Shaping the future generation
Delivering Consistent and Scalable Staffing Support to a Growing SEN School in Leeds.
Our Client
NextGen Teachers has had the privilege of supporting a large, specialist SEN school in Leeds over the past 12 months. Part of a nationwide Multi-Academy Trust, the school caters for pupils aged 4–16 living with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), ADHD, Global Development Delay (GDD), complex needs, and speech, language, and communication challenges.
Founded in 2023, the school has experienced rapid growth and required a recruitment partner with a deep understanding of SEN settings, as well as the agility to respond quickly to fluctuating staffing needs. From daily supply and short-term cover to permanent hires, our partnership has supported every aspect of the school’s evolving staffing model.
"As a specialist SEN setting, our staffing needs can be complex and change quickly. NextGen Teachers has been a reliable and responsive partner throughout the year. They’ve consistently provided high-quality, dedicated professionals who truly understand the needs of our pupils. Whether we needed last-minute supply or support with permanent recruitment, they delivered with professionalism, clear communication, and a real understanding of our school’s ethos. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to other SEN schools."
-Headteacher, SEN School, Leeds
What did they need?
Due to expansion, the school needed multiple Teaching Assistants and Teachers across all age groups and learning pathways.
They required:
- Full-time and part-time support to manage increased pupil numbers
- A reliable pool of daily supply staff for unplanned and scheduled absences
- SEN-trained staff with an understanding of complex needs and behaviour
- Support staff leads for behaviour and intervention
- A consultative partner to shape recruitment strategy across Autumn, Spring, and Summer terms
Alongside specialist hiring needs, the school faced tight public sector budgets, meaning value for money and staff continuity were essential.
The solution
NextGen Teachers delivered a tailored, consultative recruitment strategy designed to meet immediate needs and plan for long-term staffing success.
Key actions included:
- Hiring Strategy per Term: We worked closely with school leadership to shape hiring priorities each term, including for September 2025.
- CV Shortlisting & Trial Model: Shortlisted candidates were offered a same-week “day in the life” trial, followed by feedback and immediate start dates where successful.
- Volume Temporary Recruitment: Our scalable, flexible model allowed us to respond to supply needs within 1–2 week turnaround times.
- Permanent Recruitment Success: Through direct outreach and boosted advertising, we increased permanent candidate applications by 70%, securing over 15 long-term hires for September.
- Compliance, Budget, and Flexibility: All candidates underwent full compliance screening, and our approach adhered to tight budget constraints while maintaining high candidate quality.
- Behavioural and SEN-Focused Hires: We successfully placed candidates into key roles supporting behaviour management and intervention, aligned with school culture and structure.
This high-touch, end-to-end process ensured that each recruitment challenge — from last-minute cover to senior staffing — was handled with care, speed, and SEN expertise.
The Results
Thanks to our strategic support, the school is now fully staffed heading into the 2025 academic year. Every position has been filled across teaching, support, and leadership teams, including critical roles in behaviour and intervention.
Key outcomes include:
- Full team in place ahead of September 2025
- Improved staff continuity via trusted supply pool
- Permanent staffing growth aligned with school expansion
- Positive, long-term partnership established with senior leaders
- Staff secured within budget and without compromising quality
Our collaboration has given the school the stability and structure it needs to deliver consistently high-quality education to a diverse pupil cohort.
