Head of SEND, Inclusion and Learning

Job Introduction

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Interview Date: 19th November 2026

Shape the future of education. Champion inclusion. Change children's lives.

In Rutland, we believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to achieve, to belong and to thrive. Children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. We are ambitious for every child, regardless of need, background or circumstance, and we are seeking an exceptional leader to help us deliver that ambition.

This is an exciting time to join Rutland. As a small authority with big ambitions, we can work closely with our partners, innovate quickly, and see the direct impact of our decisions on children and families.

If you are an inspirational leader who believes that education transforms lives, that inclusion should be at the heart of every community, and that every child deserves the opportunity to flourish, we would love to hear from you.

About the Role

This is a rare opportunity to join our leadership team within the Children and Families Directorate as Head of SEND, Inclusion and Learning. This is a pivotal strategic role where you will influence the education journey of children and young people from early years through to adulthood, leading a broad portfolio spanning SEND, inclusion, learning, early years, school admissions, place planning and Virtual School.

You will lead our strategic vision for SEND, inclusion and learning, working with schools, academies, early years providers, health partners and communities to create an education system where every child can succeed. Whether improving outcomes for children with additional needs, strengthening inclusive practice, raising aspirations or ensuring sufficient high-quality provision, your focus will be on delivering better educational experiences and better life chances for children and young people.

Key responsibilities include:

• To act as the Council's strategic lead for education and inclusion, fostering strong partnerships with schools, academies, early years providers and alternative provision settings to improve outcomes for all children and young people.
• To lead the strategic development of an inclusive SEND and Inclusion system that enables all children and young people to access high-quality provision within their local community.
• To deliver a Virtual School service which improves educational experiences and outcomes of children in our care and children with a social worker.
• To lead the Councils statutory responsibilities pertaining the provision of high-quality early years services including sufficiency, funding entitlements and quality improvement.
• To oversee the Councils responsibilities for school admissions and to lead on pupil place planning to ensure sufficiency of places.

Additional Requirements

The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Costs for the DBS are covered by Rutland County Council.

Please note that you will need a full driving licence to enable you to travel across the county.

About You

• Degree standard of education.
• A strategic and credible leader with a proven track record of improving outcomes within education, SEND, inclusion or children's services.
• An effective partnership worker, who can inspire collective action around a shared ambition, inspire confidence across the system, and translate strategy into meaningful impact.
• A deep understanding of the education landscape with a passionate commitment to inclusion and equity.
• You will be able to demonstrate how your leadership has improved outcomes, influenced change and built strong partnerships that deliver results.

Informal enquiries

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Kevin Quinn, Strategic Director, Children and Families (DCS): kquinn@rutland.gov.uk

We review applications frequently; however, in periods of high demand, the role may close earlier than advertised, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Our benefits

• Competitive salary
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• A strong focus on health, wellbeing, and work-life balance

For further information on the benefits of working for Rutland, please see our careers page: Jobs and volunteering | Rutland County Council

Our Values

Our values – Passionate, Ambitious, Work Together, and Make a Difference – guide everything we do. We’re looking for people who share these values and want to contribute to strong, supportive teams that deliver positive outcomes for our communities.