Job Introduction
At Heatherside Infant School, we believe that every child should feel valued, included and confident that they can succeed, supported by adults who see their potential and are committed to helping them achieve it.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our leadership team and champion inclusion ensuring that every child feels a sense of belonging, is supported and is able to thrive.
We are looking for a nurturing, skilled and inspiring Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion to join our Senior Leadership Team and help us ensure this belief is reflected in every classroom, every interaction and every child's experience of school. We are looking for someone who will support and challenge us, share our values and work alongside us to ensure every child has the opportunities they deserve.
This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate leader who puts children at the heart of all that they do. You will lead our approach to inclusion, with particular responsibility for SEND, disadvantaged children and other vulnerable groups, helping us to continually strengthen provision and improve outcomes for the children who need us most.
About the role
Working closely with the Headteacher and the wider leadership team, you will play an important part in shaping the strategic direction of our school. You will lead and develop our inclusion strategy, contribute to whole school improvement and support staff to provide high quality, inclusive teaching for every child.
This role keeps you connected to the classroom with one teaching day commitment each week. You will have the opportunity to model excellent inclusive practice and experience the impact of the approaches you lead. Your remaining two days will provide dedicated leadership time to develop provision, support staff and families, work alongside external professionals and drive school improvement.
You will also have a key role in developing others through coaching, mentoring and professional development, building confidence and expertise.
We would love to hear from you if you:
- are passionate about inclusion and ambitious for every child;
- have a strong understanding of SEND and inclusive practice;
- hold or are willing to work towards the National Professional Qualification for SENCOs;
- can combine strategic thinking with a practical, hands on approach;
- have a strong track record of improving outcomes for SEND and vulnerable children;
- value strong, respectful partnerships with parents, carers and other professionals;
- are a positive, resilient and collaborative leader who enjoys being part of a team;
- understand the importance of pastoral care, behaviour and wellbeing in enabling children to flourish; and
- are ready to make a meaningful contribution to the leadership and development of our school.
We can offer you:
- happy confident children with a passion for learning;
- a warm, nurturing and ambitious school;
- a strong sense of community and togetherness with a supportive school and governance team;
- a genuinely inclusive ethos;
- opportunities to be involved with the future developments of the school;
- the opportunity to make a real difference.
Come and meet us:
We warmly encourage prospective applicants to visit us, meet our children and staff and get a feel for our school. If you are an inclusive leader who believes that every child should be known, understood and given the opportunity to succeed, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Applications close on: Monday 19th October 2026
Interview date: Thursday 22nd October 2026
Please contact our school office to arrange a visit: adminoffice@heatherside-inf.hants.sch.uk or 01252 617101
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Attached documents
