School Place Planning Sufficiency Principal (SEND)

Salary £53,051 - £57,447 Per annum | 37 hours per week | Full time, Permanent | Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

DBS

The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 2029.

If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2029, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation.

Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.

Please note: that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

School Place Planning Sufficiency Principal (SEND) - Grade 11

Education & Children's Services - School Place Planning Team
Location: County Hall, Preston / Hybrid Working
Salary: £53,051 - £57,447
Contract: Permanent

Lead the Strategic Planning of SEND Provision Across Lancashire

Lancashire County Council is committed to ensuring that every child and young person with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can access the right provision in the right place at the right time.

We are seeking an experienced, strategic and forward-thinking professional to lead Lancashire's approach to SEND sufficiency planning. This is a high-profile role with responsibility for forecasting future demand, shaping specialist provision, influencing capital investment and ensuring the Council meets its statutory duties for children and young people with SEND.

About the Role

As School Place Planning Sufficiency Principal (SEND), you will lead the Council's strategic programme for SEND school place sufficiency across Lancashire.

Working as part of the senior management team within School Place Planning, you will oversee demand forecasting, capital investment planning, SEND place commissioning and the identification of future provision requirements. You will work collaboratively with schools, academy trusts, dioceses, elected members, developers, planners and senior officers to ensure Lancashire has a sustainable and effective SEND estate capable of meeting future demand.

This is a unique opportunity to influence strategic decision-making, shape future education infrastructure and make a lasting difference to children, young people and families across Lancashire.

What You'll Be Doing

You will:

- Lead the development, review and implementation of Lancashire's SEND sufficiency strategy.
- Analyse demand, trends, demographic change and housing growth to identify future SEND place requirements.
- Lead on the annual review of SEND sufficiency and contribute to statutory returns, including the School Capacity Survey (SCAP).
- Work closely with colleagues to develop and deliver the SEND Capital Programme.
- Commission additional SEND places through school expansions, specialist units, resource provisions and new schools.
- Contribute to Local Plan consultations and infrastructure planning across Lancashire's districts.
- Develop approaches to securing developer contributions towards future SEND provision.
- Prepare reports, briefings, business cases and recommendations for senior leadership, Cabinet and elected members.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with schools, trusts, dioceses, partners and communities.
- Lead, support and develop staff within the SEND sufficiency function.

About You

We're looking for someone who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery.

You will be:

- An experienced education, SEND or planning professional.
- Comfortable working with complex data and translating analysis into practical solutions.
- A confident communicator capable of engaging with senior stakeholders and elected members.
- An effective project and programme manager.
- A strong leader who can motivate and support colleagues.
- Skilled at balancing competing priorities within a fast-paced environment.
- Passionate about securing positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

- Degree-level qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
- Significant experience of working within SEND, education, school organisation, sufficiency planning or a related field.
- Detailed understanding of SEND legislation, including the Children and Families Act 2014 and SEND Code of Practice.
- Experience of analysing complex data and presenting findings to a variety of audiences.
- Experience of managing projects and programmes of work.
- Experience of leading, coaching or managing staff.
- Excellent report-writing, stakeholder engagement and communication skills. Project Management qualification. Experience of education capital programmes, commissioning or school place planning.
- Knowledge of planning policy, infrastructure planning and developer contributions.

The Lancashire Mindset

At Lancashire County Council, we're committed to:

Growth

Continuously learning, developing and improving.

Ownership

Taking responsibility and delivering high-quality outcomes.

Optimism

Approaching challenges positively and seeking solutions.

Positive Impact

Making a meaningful difference for Lancashire's residents and communities.

What We Offer

- Competitive salary.
- Hybrid and flexible working opportunities.
- Generous Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Excellent annual leave entitlement.
- Access to training, leadership development and career progression opportunities.
- A supportive and collaborative working environment.
- The opportunity to influence strategic SEND provision across one of the largest local authorities in the country.

Our Values

We are looking for individuals who share our values:

- Supportive - valuing and encouraging others.
- Innovative - seeking better ways to deliver services.
- Respectful - treating everyone fairly and with dignity.
- Collaborative - working together to achieve the best outcomes.

Additional Information

This is an essential car user post. The successful applicant will be required to provide a vehicle for business use and hold appropriate business insurance cover. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability.

Join Us

This is an exciting opportunity to lead on one of Lancashire County Council's key priorities, ensuring sufficient, sustainable and cost-effective SEND provision for future generations.

If you have the vision, leadership skills and determination to shape the future of SEND education across Lancashire, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply

Please apply via the Lancashire County Council recruitment website, submitting your application form and supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the role.

Closing Date: 13 th November 2026
Interview Date: w/c 23 rd November 2026

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. Applications should therefore be submitted as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Job Description and Person Specification