Assistant Headteacher/DSL

Full Job Description

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This is your opportunity to help shape something truly special at Riseley Green School, our brand-new specialist school that opened in May 2025 in Riseley, Reading, Berkshire.

With capacity for 60 pupils aged 4–16 years, we support children and young people with autism (ASC) and complex needs — providing a nurturing, inclusive environment where every learner can thrive.

Job title:   Assistant Headteacher/DSL
Location: Riseley Green School, Riseley, Reading, Berkshire RG7 1QF
Salary:     Up to £48,000 per year depending on experience (not pro rata)
Hours:     37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8:30am-4:30pm
Contract: Permanent | Term Time only
Start:       February 2026
UK applicants only; no sponsorship available

Are you ready to play a defining role in a brand-new specialist school? Riseley Green School is opening its doors as part of the growing Options Autism family, and we are looking for an inspirational Assistant Headteacher / DSL to help shape the school’s culture, systems, and future from the very beginning.

This is a rare opportunity to help create an inclusive, nurturing, and aspirational environment where safeguarding, wellbeing, and high-quality SEND provision sit at the heart of everything we do.

About the Role

This pivotal leadership role is ideal for an experienced SEN professional who thrives on impact, collaboration, and innovation. Working closely with the Headteacher, teaching teams, and our in-house therapy services, you will lead outstanding safeguarding and SEND practice while contributing to whole-school improvement.

You’ll balance strategic leadership with hands-on involvement, including some PPA cover, ensuring you remain closely connected to classroom practice and pupils’ daily experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring the highest standards of pupil safety and wellbeing
• Build strong, trusting relationships with pupils and families
• Lead and oversee all EHCP processes, ensuring clarity, quality, and impact
• Manage and support smooth transitions into, within, and beyond the school
• Coach and support staff to adapt teaching for complex and diverse SEND needs
• Work collaboratively with teachers and therapists to embed a strong graduated approach
• Oversee meaningful baselining, assessment, and progress tracking
• Shape, deliver, and review the school’s SEND improvement plan
• Analyse whole-school trends to continuously refine provision
• Champion staff development through targeted training and high-quality CPD
• Ensure access arrangements, reasonable adjustments, and equality duties are met
• Work closely with behaviour and wellbeing teams to maintain a calm, supportive environment
• Maintain accurate, compliant SEND records across the school
• Provide PPA cover as part of weekly responsibilities
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• Experience working in specialist or inclusive settings
• Strong understanding of complex and diverse SEND profiles
• Commitment to personalised learning, teamwork, and pupil well-being

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• Proven experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Experience working in specialist or inclusive settings
• Strong understanding of complex and diverse SEND profiles
• A child-centred, collaborative approach with safeguarding at the core
• Passion for personalised learning, teamwork, and pupil wellbeing

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who believes in the potential of every child and wants to make a lasting difference within a specialist SEN school.

About Us

Riseley Green School is an independent specialist school for autistic young people aged 4 to 16 years.

Situated on the outskirts of Reading, Berkshire, the school provides a distinctive blend of education and support tailored to a diverse range of pupil needs and abilities. Riseley Green School opened in May 2025 and has a capacity for 60 pupils. The school caters to pupils with autism (ASC) and complex needs, offering a nurturing and structured environment where each child can thrive.

For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided care and education to pupils, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are a leading provider of specialist education, delivering innovative approaches that produce measurable outcomes for neurodivergent young people and young adults.

We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running

Why join Options Autism? 

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support. 

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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