Alternative Provision Lead

Progressive Sports; Stafford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Progressive Sports in the United Kingdom is seeking an innovative Head of Provision to lead our primary provision. You will cultivate a therapeutic, play-informed environment where young children feel secure, heard, and valued, and you will manage a team of teachers, nurture staff, and specialists.

You will work closely with families, primary schools, and local agencies to build bright futures, applying trauma-informed, relational approaches, and ensuring safeguarding and high-quality teaching.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership within primary/SEMH or equivalent settings.
• Deep understanding of child development and nurture group principles.
• Experience working with hard-to-reach families and external agencies.
• Strong operational management and collaborative leadership.

Responsibilities

• Model trauma-informed, relational, nurture-based culture.
• Oversee a creative primary curriculum with experiential learning.
• Lead on relational behavior approaches and emotional regulation.
• Safeguarding leadership and pupil welfare standards.
• Collaborate with parents, specialists, and SEND teams.
• Develop staff through coaching and training in SEMH.

Skills

Leadership

Trauma-informed

Nurture principles

Family engagement

Job description

The Role

We are seeking an innovative, highly compassionate, and child-centered leader to lead our primary provision.

As our Head of Provision, you will drive our progressive educational vision. You will create a therapeutic, play-informed environment where young children feel secure, heard, and valued. You will manage a dynamic team of teachers, nurture assistants, and specialists, while working closely with families, primary schools, and local agencies to build bright futures for our children.

Key Responsibilities

• Progressive & Nurturing Leadership: Model and champion a trauma-informed, relational, and nurture-based culture tailored specifically to early childhood development.

• Child-Centered Curriculum: Oversee a creative, flexible primary curriculum that integrates core literacy and numeracy with experiential learning, forest school/outdoor play, and therapeutic interventions.

• Early Intervention & Relational Practice: Lead on relational behavior approaches, prioritizing emotional regulation, restorative practices, and positive behavior support over traditional discipline.

• Safeguarding & Pupil Welfare: Act as or oversee the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), maintaining rigorous safeguarding standards tailored to vulnerable young children.

• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Partner effectively with parents/carers, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and local authority SEND teams.

• Team Development: Lead, coach, and support staff with empathy, ensuring regular reflective practice and high-quality training in SEMH, trauma, and primary pedagogy.

About You

You are a warm, resilient primary specialist and compassionate leader who understands that for young children, "behavior is communication." You thrive in a creative, child-led setting and are passionate about rethinking early years and primary inclusion.

Essential Criteria

• Proven leadership experience within a primary, SEMH, Special School, or Alternative Provision setting.

• Deep understanding of child development, Nurture Group principles, trauma-informed practice, and neurodiversity in primary-aged children.

• Track record of working compassionately with hard-to-reach families and external agencies.

• Strong operational management skills, with an open, collaborative approach to team leadership.

What We Offer

• The rare opportunity to shape a truly progressive, high-impact primary provision.

• A dedicated, supportive team and executive leadership committed to child-centered education.

• Comprehensive CPD, clinical supervision, and wellbeing support.

• Competitive salary and pension scheme.