SENCo

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Role: SENCo
Location: Manor Wood School, Bishopsworth, Bristol BS13 8AG
Salary: Up to £42,000.00 per annum ( not pro rata )
Hours: 40 hours per week Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent Term Time Only
Start: January 2026
UK applicants only - this role does not offer sponsorship

Are you an experienced Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) ready to make a real difference in the lives of young people? Manor Wood School is looking for a passionate, innovative, and committed professional to lead and develop our SEND provision.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated SENCo to join our newly established Acorn Education School - Manor Wood School, located in Bishopsworth, Bristol. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping a high-quality SEND provision from the ground up, ensuring that our pupils receive the support they need to thrive.

As SENCo, you will work closely with the Headteacher and the therapy team to lead the strategic development of the school's SEND policy and provision. You will provide expert professional guidance to colleagues, ensuring that pupils with additional needs benefit from high-quality teaching, effective interventions and a consistent, graduated approach to support. Collaboration is central to this role; you will work with teaching staff, parents, external agencies and multi-disciplinary teams to develop personalised strategies that meet the needs of our learners.

A core part of the role involves leading on the use of differentiated teaching methods, overseeing SEND assessment processes, and ensuring that every pupil's provision aligns with statutory requirements. You will support pupils with a range of complex communication needs, autism and associated learning and emotional needs-making a tangible impact on their development, confidence and long-term outcomes.

You will join a highly committed and experienced team who are passionate about transforming the lives of vulnerable pupils. This role offers the opportunity to contribute significantly to the strategic and operational leadership of the school, particularly regarding the Quality of Education.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking an outstanding, innovative and aspirational SENCo who is committed to delivering an exceptional SEND provision. The successful candidate will:

• Provide strong strategic leadership of SEND across the school
• Demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills
• Lead and inspire staff teams, promoting a culture of high expectations and accountability
• Show commitment to inclusion, equality of opportunity and the highest standards of pupil support
• Be solution-focused, proactive and determined in turning strategy into successful practice

As a key member of the Leadership Team, you will influence the school's direction and help ensure excellent outcomes for all learners.

Qualifications & Experience Required

• UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• Prior experience working within SEND or coordinating SEND provision
• Strong understanding of SEND legislation, the Code of Practice and the graduated approach

About Us

Our new Acorn School - Manor Wood School in, Bishopsworth, Bristol has a capacity for 80 pupils and opened in May 2025. The school is a co-educational provision for pupils with complex needs including SEMH.

We are proud to provide a supportive yet challenging learning environment where every pupil has the opportunity to develop their full potential - whether academically, vocationally, in sports, or through personal achievements.

As an inclusive school, we offer a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to each child's unique needs. This personalised approach enables every pupil to progress at their own pace while building the skills and confidence to meet future challenges.

We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK's leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the sixth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

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 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.

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

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
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.