Primary Phase Lead – The Avenue School

Local Government South East; Reading; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking a Primary Phase Lead for The Avenue Special School, starting January 2027. This full-time, permanent position offers a strategic leadership role within the Primary department for pupils with SEND.

The successful candidate will lead curriculum design and assessment, ensure Personalised Learning Plans are integrated with EHCP outcomes, and contribute to staff development in a supportive, collaborative environment. Salary £57,137-£63,070 per year.

Qualifications

• Experience implementing initiatives at a strategic level.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proactive team player.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Primary department.
• Manage day-to-day operational activities.
• Ensure Personalised Learning Plans are embedded with the curriculum outcomes.
• Design and quality assure a Primary curriculum for pupils with SEND.
• Support EHCP outcomes and associated processes.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Communication

Team collaboration

Job description

Reading Borough Council

• Full Time
• Permanent
• January 2027 start
• Reading
• Posted 1 week ago
• £57,137 to £63,070 Per year £ / Year
• Closes: 27 September 2026

The Avenue Special School is a vibrant and friendly school community which supports more than 250 pupils, aged between 3-19, with a range of severe or profound learning difficulties, some physical disabilities and autism.

We have small well‑resourced classes and a real passion for supporting young people to have active and healthy lives through an exciting education both in and out of the classroom Working at The Avenue provides you with the opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of young people with special educational needs.

It also allows you to progress in your career, taking on responsibilities and developing your passions and interests.

We care deeply about CPD and balancing workloads to allow staff to flourish, so we offer a full programme of training and mentoring, staff wellbeing days, and the chance to work in a supportive and encouraging team environment where your voice really does matter.

In order to strengthen our leadership capacity, improve consistency of practice and continue to raise professional standards across our school and support operational and strategic demands, we are excited to have created a new Primary Phase Lead role.

The Primary Phase Lead will provide strategic leadership and day to day operational management of the Primary department. This role will focus on ensuring that pupils make excellent progress towards communication, learning, independence, emotional regulation, whilst maximising readiness for the next stage of education.

It is essential that the Primary curriculum, assessment, and therapeutic approaches are aspirational, developmentally appropriate, holistic and highly personalised, with Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) outcomes firmly embedded.

The Primary Phase Lead will ensure each pupils’ Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs) are embedded alongside the academic outcomes outlined in the curriculum frameworks. They will also play an integral role in designing and quality assuring a Primary curriculum for pupils with SEND, including early communication and language development, and early literacy and numeracy.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate experience of implementing initiatives at a strategic level, as well as being a good communicator and a proactive team member.

The successful candidate will be highly organised, a confident decision maker and compassionate with a passion for ensuring best outcomes for all young people in a dynamic environment.

Closing date for application: 9am, Monday 28 September 2026.