Principal Inclusive Curriculum and Teaching Lead

Somerset Council; Taunton; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

LGPS pension

Hybrid working

Wellbeing support

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Somerset Council is seeking a Principal Inclusive Curriculum and Teaching Lead to join the Experts at Hand locality team in Taunton. You will lead and coordinate a locality workforce delivering inclusive curriculum, teaching and school improvement across Early Years, primary and secondary settings.

In this leadership and hands-on role, you will provide coaching, professional development and case-by-case support to schools and settings, ensuring sustainable capacity and high-quality teaching

Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent with leadership experience in education.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the locality Experts at Hand offer.
• Review local needs and redeploy Inclusion Leads as required.
• Supervise and develop the locality workforce.
• Provide coaching, modelling and professional support to schools.
• Ensure sustainable capacity and monitor impact of delivery.
• Collaborate with other locality leads to maintain consistent practice.

Skills

SEND expertise

Curriculum development

Education leadership

Training delivery

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Job description

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Principal Inclusive Curriculum and Teaching Lead

Contract: 3 Year fixed term contract in line with current DfE Experts at Hand funding.

About the Role

Help schools and settings access the right specialist inclusion support, in the right place, at the right time.

As a Principal Inclusive Curriculum and Teaching Lead, you will be one of six locality leads within Experts at Hand, Somerset's new locality-based specialist inclusion workforce.

You will lead and coordinate the Experts at Hand inclusion workforce operating within an allocated locality, ensuring Inclusion Leads are deployed effectively into Early Years settings, schools and post-16 providers according to identified need, local intelligence and agreed priorities.

This is both a leadership and hands-on delivery role. Alongside coordinating and supporting the locality workforce, you will work directly with schools and settings to provide expert advice, coaching and modelling that strengthens inclusive curriculum, teaching and whole-setting practice.

How You’ll Make a Difference

You will:

• Lead and coordinate the Experts at Hand offer within an allocated locality;
• Review local needs and prioritise the deployment of Inclusion Leads;
• Supervise, support and develop the flexible locality-based workforce;
• Provide hands-on coaching, modelling and professional support within schools and settings;
• Ensure support builds sustainable capacity rather than dependency;
• Monitor the quality, reach and impact of locality delivery;
• Identify and elevate emerging gaps, risks and themes; and
• Work with the Expert Adviser and other locality leads to maintain consistent practice across Somerset.

What You’ll Bring

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent, with leadership experience in Early Years, Primary or Secondary education.
• Strong expertise in SEND, inclusive education, curriculum development and school improvement.
• Proven ability to lead change, improve outcomes and support high-quality teaching and learning.
• Experience delivering training, coaching and professional development for education staff.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication and organisational skills, with confidence working across schools and partner organisations.
• Proficient in the use of digital and assistive technologies to support inclusive education.

We are looking for an experienced education leader with strong expertise in SEND, inclusive curriculum, teaching and school improvement. You will be an excellent coach and communicator, able to lead a locality workforce while working directly alongside practitioners to develop and embed inclusive practice.

Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most enhanced and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.
• 33 days annual leave (additional to bank holidays).
• Flexible working available, using a Hybrid model - working from home and your contracted work base.
• Interviews will take place from 16 October 2026.

Unfortunately, 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.

We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.