INCLUSION OFFICER – OUTSTANDING ROYAL SCHOOL MANCHESTER

Location: Cheadle Hulme, SK8 6RQ
Salary: £26,469 to £29,030 per annum + excellent benefits
Hours: Term time only working 39 weeks, 37.5 hours per week
Type: Permanent
Closing Date: Friday 20th June 2025

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Due to the nature of the role, we need the post holder to possess excellent communication skills to identify, build and develop relationships with new and established external partners and other schools. And to communicate effectively and sympathetically with a wide variety of people including parents, carers, LAs, Seashell staff, feeder schools, residential care and other educational providers.
You will also have an up-to-date knowledge of SEND specific training offered with local authorities enabling you to signpost relevant staff accordingly, and have good knowledge of SEND legislation, and have experience of training others in inclusion and transitions in a SEND school setting.
With a background working with children and young people with complex learning difficulties including PMLD, MSI, sensory impairment and/or autism, you will have specific experience supporting children and young adults with SEND through transitions and of the annual review process, and have up to date knowledge of current SEND legislation.
In addition, you must hold a minimum GCSE A – C in English and Maths (or equivalent), or commitment to complete Skills for Life Level 2 and be able to demonstrate strong evidence of continual professional development with education up to or above a level 5 qualification. Additional knowledge of communication strategies for non-verbal learners such as BSL, Makaton or signalong is also preferred.

ROLE SUMMARY

At Seashell, we provide education and care for children and young adults with severe, profound and complex learning difficulties/disabilities, sensory impairments, communication disorders and autism.
Our Ofsted Outstanding Royal School Manchester operates from a state-of-the-art school building based on our single site campus in Cheadle. With advanced resources and fantastic teaching and learning facilities, staff room, outdoor areas and swimming pool, it provides an excellent working and learning environment for all. Our highly skilled team of specialist teachers, TAs and therapists work closely with parents, families, and local authorities to ensure that every student reaches their full potential.
We are committed to providing a bespoke education tailored specifically to the needs of our students via 5 distinct learning pathways and their own individual Seashell curriculum. Adopting an adaptable approach our students are able to move between the different learning pathways as their needs evolve.
We are looking for an exceptional and organised Inclusion Officer with excellent interpersonal skills to join our fantastic team. Under the guidance of the Deputy Head and school Headteacher, they will ensure the successful transition of students through our learning pathways that focus on links and co-production with our families and all LA professionals. The Inclusion Officer works collaboratively within Seashell and Local Authorities (LAs), and the families of children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) to facilitate successful placements and transitions. It is therefore vital that they have the required skills to develop and maintain long-term relationships with LAs at all levels.
This is a key role to ensure the lived experience for our learners and their families is as seamless as possible, from the start of the school admissions process to our students’ future destinations and beyond.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

• Developing and maintaining effective relationships with a diverse community of internal and external stakeholders including LAs, current providers, and other relevant professionals.
• Supporting a number of Royal School Manchester’s curriculum pathways, tracking and co-producing student pathways and ensuring all students school journeys maintain a relevant inclusive focus.
• Work in strategic partnership with LAs, building an excellent understanding of LA teams and relevant professionals responsible for making decisions about education placements.
• Developing and maintaining a sound working knowledge of local maintained special schools and colleges and their cohort to ensure clear communications with LAs and families regarding student transition pathways.
• Assist the headteacher in tribunals and panel decisions and forming positive relationships with external educational establishments.
• Lead implementation on external training, strengthening links with new service providers that can be part of the transition’s process/pathways.
• Implementing data tracking systems, analysing outcomes and driving inclusion improvements across school student pathways
• Coordinating specialist training for LA schools to be able to support Seashell students on the pathways.
• Taking an active role in the multi-disciplinary teams supporting students who are transitioning in and out of Royal School Manchester.