Senior Inclusion Lead - Early Identification

• Full time (37 hours per week), all year-round position
• Hybrid working model with a balance of home, locality and office working
• Based in a locality but with the expectation that casework is needs based and can be across Somerset
• 33 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays).
• Permanent contract.
• Grade 8, £49,282 per annum
• Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship.

Join us on our mission to make a real difference in Somerset!

As a Senior Inclusion Lead for Early Identification, you will play a pivotal role in shaping positive futures for our youngest children with acute and complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and wider vulnerabilities.

You’ll lead with vision and confidence, setting a clear direction for inclusive practice, inspiring teams across early years settings, and strengthening a culture where every child’s needs are understood, valued, and met. You will oversee key early years initiatives, chair essential multi-agency meetings, and make sure that each child’s unique potential is recognised, supported, and nurtured from the very start of their learning journey.

In this role, you will guide our operational response for children in the early years with complex SEND, as well as those who may be at risk of later disengagement from education. This includes ensuring timely and high‑quality advice, early identification, and robust interventions that enable children to make strong progress and transition confidently into their next stage of education.

Senior Inclusion Lead Opportunities – Virtual School Team

This vacancy is within our Early Identification phase supporting children and young people from birth to year 2.

We are seeking educational leaders with early years and Key stage one experience with skills leading and managing through change, project managing and with specialist knowledge in areas such as SEND, early years education, school entry planning and early identification in our youngest children.  

Here’s what your role will involve:

• Collaborate with leaders and partners: Work closely with senior leaders, early years practitioners, and multi‑agency teams to co‑design and deliver practical strategies that strengthen inclusive practice and help prevent placement instability for our youngest children.
• Inspire an inclusive environment: Partner with educators, parent carers, health professionals, and external agencies to create nurturing, developmentally appropriate environments that support every child’s social, emotional, and early learning needs.
• Drive improvement: Monitor, evaluate, and enhance inclusion practices across early years settings, offering creative, evidence‑informed recommendations that raise the quality of support for children with emerging and complex needs.
• Lead with expertise: Take ownership of a defined area of early years SEND practice, providing professional guidance, coaching, and development opportunities for colleagues. Work alongside other Senior Leads to strengthen a joined‑up, inclusive system from the earliest stage.
• Lead complex early years situations: Participate in and, where appropriate, chair key meetings such as Team Around the Child (TAC) and early years planning reviews. Offer thoughtful, solution‑focused advice that empowers families, practitioners, and partners to support children effectively.
• Management Responsibilities: Provide line management, supervision, and day‑to‑day support to team members. Model inclusive leadership and play a key role in internal meetings, promoting collaboration, shared learning, and high‑quality early years practice.
• Partnering with Families Through Clear Communication: Build strong, trusting relationships with families by communicating openly, sensitively, and consistently. Ensure parent carers feel heard, supported, and confident in the plans in place for their child’s early development.

We’re committed to helping you grow through continuous support, training, and professional development. To make a strong start in this early years leadership role, we’re looking for someone who brings:

• Specialist understanding of early childhood pathways: Knowledge of early years transitions, including progression into Reception and Key Stage 1, and awareness of later pathways that early support helps to shape.
• Expertise in Early Years SEND: A thorough understanding of identifying and supporting young children with SEND, alongside strong knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice, particularly the principles around early identification, early intervention, and the graduated approach.
• Leadership experience: Experience leading within early years or educational settings, guiding teams through change, and championing high‑quality inclusive practice from the earliest stage.
• Policy development skills: Experience in writing, shaping, and implementing effective early years inclusion policies and practices that drive meaningful impact for children and families.
• Collaborative mindset: A strong track record of working in partnership with parent carers, early years practitioners, health professionals, and wider multi‑agency partners to achieve shared goals for children’s development and wellbeing.
• Relevant qualifications: a degree or equivalent professional experience that demonstrates your expertise and dedication.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

The Salary for the Senior Inclusion Lead is Grade 8, ranging from £49,282 per annum.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Chelsey Oxley, Senior Expert Advisor – Early Identification via chelsey.oxley@somerset.gov.uk  

Interviews are likely to take place on the w/c 27^th April 2026

If you have everything you need, just hit the apply button. We can’t wait to hear from you.

In this role, you will require a criminal background check via Disclosure and Barring Service.