Head of Designated Special Provision (DSP)

About the role:  Inclusion lies at the very heart of The Halley Academy.  We have a rare and exciting opportunity for an exceptional teacher to join us in the role of Head of DSP (Assistant SENCo) to make a real impact in our academy, Leigh Academies Trust and the local community. In this role, you will lead a team responsible for fostering the academic, social, physical and moral development of students in the academy. 

In this strategic role you will lead, develop and support effective practice for children with special and additional educational needs, including the development of all teachers across the academy to provide ‘quality first’ teaching. As the successful candidate you will promote the academy ethos, vision, policies and procedures, carefully monitor pupil progress, as well as ensure all statutory processes are correctly delivered.

In recognition of the importance and scope of this role within the academy, you will have a small teaching commitment. As the successful candidate, you will be expected to model, advise an impact on outstanding classroom practice particularly in relation to inclusion. To support you in delivering excellent outcomes, you will work closely with a senior leadership team with a strong inclusive ethos, a well-established SEN team, support with your own professional development and engaging students who are keen to learn.

Click here to view the full job description. 

The Halley Academy has a Designated Special Provision (DSP) for up to 16 students whose primary need on their EHC plan is identified as ASD. Students are supported by specialist staff within bespoke provision comprised of four classrooms, each with direct access to a quiet room. It also has its own kitchen area to develop life skills, changing rooms and a training room. Students have access to their own open learning and recreational space, separate from those accessed by other students within the academy.  

Within the DSP, students are based within the provision for tutor activities and social times but all access the rest of the academy for most lessons. The aim is to enable each student to integrate into main academy lessons full time and to study the full range of KS3 and KS4 examination courses and enrichment activities. Each student has a carefully personalised timetable which takes account of their individual needs, but has a significant level of challenge built within it. All students join everyone else in taking part in their Small School activities.  Click here to read more about our Designated Special Provision.  

Inclusive education is also at the core of Leigh Academies Trust.  As well as the DSP at The Halley Academy, the Trust has eight specialist resource provisions covering a wide range of needs, and Milestone Academy a special academy for 320 pupils with severe and complex needs. In addition, the Trust has its own team of educational psychologists supporting all academies. In this role, you will play a leading role within the team of SEN specialists across the Trust, contribute to the work of the SEN Drive Team and the regular TLC forum.

What are we looking for in you?  As the successful candidate you will be a qualified teacher with experience of SEN related responsibilities, policy and practice preferably with experience within the secondary age range. You will be passionate and knowledgeable about this area of education and possess the relevant leadership and managerial skills to ensure successful inclusion throughout the academy and share best practice across the Trust and the local authority.

As the ideal candidate, you will;

• consistently ensure that all students achieve their full potential;
• lead, motivate and inspire others;
• advise staff about best practice and model this where appropriate;
• be an innovative, creative and strategic thinker;
• demonstrate a proactive and collaborative approach to working with others, within your current school and beyond;
• work under pressure whilst remaining highly organised;
• analyse data effectively to identify and track the progress of individual and groups of SEN students;
• use data to inform highly effective strategies which enable rapid student progress;
• have excellent leadership and management skills;
• be committed to The Halley Academy’s ethos;
• have the resolve to make a real difference to the lives of students and their families.

Responsibilities will include:

• taking a strategic overview of the curriculum design and implementation;
• participating in support designed to ensure students with special educational needs (SEN) achieve success;
• ensuring the needs of all students with SEN are met and that they are supported to make excellent progress;
• advising and supporting leaders, class teachers and support staff, enabling them to offer high-quality provision;
• co-ordinating the Academy’s responsibilities during the statutory assessment process, with a view to ensuring that pupils with a high level of need obtain an Education, Health and Care Plan;
• advising and supporting the parents of pupils on the SEN Register.

Working at the academy: The Halley Academy has a long and illustrious heritage being the first purpose-built comprehensive in the UK in the 1950s.  We became part of Leigh Academies Trust in early 2018, a highly successful multi-academy trust offering a wealth of opportunities to all of its staff and students to collaborate, develop and grow.

The Halley is a vibrant academy on an exciting journey of rapid improvement.  We are a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme in Post 16 and the IB Middle Years Programme in Key Stage 3. We are a diverse community where everyone is valued, respected and trusted, where we all work together to achieve and celebrate success.  Students thrive within a culture of high aspiration, with no cap on ambition, building the skills to lead healthy, happy and successful lives.

Our dedicated staff are the most important factor in transforming lives and delivering the best outcomes for every student. Every colleague has access to a wide range of professional development opportunities, tailored to the individual depending on aspirations and key areas of interest.  

Diversity at our core: As a Trust we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals we all bring something unique to the role regardless of age, gender, race, beliefs or disabilities which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. 

The academy is committed to safeguarding children and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.  Our commitment to safeguarding is underpinned by robust processes and checks which are in place across the Trust.