Specialist SEND recruitment for schools across the North West
Spencer Clarke Group is an award-winning special educational needs recruitment agency in the North West supporting schools across Blackpool, Manchester, Preston, Liverpool, Skelmersdale, Blackburn, Lancaster, Chorley, Clitheroe, Bolton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Leyland, Wigan and Morecambe.
We partner with SEND schools, PRUs and alternative provisions to supply staff who bring the right attitude, resilience and skills to support children with additional needs.
Our staff have experience supporting pupils with autism, ADHD, speech and language difficulties, and complex learning disabilities. They understand how to provide tailored support, manage challenging behaviours, de-escalate situations and contribute positively to each child’s development.
How we support schools
Comprehensive pool of experienced SEND teaching, support and facilities staff
Contact us from 7am for last minute cover
Unmatched expertise within SEND and SEMH recruitment
REC and APSCo Compliance+ Education accredited
Reliable, honest and open approach
Staff with experience in complex learning difficulties and social, emotional and mental health needs
Commitment to building brighter futures for children and young people
Dedicated compliance support
Typical jobs we recruit for
SEND Teachers
SEND Teaching Assistants
1:1 Support
SEND Teachers
SENCOs
Behaviour Support Assistants
Pastoral Support Workers
Speech and Language Therapists
Educational Psychologists
Occupational Therapists
Who we work with
Mainstream schools
SEND schools, PRUs and alternative provision schools
EYFS and nurseries
Multi-academy trusts
Colleges and further education
Local authorities and councils
Request a call back
I would like Spencer Clarke Group to contact me regarding their recruitment services.
Testimonials
SEND school
"Jamie Heath found a number of highly skilled and experienced Teaching Assistants at short notice. He visited the setting so that he truly understood our needs as a school and what skills, personality and type of person we were looking for.
In doing this, it meant he could send only the people that he thought would fit and it has made the day to day running of the school much more successful.
They have recruited and sent suitable staff, a number of whom we have kept on due to their high calibre and success in supporting the complex needs of our pupils."
They have recruited and sent suitable staff, a number of whom we have kept on due to their high calibre and success in supporting the complex needs of our pupils.
SEND school
"Liam Richmond visited the school beforehand to gain a clear understanding of our context, staffing structure, and specific needs. This proactive engagement allowed them to identify the right type of candidates who would be a strong fit both professionally and culturally.
Partnering with Spencer Clarke Group has had a highly positive impact on the school. Their tailored approach and understanding of our specific needs have resulted in greater stability across our staffing structure.
The candidates provided have been well-matched to the school’s culture and requirements, leading to improved consistency in classrooms and better continuity for pupils and staff alike."
Their tailored approach and understanding of our specific needs have resulted in greater stability across our staffing structure.
Pupil referral unit
"At times we can be a very busy, fast paced and growing environment that requires additional staffing. The staff required can range from Teaching Assistant support to teaching staff on a long term and short term basis.
In addition to subject specialisms we require staff who have the skills to work with learners with complex needs. High quality supportive staff are essential to the everyday running of the school.
Niall has really taken the time to get to know the individual requirements of each site. Our structure is complex with staff teaching across multi-sites and his own experience of teaching in a similar PRU environment has meant he has an insight into what skills a member of staff requires to work in a PRU."
Niall has really taken the time to get to know the individual requirements of each site.
SEND school
"Spencer Clarke Group helped us to find supply staff with the correct qualifications and experience to work in our alternative provision and this enabled us to support children as necessary, without affecting our other classes.
Spencer Clarke Group differs from other recruitment agencies by providing regular contact, sharing information about supply staff who would potentially be right for the school and checking if we need any staff."
Headteacher
Spencer Clarke Group helped us to find supply staff with the correct qualifications and experience to work in our alternative provision.
SEND school
"Our consultant, Jamie Heath, took the time to understand the complex nature of our school and the skillset we require for support staff to make a positive impact.
Jamie built a relationship based on transparency and trust, ensuring the staff we worked with are of the highest quality. We have been able to fill our vacancies and ultimately provide outstanding outcomes for our young people."
The calibre of staff has been strong and so much so have applied for permanent roles within the school.
SEND school
"During the time I have known Jamie, I would say he is a dedicated and enthusiastic individual.
Jamie is a pleasant character who has a great passion for his job and this shows in the speed of responses and the calibre of support that he offers our school.
I am pleased to be able to fully recommend Jamie and the team at Spencer Clarke Group for any future SEN recruitment."
Jamie is a pleasant character who has a great passion for his job and this shows in the speed of responses and the calibre of support that he offers our school.
FAQs
Yes. We have robust processes in place to ensure that every candidate is thoroughly vetted and they meet all necessary standards for working in schools.
As APSCo Compliance+ Education accredited, our dedicated compliance team will carry out thorough pre-employment checks on all candidates including:
Enhanced DBS checks to ensure suitability for working in a school environment
Right to work verification to confirm legal employment status
Comprehensive reference checks to validate experience and reliability
Employment history reviews for transparency and safeguarding
As one of the most established special needs recruitment agencies, we recruit for a wide range of roles supporting daily, temporary, temp-perm and permanent staffing needs across a number of education settings. Our typical placements cover SEND teachers, SEND Teaching Assistants and 1:1 support.
Yes. Our supply staff have extensive, hands-on experience in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities across a wide range of educational settings.
The staff we supply have worked with pupils presenting a variety of needs including autism, ADHD, speech and language difficulties, and complex learning disabilities.
Many also have direct experience supporting children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, including those who require behaviour management, de-escalation techniques, and structured support strategies.
Our supply staff are familiar with working in specialist SEND schools, mainstream schools with SEND provisions, alternative provisions and PRU’s.
To discuss your recruitment needs, simply request a call back and one of our team will get back to you.
While we do operate nationwide, we have a strong presence across the North West including Blackpool, Manchester, Preston, Liverpool, Skelmersdale, Blackburn, Lancaster, Chorley, Clitheroe, Bolton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Leyland, Wigan and Morecambe.
Meet the team
Jamie Heath
Regional Director
Education recruitment specialist for SEND & SEMH schools
It’s incredibly rewarding to help schools find outstanding teaching and support staff who make a lasting difference to students' educational outcomes.
I’m incredibly proud to lead our education division. With many former teachers on our team, we bring first-hand experience and a genuine understanding of the skills, challenges, and dedication required to succeed in both mainstream and SEND education.
Niall Murphy
Regional Divisional Manager
Education recruitment specialist for SEND & SEMH schools
Having previously worked in a PRU, I understand the importance of finding SEND staff with the right skills, patience and compassion, ensuring every placement has a positive impact on both the school and the vulnerable students they support.
In 2025, I was humbled to win Employee of the Year. This is a reflection of the hard work and dedication I put into managing our special educational needs division and ensuring SEND schools receive high quality supply staff.
Paul Best
Principal Consultant
Education recruitment specialist for SEND & SEMH schools
Having worked in a school for excluded children, my role in SEND recruitment is something I take great pride in. I understand the characteristics needed to make a meaningful difference to the education of a child with SEND.
Alongside my position as a Principal Consultant, in 2026 I was honoured to take on a pastoral role here. ‘Supportive’ is one of our ‘points of culture’ and I’m proud to work for a company who goes above and beyond to look after its employees.
James Fletcher
Recruitment Consultant
Education recruitment specialist for Mainstream schools & EYFS
I love working with secondary schools because every member of supply staff is so important to children and young people. Helping them maintain high levels of education for so many students is a pleasure.
I began my career in education recruitment in 2018 and after taking a break to work in financial services, I returned to it after missing the buzz so much. Safe to say, I’m so glad I came back to what I love!
Emily Porter
Senior Consultant
Education recruitment specialist for SEND & SEMH schools
Effective recruitment is so important for SEND schools due to the nature of the support required by students. Seeing a candidate thrive in a new setting and a school benefiting from their expertise is heartwarming.
Prior to my career in recruitment, I worked on long-term supply as a primary school Teacher and gained a thorough insight into how schools operate. This experience has been crucial to my success in recruitment and something I draw on daily.
Josh Clair
Lead Consultant
Education recruitment specialist for SEND & SEMH schools
There's nothing more rewarding than helping SEND schools with supply staff. Knowing that the professionals I place will make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people is what makes this role so fulfilling.
Having worked in education recruitment for over a decade, it’s safe to say I love it. I’m really proud to have supported countless schools over the decade and Spencer Clarke Group is the perfect place for me to continue thriving.
Liam Richmond
Senior Consultant
Education recruitment specialist for SEND & SEMH schools
Knowing that the right supply staff can strengthen a school's team and improve the educational experience of children and young people is what drives me every day.
I genuinely love recruiting for SEND schools. Helping them find reliable supply staff who can support children and young people with additional needs is incredibly rewarding.
Georgia Hall
Senior Consultant
Education recruitment specialist for SEND & SEMH schools
I’m really proud to recruit across the North East, my own stomping ground! Working with primary and SEND schools is a privilege and I truly admire the hard work and dedication which educators put in every day!
Before my career in recruitment, I worked in an administrative role at a Pupil Referral Unit. The experience I gained has no doubt shaped how I recruit and equipped me with many invaluable skills and a good understanding of SEND provision.
Siobhan Lamb
Senior Consultant
Education recruitment specialist for SEND & SEMH schools
There's nothing more rewarding than seeing a school, teacher or student benefit from the right recruitment solution. I work with both classroom teachers and support staff, helping schools build strong teams with professionals who make a lasting impact on pupils' learning and development.
With over 7 years in education recruitment behind me, it’s safe to say it’s a job I’m very passionate about. I love helping educators put the qualifications they worked so hard for to good use and seeing them excel in their profession.
I would like Spencer Clarke Group to contact me regarding their recruitment services.
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