SENCo and Trust Strategic SEND Lead

St Francis Catholic Primary School, Nailsea, Somerset, BS48 4PD

25 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1st September 2026

• Closing date

  13 July 2026 at 3pm

• Date listed

  17 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • SENCo (special educational needs coordinator)
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: Commesurate with experience
• Additional allowances:

  Commesurate with experience

SENCo and Trust Strategic SEND Lead job summary

SENDCo and Trust Strategic SEND Lead

Part-time (0.6 FTE - 3 days per week)

2 days per week: SENDCo, St Francis Catholic Primary School

1 day per week: Trust Strategic SEND and Inclusion Lead

Salary: Competitive and dependent upon experience and leadership expertise.

St Francis Catholic Primary School and the Cardinal Newman Catholic Educational Trust are seeking to appoint an exceptional SEND leader to help shape the future of inclusion both within a successful school and across a growing Catholic Trust.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity that combines school-based SEND leadership with Trust-wide strategic influence. For two days per week, you will lead SEND provision at St Francis Catholic Primary School, ensuring that pupils with SEND receive high-quality provision, ambitious support and strong advocacy. For one day per week, you will work alongside the CEO, Principals and SENDCos across the Trust to strengthen systems, develop practice and help shape the future of SEND and inclusion.

We are looking for someone who:

Has Qualified Teacher Status and significant experience of supporting pupils with SEND

Is passionate about inclusion and has high aspirations for all children

Has a strong understanding of the SEND Code of Practice, EHCP processes and the graduated approach

Can build strong relationships with pupils, families, staff and external professionals

Is able to support, challenge and develop colleagues to improve outcomes for pupils with SEND

Has the credibility, expertise and ambition to contribute to Trust-wide SEND leadership

Is committed to ensuring every child is known, valued and able to flourish

At St Francis, children are at the heart of everything we do. As recognised by Ofsted:

"The school has high ambition for its pupils. By the end of key stage 2, they achieve well. Pupils are well prepared for their next stage of education."

"Pupils are wonderful ambassadors for their school. They are polite, courteous and eloquent. Pupils speak proudly about sporting success against larger schools. In class, they behave well. St Francis has a nurturing ethos."

We can offer:

A unique opportunity to combine school and Trust leadership

The chance to shape SEND and inclusion across a growing Catholic Trust

A supportive Principal, CEO and leadership team

A culture rooted in kindness, belonging and high expectations

Opportunities for professional development, collaboration and system leadership

The opportunity to make a genuine and lasting difference to children, families and schools

At St Francis, we are a school family with Christ at the centre of all we do. We believe every child has unique gifts and deserves an education that enables them to flourish beyond expectation.

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and encouraged. Candidates are also welcome to arrange an informal conversation with the CEO regarding the Trust-wide aspects of the role.

Safeguarding Commitment

St Francis Catholic Primary School and the Cardinal Newman Catholic Educational Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and pre-employment checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, including an online search.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

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.

About St Francis Catholic Primary School

• School type: Academy, Roman Catholic, ages 4 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 143 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-francis-catholic-primary-school-nailsea

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