SEND Quality Assurance Lead
Suffolk County Council · Ipswich · £48,163 (stated in the posting)
- Sendsory
- Address: Ipswich, Suffolk
- Salary: £40,481.83 per annum
- Hours: 40 hours per week, 8.00 am - 4.30 pm, Term time only
- Contract: Permanent
- Reference: 0943
Help strengthen the quality of specialist education and therapeutic practice for children and young people with complex SEND.
Includa Education Group is looking for an experienced SEND education professional to join us as our SEND Quality Assurance Lead, known internally as Head of Quality and Practice.
You will lead the quality and practice framework across our two specialist therapeutic education provisions, Sendsory and Re:Link, ensuring that our therapeutic, educational and specialist approaches are consistently delivering positive outcomes for children and young people.
Working alongside our Heads of Provision and wider leadership team, you will provide independent scrutiny, identify strengths and areas for development, and support continuous improvement across education, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), safeguarding, therapeutic practice and pupil outcomes.
As the successful candidate, you will have significant experience working with children and young people with SLD (Severe Learning Difficulties) and SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) needs, alongside a strong understanding of trauma-informed, attachment-aware and relational practice.
You will need:
- substantial leadership or quality-assurance experience within SEND, specialist education or alternative provision
- experience supporting children and young people with SLD and SEMH
- a strong understanding of safeguarding, EHCPs, adaptive teaching and meaningful assessment
- experience conducting observations, audits or service reviews and translating findings into improvement
- the confidence to constructively challenge leaders and communicate clear recommendations
- the ability to travel between both provisions
Desirable:
- QTS or another recognised teaching qualification
- experience preparing a specialist provision for Ofsted or another external review
About you
We are looking for someone who:
- has significant experience working with children and young people with SLD and SEMH
- has substantial experience in education, SEND, specialist or alternative provision, or quality assurance
- has a strong understanding of teaching, learning and adaptive practice for pupils with complex SEND
- has experience of observations, audits, reviews or quality assurance activity
- has a strong understanding of safeguarding, EHCPs and meaningful assessment
- can analyse information and use evidence to drive improvement
- is confident providing constructive challenge to professionals and senior leaders
- has excellent communication, report-writing and organisational skills
- understands trauma-informed, attachment-aware and relational approaches
- is confident working independently and across multidisciplinary teams
- is able to travel between Sendsory and Re:Link as required
- is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) or an equivalent recognised teaching qualification is desirable.
What we can offer you
- A senior role with genuine influence across two specialist therapeutic provisions
- The opportunity to improve outcomes for children and young people with complex SEND and SEMH
- A varied role across education, therapeutic practice, SEND, safeguarding and improvement
- The opportunity to work alongside experienced Heads of Provision and multidisciplinary teams
- Professional development and opportunities for reflection and learning
- The opportunity to shape the quality and practice framework of a growing education group
- A supportive organisation committed to trauma-informed, attachment-aware and child-centred practice.
If you are an experienced education or SEND professional with a strong understanding of SLD and SEMH and a passion for improving specialist and therapeutic education, we would love to hear from you.
How to Apply
To apply, please visit our Sendsory vacancy website.
Closing date: 12.00 pm, 13 November 2026.
Interview date: Week commencing 16 November 2026.
Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.
Due to our safer recruitment procedures, we are unable to accept CVs. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Includa Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and apprentices to share this commitment. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Sendsory | Ipswich | £40,481.83 per annum | Part Time | Permanent | Closing date: 13 November 2026