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Head of Learning Support
Job Location:
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
28 August 2026 (30+ days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
18 December 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Job Title: Head of Learning Support
Department: Learning Support
Salary: 59043 per year
Job Type: 35 hours per week Permanent
To take the lead in developing and evaluating SEND practice in the College ensuring learners who are identified as having additional needs are supported appropriately and succeed in their education. Ensure provision within the College meets the requirements of the SEND Code of Practice. Ensure the College receives appropriate funding for learners with additional needs
Ensure the development of teaching staff in understanding and deploying up to date practices in supporting learners with additional needs in their learning.
Job Type: 35 hours per week Permanent
To take the lead in developing and evaluating SEND practice in the College ensuring learners who are identified as having additional needs are supported appropriately and succeed in their education. Ensure provision within the College meets the requirements of the SEND Code of Practice. Ensure the College receives appropriate funding for learners with additional needs
Ensure the development of teaching staff in understanding and deploying up to date practices in supporting learners with additional needs in their learning.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute fully to the mission and values statement of the College ensuring their effective implementation in all aspects of College life.
- Assist the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing in managing and overseeing all aspects of an effective and efficient additional learning support department.
- Assist the Director of Student Support and Wellbeing in promoting the service across the College and to develop a disability friendly culture.
- Have a thorough understanding of SEND and related issues and practices and demonstrate expertise by overseeing and developing these within the teams.
- Is fully up to date with the Colleges responsibilities in line with SEN Code of Practice Children and Families Act 2014 and any other relevant legislation.
- Is well versed with the latest OFSTED criteria around Inspections (SEND in particular).
- Keep themselves up to date with the latest developments in the SEND field (e.g. SEND Green Paper) and prepare the College for the upcoming changes.
- Undertake line management responsibilities for Disability Support Team Leader Learning Support Specialists the Dyslexia Support team and other key staff within the department supporting their development and setting clear expectations and targets through appraisal.
- Carry out Exam Access Arrangement Assessment as and when required.
- Ensure that all students with identified support needs High Needs students those with EHCPs are appropriately assessed and supported.
- Understanding of EHCP application process and experience of applying for and reviewing EHCPs.
- Plan and provide appropriate CPD and ongoing support to teachers teaching managers and support staff to enable the development of a broad and ambitious curriculum and effective pedagogy that will assist staff to use differentiated and inclusive approaches.
- Ensure that teaching and support teams are up to date with current legislation and the latest practice in supporting students including the use of assistive technologies and that staff meet regularly to share best practice and learn from each other.
- Evaluate the impact of inclusive teaching and support staff to improve practice.
- Ensure all staff are kept up to date with teaching and learning strategies that promote effective inclusive practice.
- Take part in quality cycle processes identifying areas of weakness and implementing changes to improve them.
- Oversee the effective initial screening and in-depth assessment of students with specific needs streamlining processes to ensure that students are quickly engaged and supported and maximising the efficient use of available resources. Liaise with managers and progress teams to identify and address areas of concern regarding students pastoral and academic needs.
- Ensure that individual support plans and care plans are maintained regularly updated and shared with curriculum areas through College systems.
- Ensure that classroom teachers and their managers are fully aware of the support provided to their students including those with an EHCP and that they are fully equipped and supported to meet their specific learning needs.
- Ensure the efficient action planning review tracking monitoring and recording of students support to promote high levels of student achievement and progression.
- Investigate and apply creative solutions (based upon established theory and practice) within the support service delivery to meet the growing demand efficiently and effectively.
- Produce accurate and timely performance reports on key activities within the department and take appropriate action where necessary.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to secure and maintain successful relationships including for example parents local authorities professional bodies universities schools and employers.
- Support cross-College activities (open evenings departmental meetings parents evenings whole College training events) the key enrolment and invigilation periods.
- Contribute to and develop a positive and supportive culture for all staff and learners working towards the highest standards and driving aspiration for all staff and learners advising on target setting for learners with ALS
- Support the College Equality and Diversity Health and Safety Inclusive Learning and Safeguarding policies processes arrangements and objectives.
- Take a proactive approach and responsibility for personal professional development Health & Safety and meeting other regulatory compliances (e.g. GDPR DPA Safeguarding) thereby enabling safe and professional working practices to be always observed.
- Carry out any other relevant and appropriate duties as determined by the needs of the service and as appropriate to the grade.
- As part of your management responsibilities you will occasionally be required to undertake Duty Manager duties which will involve working until 9:00 pm.
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
Essential Criteria
- Educated to degree level
- Recognised teaching qualification
- Significant teaching experience and arranging exam support for learners with additional needs
- Recognised qualification(s) in learning support
- Level 7 qualification in Access arrangements
- Proven experience of managing learning support services including timetabling to support the needs of leaners.
- Experience of applying for and reviewing Educational Health & Care Plan and in-depth knowledge of High Needs funding methodologies
- A working knowledge of Safeguarding procedures supporting Safeguarding teams and experience of managing support for learners with mental health needs
- Proven experience of liaising with and developing positive collaborative working relationships with teaching teams parents outside agencies and local authorities
- Knowledge of research in this area and ability to creatively apply theory to enhance support to students with learning disabilities and/or difficulties including implementing assistive technologies
- Proven ability to design/deliver appropriate CPD to support staff and teachers.
- Up to date knowledge of all legislative requirements.
- Experience of liaising with outside agencies parents and local authorities.
Personal Attributes
- Committed to the achievement and success of learners
- Resilient emotionally intelligent and approachable
- Skilled communicator and negotiator with experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams
- Excellent organisational and record keeping skills supported by high levels of computer literacy
- Ability to manage to tight deadlines and conflicting priorities
- Membership of a relevant professional body
- Knowledge of safeguarding equality and diversity inclusivity and health and safety
Please Note
This role may close earlier than the advertised deadline if we receive sufficient applications. Early submission is strongly encouraged.
Benefits
Why Join The City of Liverpool College
Benefits of working at the College
As a valued member of our College community youll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits dedicated wellbeing support and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.
Benefits of working at the College
As a valued member of our College community youll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits dedicated wellbeing support and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.
Pension Scheme
Youll be part of the Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contributions of up to 20.20% one of the best pension packages in the sector.
Youll be part of the Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contributions of up to 20.20% one of the best pension packages in the sector.
Leave entitlement
Up to 30 days annual holiday allowance plus 1 wellbeing day. Youll also benefit from 5 to 7 days statutory closure and 2 further days closure at Easter.
Up to 30 days annual holiday allowance plus 1 wellbeing day. Youll also benefit from 5 to 7 days statutory closure and 2 further days closure at Easter.
Employee Benefit Platform
As part of your role youll have access to the COLC Employee Benefits Platform a one-stop hub for a wide range of perks designed to support your wellbeing work-life balance and everyday savings. Youll be able to access discounts at major supermarkets fashion and lifestyle retailers tech stores travel providers and more. Youll also benefit from the Cycle to Work Scheme cinema and leisure discounts and tech and home appliance discounts with the option of spreading the cost through salary sacrifice. The platform is part of our commitment to supporting you in every aspect of your working life and beyond.
As part of your role youll have access to the COLC Employee Benefits Platform a one-stop hub for a wide range of perks designed to support your wellbeing work-life balance and everyday savings. Youll be able to access discounts at major supermarkets fashion and lifestyle retailers tech stores travel providers and more. Youll also benefit from the Cycle to Work Scheme cinema and leisure discounts and tech and home appliance discounts with the option of spreading the cost through salary sacrifice. The platform is part of our commitment to supporting you in every aspect of your working life and beyond.
Health and Wellbeing
As part of our commitment to supporting your health and wellbeing all employees have access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) a completely confidential support service available 24/7 365 days a year. Whether youre facing personal challenges looking for advice or simply need someone to talk to Health Assured is here to help. Through Health Assured you can access a 24/7 confidential helpline face to face online or telephone counselling as well as structured support for a wide range of issues including stress anxiety relationships bereavement legal and financial concerns.
Youll also have access to the online wellbeing portal a secure user-friendly platform offering a wide range of self-help resources health assessments articles and guidance covering emotional physical and financial wellbeing and to the Wisdom App which offers mood trackers and wellbeing tools meditation guides fitness videos and self-help modules as well as daily wellbeing tips.
As part of our commitment to supporting your health and wellbeing all employees have access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) a completely confidential support service available 24/7 365 days a year. Whether youre facing personal challenges looking for advice or simply need someone to talk to Health Assured is here to help. Through Health Assured you can access a 24/7 confidential helpline face to face online or telephone counselling as well as structured support for a wide range of issues including stress anxiety relationships bereavement legal and financial concerns.
Youll also have access to the online wellbeing portal a secure user-friendly platform offering a wide range of self-help resources health assessments articles and guidance covering emotional physical and financial wellbeing and to the Wisdom App which offers mood trackers and wellbeing tools meditation guides fitness videos and self-help modules as well as daily wellbeing tips.
Youll also be entitled to a free eye test through our voucher scheme with Specsavers which covers a full eye exam (worth up to 25) and even includes 45 towards a pair of glasses. We also offer free flu vaccinations to help keep you feeling your best all year round.
Travel
We offer interest-free loans to help you buy annual travel passes from Merseytravel and Merseyrail. That means you can enjoy the savings of up to two months free travelwithout having to cover the full cost upfront. Its all about making your commute more affordable and less stressful.
Flexible Working
We offer flexible working options depending on business need to support our employees work-life balance.
We offer flexible working options depending on business need to support our employees work-life balance.
Professional Development
Were passionate about helping you thrive offering a mix of formal and informal professional development opportunitiesdesigned to sharpen your skills expand your knowledge and accelerate your career.
Were passionate about helping you thrive offering a mix of formal and informal professional development opportunitiesdesigned to sharpen your skills expand your knowledge and accelerate your career.
College Benefits
Our excellent sports and fitness facilities can be used free of charge by staff. You can also access a range of discounted hair and beauty treatments at our Academy and Graduate Hair & Beauty Salons and a staff discount at our Academy Restaurant.
Our excellent sports and fitness facilities can be used free of charge by staff. You can also access a range of discounted hair and beauty treatments at our Academy and Graduate Hair & Beauty Salons and a staff discount at our Academy Restaurant.
Required Experience:
Director
