Associate SEND and Inclusion Consultants

Cognition Learning Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognition Learning Group is seeking experienced SEND specialists to join our associate team as consultants for national SEND and inclusion CPD programmes in schools and further education. The role is remote with occasional travel within England and involves being named in tender submissions.

If successful in bidding, you would help design and deliver programmes, quality‑assure materials, support co‑production with practitioners, children, young people and families, and help shape content

Qualifications

• Strong working knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice (0–25), EHCPs and current SEND reform.
• An enhanced DBS check, or willingness to obtain one.
• Senior SEND or inclusion experience in schools, e.g. as SENCO, trust or local authority SEND lead, or SEND adviser.

Responsibilities

• Inform the design and content of SEND CPD programmes reflecting the SEND Code of Practice and reforms.
• Quality‑assure materials and ensure the quality of facilitators and associate experts.
• Support co‑production and user testing with practitioners, children and young people, and families.

Skills

SEND expertise

Inclusion experience

SENCO experience

DBS check

Job description

Associate SEND and Inclusion Consultants (Schools and Further Education Cognition Learning Group

Location: Remote, with occasional travel within England

The opportunity

We design and deliver professional learning for the education workforce. We're preparing to bid for national SEND and inclusion CPD programmes for teachers, leaders and support staff in schools and further education.

We're looking for experienced SEND specialists to join our associate team in one of two strands:

• Schools: SEND expertise across primary, secondary, special schools and alternative provision.
• Further education: SEND expertise in FE colleges and post-16 settings, including learning support teams.

At this stage, we're looking for consultants who are happy to be named in our bid as SEND experts. If we're successful, you would then help design and deliver the programmes.

How the role is staged

Stage 1: Bid submission (October 2026)

• Agree to be named in our tender submission as a SEND expert.
• Provide an up-to-date CV and a short summary of your SEND experience.

Stage 2: Further bidding (December 2026 – January 2027)

• Agree to continue being named if we progress to the next stage of bidding.

Stage 3: Programme work (from spring 2027, subject to contract award)

• Inform the design and content of SEND CPD programmes, so they reflect the SEND Code of Practice, current SEND reform and the best available evidence.
• Quality-assure materials, and help assure the quality of facilitators and associate experts.
• Support co-production and user testing with practitioners, children and young people, and families.

Key dates

Applications close: 22nd October 2026.

What you'll bring

Essential (all applicants)

• Strong working knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice (0–25), EHCPs and current SEND reform.
• An enhanced DBS check, or willingness to obtain one.
• Senior SEND or inclusion experience in schools, for example as an experienced SENCO, a trust or local authority SEND lead, or a SEND adviser.

Essential (Further education strand)

• Senior SEND experience in FE or post-16 settings, for example as head of Additional Learning Support, learner support or inclusion in a college.
• Experience leading or developing learning support staff, such as learning support assistants, job coaches or communication support workers.
• Knowledge of Preparation for Adulthood, supported internships, and vocational and work-based learning contexts.
• The NPQ for SENCOs, or the National Award for SEN Co-ordination (Schools strand).
• Experience in special schools or alternative provision (Schools strand).
• Experience in specialist post-16 settings (FE strand).
• Experience on national or government-funded programmes.