Director of SEND & Inclusion

A leadership role for those who refuse to accept the status quo!

Location: Hybrid / Flexible – with travel to our schools in the West Midlands, East Anglia and London

About The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust

The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust (TEFAT) is a multi-academy trust dedicated to primary education, serving over 14,000 children in 36 schools across London, East Anglia and the West Midlands.

Our mission is simple: to create a safe, nurturing space in which all children and teachers thrive.

At TEFAT, we believe that education should empower children to become active, responsible citizens with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed in life.

Unlike many other trusts, we reject a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Each of our schools has the autonomy to develop an approach that meets the needs of its unique community, while being supported by a network of like-minded professionals dedicated to inclusion and excellence.

We champion a broad curriculum, placing equal emphasis on the arts, humanities and personal development alongside literacy and numeracy.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do:

• Put children first,
• Be safe,
• Be kind
• Respect all,
• Be open,
• Forgive,
• Make a difference.

We expect every member of our community, from teachers to trustees, to live these values and work relentlessly to improve the lives of our pupils.

About the role

TEFAT seeks a Director of SEND and Inclusion who is unafraid to challenge the status quo and determined to build a truly inclusive education system.

If the systemic failures of SEND provision inspire you to drive change and you still have the resilience, pragmatism and empathy to work within the system to impact its development, this role is for you.

As our Director of SEND and Inclusion, you will lead the Trust’s strategy for SEND provision, working closely with school leaders, SENDCos and external partners to ensure every child receives the education they deserve.

Who we are looking for

We need a leader who understands that inclusion is a wicked problem made worse by well-intentioned individuals struggling within a broken system.

You will have a passion for supporting disadvantaged children and see inclusion not as a distant aspiration but as a fundamental principle that must shape every decision.

You will be someone who rejects the oversimplification of SEND challenges and instead embraces the complexity of systemic change, understanding that real progress requires nuance, persistence and an unflinching commitment to equity.

Whilst we are open to the background of our new Director of SEND and Inclusion, you must have an appreciation of the complexities around SEND legislation and the realities of school leadership. You should recognise the immense pressures faced by headteachers, SENDCos and TAs, professionals who are often stretched beyond capacity.

You will come with the strategic acumen to lead meaningful change across multiple schools and local authorities, ensuring that inclusion is more than just a policy; it is a lived reality for every child.

Above all, you will bring resilience, optimism and a relentless problem-solving mindset to one of the most challenging roles in education today.

Peridot Partners and The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

For further information about the role and to register your interest, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners: https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/jobs/director-of-send-and-inclusion-the-elliot-foundation-academies-trust/