High Needs Team Leader, Leeds

Job Title: High Needs Team LeaderSalary: Commencing at 32,870 with progression to 35,912 per annumClosing Date: 2026-08-27About the Role

Leeds City College are recruiting for a High Needs Team Leader to join our Future Pathways department.

This role requires an experienced SEND professional to lead on the placement and support of students with Educational Health Care Plans, SEND and ALS needs across a specific campus/cohort. You will be an operational main point of contact with parents and curriculum staff, make a contribution towards positive outcomes for disadvantaged and vulnerable students, and line manage a highly effective team within the SEND department.

What You Will Do

• Support the curriculum staff and High Needs Intervention Coach in implementing High-Quality First Teaching practices.
• Line manage, lead, support, and supervise designated staff, including delivering training as required.
• Chair annual review meetings, complete required paperwork to Local Authority standards, and respond to consultations within strict legal timeframes.
• Ensure all SEND students receive support tailored to their assessed needs, funding, and exam access arrangements.
• Lead effective transition planning for students entering and leaving the college, and facilitate individual or group campus visits.
• Partner with curriculum teams to ensure the college is physically and educationally accessible.
• Lead on communication and engagement with parents.
• Maintain a strong grasp of relevant campus data and attend management meetings as needed.
• Maintain up-to-date professional/subject knowledge and actively participate in required staff development activities.

About You

• Level 5 teaching qualification or relevant SEND / Learning Support related qualification or willingness to work towards.
• English and Mathematics at Level 2 or above and a willingness to improve in one or both disciplines to level 3 or above.
• You will have a deep understanding of current SEND legislation, the statutory EHCP process, and "Quality First Teaching" frameworks, paired with the organisational skills to meet strict statutory deadlines.
• You will be able to demonstrate strong communication and conflict-resolution skills, featuring a proven track record of positive parental engagement and familiarity with Restorative Practice approaches.
• We are looking for a highly ethical professional driven by honesty, integrity, and a genuine passion for promoting inclusivity, accessibility, and student welfare.

Benefits

The group offers a range of excellent benefits, including:

Annual leave:
Curriculum and Management: 44 days plus bank holidays
Curriculum support and business support: 39 days plus bank holidays

Pension schemes with generous employer contributions:
Teachers Pension Scheme
Local Government Pension Scheme
Peoples Pension Scheme

CPD opportunities:
Annual staff conference plus 2 additional staff development days.
Qualifications including PGCE, Apprenticeships, Leadership and Management courses.

Employee wellbeing initiatives: Family Friendly Policies, discounted onsite spa (Printworks) and gym (Park Lane).

Travel and commuting:Discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.

Flexible and hybrid working opportunities:Please speak to the recruiting manager regarding flexible opportunities as these differ between roles.

About Us

Leeds City College is one of the largest further education institutions in the country and is one of the biggest providers of apprenticeships regionally.We provide a vibrant and diverse learning environment, delivering excellent and innovative education which is supportive, inspiring and life changing. Leeds City Colleges values put students first and are at the heart of everything the college does.We are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our staff. Youll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow. We offer a wide range of job vacancies, and our large size means there are always exciting opportunities to progress.Join us on the journey to being the best that we can collectively be for our students, apprentices, staff and our stakeholders.SAFEGUARDINGAt Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students including children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow the Safer Recruitment requirements and best practice as set out within Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references. Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIONOur commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recruitment is key to our Groups values. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that embraces equality, diversity andinclusion in all its forms, where every candidate is treated with fairness, respect, and equity. Our recruitment processes are designed to ensure equal opportunities, remove bias, and promote a diverse talent pool. We continually assess and improve our practices to ensure that every individual, regardless of background, has an equal chance to succeed. By championing EDI, we aim to create a workforce that reflects the richness of our communities and drives innovation through diverse perspectives. To find out more about what our commitment to EDI means to us pleaseClick here to learn more about our EDI objectives.RECRUITMENT AGENCIESWe kindly request that recruitment agencies do not forward anyunsolicited CVsin relation to any of our advertised roles or speculatively. If we require support with any of our vacancies we will get in touch with agencies directly.

• We do not recognise submissions of unsolicited or speculative CV applications from recruitment agencies.
• We shall not be liable for any fee / commission in the event we employ a candidate that may have been submitted as an unsolicited/speculative application from an uninstructed recruitment agency.