Lead Practitioner

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; Ferryhill; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

The Woodlands, operated by Durham County Council, is seeking a Lead Practitioner to join The Bridge Provision in Ferryhill. You will support the Assistant Headteacher, ensuring high-quality teaching, learning, behaviour and relational practice across the provision.

You will lead curriculum development, quality assurance and staff coaching, improving outcomes for vulnerable pupils and contributing to strategic development of education and safeguarding across the setting.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated inclusive and relational leadership approach.
• Experience supporting pupils with SEMH needs or complex needs.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality teaching in challenging settings.
• Ability to develop and implement an ambitious, coherent curriculum.

Responsibilities

• Lead on curriculum development and quality assurance.
• Coach and support staff to deliver excellent educational experiences.
• Monitor, evaluate and improve education quality using evidence-informed methods.
• Foster strong relationships with pupils, families, colleagues, schools and external agencies.

Job description

Required to start as soon as possible.

An exciting opportunity has arisen at The Woodlands for a dynamic, inclusive, and highly motivated leader to join our team as Lead Practitioner at The Bridge Provision.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the day-to-day leadership of The Bridge, supporting the Assistant Headteacher to ensure high-quality teaching, learning, behaviour, and relational practice across the provision.

This role requires an experienced practitioner who is passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable pupils and who can contribute strategically to the ongoing development of provision, curriculum, and practice.

You will lead on curriculum development and quality assurance, while coaching and supporting staff to deliver exceptional educational experiences for all learners.

We are looking for someone who:

• Demonstrates an inclusive and relational approach to leadership, teaching, and behaviour support.
• Has significant experience working with pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and/or complex needs.
• Has proven experience of delivering high-quality teaching in a challenging educational environment.
• Can lead the development and implementation of an ambitious, coherent curriculum that meets the needs of all learners.
• Has the ability to coach, model and develop the practice of teaching and support staff.
• Is skilled in monitoring, evaluating and improving the quality of education through evidence-informed approaches.
• Can build strong and positive relationships with pupils, families, colleagues, schools and external agencies.
• Is resilient, adaptable and able to remain calm and solution-focused in a demanding environment.
• Believes in the potential of every child and is committed to inclusion, equality and safeguarding.
• Can inspire, motivate and support others while maintaining high expectations for pupil outcomes and staff practice.

Why join The Woodlands?

The Woodlands is a unique and highly valued provision that supports some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our community. We provide education for pupils who are excluded from school, at risk of exclusion, or unable to attend school due to health needs, helping them overcomebarriers and achieve success both academically and personally.

As Lead Practitioner, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the quality of education across The Bridge, working alongside a committed and passionate team dedicated to improving life chances for young people. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious leader who is committed to continuous improvement, staff development, and delivering excellent outcomes for pupils.

We warmly welcome and encourage prospective candidates to arrange a visit to The Woodlands and see our provision in action. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the role, meet our team, and discover how you can contribute to making a lasting difference to the lives of our pupils.

The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and, if successful, you will need to apply for an enhanced DBS disclosure.

As a disability confident employer, we are committed to employing disabled people and people with health conditions making reasonable adjustments to support disabled applicants when required.

Closing date for application is Sunday 4th October 2026 midnight

Interview date: TBC

The Woodlands Broom Road, Ferryhill, DL17 8AN

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

#VPRS/161

Company: Durham County Council

Salary: £57,137- £63,070

Location: Ferryhill, Durham

Sector: Health and Social Care

Sector: Social Care

Job Role: Support Worker