behaviour and pastoral care. Working closely with the Principal and leadership team, you will help shape the school's vision and ensure that inclusive practice remains central to decision-making, culture and school improvement.
You will lead and develop a skilled team of inclusion and pastoral professionals, ensuring children receive timely support and that barriers to learning, attendance and achievement are successfully addressed.
Key Responsibilities- Provide strategic leadership for inclusion, SEND and pastoral provision across the school.
- Fulfil the statutory duties of SENCo, ensuring high-quality identification, assessment and provision for pupils with additional needs.
- Lead and develop systems that support attendance, behaviour, wellbeing and safeguarding.
- Manage and develop key members of the Inclusion and Pastoral Team to deliver outstanding support for pupils and families.
- Ensure robust SEND processes, including EHCP applications, reviews and effective use of available resources and funding.
- Build strong partnerships with families, local authorities and external agencies to secure the best outcomes for children.
- Drive a culture of high expectations, ensuring inclusive practice is embedded throughout teaching and learning.
- Contribute to whole-school leadership, strategic planning and continuous school improvement as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
- A highly effective and inspirational leader with a strong commitment to inclusion and equity.
- A qualified SENCo who holds the statutory National Award for SEN Coordination.
- Significant experience of leading SEND provision and supporting vulnerable pupils.
- Excellent knowledge of safeguarding, attendance, behaviour and pastoral systems.
- The ability to analyse information, develop effective provision and secure positive outcomes for children.
- A collaborative leader who can build strong relationships with staff, pupils, families and external professionals.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage complex casework and statutory processes effectively.
- A commitment to maintaining ambitious expectations for every child, regardless of circumstance or need.
This is a unique opportunity to take on a senior leadership role where inclusion is central to the school's vision and future development. You will have the autonomy, support and capacity to make a tangible difference to the lives of children and families while helping shape the strategic direction of the school.
We strongly encourage prospective candidates to visit the school and experience first-hand the warm, inclusive culture of Lower Meadow Primary Academy. Visits provide an excellent opportunity to meet colleagues, explore the school environment and learn more about our ambitious vision for every child.
To arrange a visit please contact Lorraine.Harding@astrealowermeadow.org
Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check. We value diversity and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities.
In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the statutory Code of Practice, the Trust requires all public-facing post holders to demonstrate fluent English. Within a school setting, this applies to all roles that involve direct or indirect interaction with pupils, parents, or members of the public.
Flexible Interview Dates:
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks including references and enhanced DBS checks.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Lower Meadow Primary School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- Size
- 281 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
Lower Meadow Primary Academy is a 3-11 Academy; we sit in South Sheffield on the border with Derbyshire and chose to join Astrea Academy Trust in July 2016. We have a strong team that drive school improvement and strive for the best outcomes for all children.
The Academy is seeking to attract a talented, knowledgeable, and committed team member who can demonstrate high aspirations for all our children along with the enthusiasm and resilience to support all aspects of a child’s education. The successful candidate will have the
opportunity to work in a supportive, professional learning community that seeks excellence and play a key part in the next step of our journey towards Outstanding.
Lower Meadow Primary Academy has been on a journey of improvement over the last six years and we were pleased to be recognised as a “Good” school by Ofsted in 2019. Our emphasis is on consistently high quality teaching and learning throughout school and across all areas of the
curriculum to raise children’s outcomes and allow them to move onto secondary school fully prepared. We believe strongly in building our children’s aspirations and helping them to become good learners so they can build on their successes each year and achieve their full potential. We use the Astrea Values to help build children’s life skills and prepare them fully for secondary school. Our children behave well and enjoy coming to school. All staff are committed to providing the very best for all children. Teamwork is a strong part of our ethos, with a supportive and nurturing staff and a culture of continual improvement in all that we do.
Those we recruit can demonstrate that they share our values, have the child at the centre of everything they do, are highly motivated to work with colleagues to continuously develop their skills, pursue professional excellence and are committed to providing the highest standards consistently. If you feel that you can support our ethos, we would be delighted to receive your application.
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