Head of Alternative Provision

Head of Alternative Provision (SEND & SEMH)
Location: Northampton
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Start Date: January 2027 start or sooner
Salary: £42,123 to £54,927

An exciting opportunity to lead, develop and shape a unique SEND & SEMH alternative provision.

Are you an experienced SEND or Alternative Provision (AP) leader who is passionate about helping children and young people overcome barriers to learning and achieve their potential?

Here at Aspire People, we are seeking an inspiring, committed and forward-thinking Head of Alternative Provision to lead the next stage of development at a growing education provision on the rural outskirts of Northampton.
This is a rare opportunity to become the first dedicated Head of AP within a small, specialist setting, shaping its educational vision, strengthening its impact and building a provision where children and young people can thrive.

The role
As Head of Alternative Provision, you will take overall day-to-day leadership of the educational provision, ensuring it is safe, effective, well organised and responsive to the needs of the learners and the expectations of commissioning schools and local authorities.
Your responsibilities will include:
Educational leadership and quality
Safeguarding, welfare and compliance
Partnerships and commissioning
Leadership and development

About you
We are looking for an experienced, compassionate and proactive education professional who understands the needs of vulnerable learners and has the leadership skills to help a specialist provision develop and flourish.
You will bring:
* Experience in a senior or leadership role within SEND, alternative provision, specialist education, pupil referral units or a similar setting.
* A strong understanding of the needs of children and young people with SEND, SEMH needs and barriers to mainstream education.
* A clear commitment to safeguarding, child protection, inclusion and learner wellbeing.
* Experience of developing or overseeing personalised learning, assessment and progress monitoring.
* The ability to build positive relationships with learners, families, schools, local authorities and external professionals.
* Strong organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
* The confidence to take ownership, establish effective systems and work independently within a small organisation.
* A flexible, practical and solution-focused approach, with the ability to balance strategic development with day-to-day operational responsibilities.
Desirable experience and qualifications
* A recognised teaching qualification or relevant professional qualification in education, SEND or a related field.
* Leadership experience in an alternative provision, specialist school, PRU or SEMH setting.
* Experience of working with local authority commissioners and school referral processes.
* Experience of quality assurance, safeguarding leadership, inspection preparation or compliance within an educational setting.
* Experience of supporting young people at risk of exclusion or who are not in education, employment or training.

The person we are looking for
Above all, we want someone who shares our belief that young people should not be defined by the difficulties they have experienced in education.
You will be empathetic but confident, nurturing but appropriately challenging, and able to combine high expectations with a genuine understanding of individual needs.
You will see the potential in young people who may have lost confidence in themselves or in education, and you will understand how meaningful activity, positive relationships, and practical learning can help them move forward.

Who are Aspire People?
Aspire People is the UK's fastest growing education recruitment agency and we specialise in providing teaching and support staff to schools across the Midlands and surrounding regions. We focus on delivering high-quality service to all candidates and clients, working closely with primary, secondary, and SEN schools to match them with qualified professionals, including SLT, teachers, teaching assistants, and administrative staff. We are fully commitment to safeguarding and have built a strong reputation for reliability, expertise, and a people-first approach in the education sector.

Aspire People Limited provides services as an Education Agency and an Education Employment Business. Aspire People is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects every candidate to share this commitment. Placements are subject, to appropriate Child Protection screening, including checks with former employers and the Disclosure and Barring Checks