Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-Ordinator (SENDCo)

Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School is a successful two-form entry primary school located in the Falconwood area of Welling. We are located a 10-minute walk away from Welling High Street with good public transport links (less than 8-minutes’ walk from Falconwood Railway Station) and on-site parking. We benefit from nearby local amenities at The Green, Falconwood (0.5 miles) and green open spaces such as Oxleas Wood (1 mile).

We live our school life in line with our core Christian vision and values of Trust, Forgiveness, Thankfulness, Compassion, Friendship and Humility. We have strong links with Bishop Ridley Church on The Green (Falconwood) and are an inclusive community, welcoming children and staff of all faiths and of none.

We aim for every child to develop a passion for learning in a stimulating environment in which all children can reach their full potential. In our recent Ofsted inspection, we were graded ‘Good’ (April 2024) with the inspector noting that “Leaders and teachers have high expectations of what pupils can achieve, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).” They observed that, “Pupils really are the stars of this school; they are charming and polite to everyone. Pupils at Bishop Ridley are cared for and valued.” Pupils and parents agree that children feel safe here and enjoy coming to school. 

Are you committed to giving every child the best possible start in life? Are you passionate about providing support to children with additional needs? Are you able to share your expertise with a supportive and dedicated team?

If so, Bishop Ridley might be the school for you!

What we can offer:

·        Our children are our biggest asset: behaviour for learning is strong and the school has a calm, positive environment

·        Talented, friendly and supportive staff who work collaboratively as part of a team

·        Experienced and approachable senior leaders, who are committed to improving practice and supporting staff well-being

·        Opportunities to work from home to support well-being

·        Regular high-quality CPD opportunities to develop as a SENDCo and a Senior Leader

·        A clear vision for our staff and pupils: One Community, Learning and Growing Together, Sharing the Love of God.

We are proud of our school and all of our pupils. Visits to Bishop Ridley are always welcome. To arrange a visit, please contact the school office on 0208 303 4461. More information can also be found on our school website at https://www.bishopridleyschool.org.uk/.

We are looking for someone who:

•       Is professional and approachable, able to build positive relationships with a range of stakeholders

•       Is motivated by the desire to support children with additional needs to reach their full potential

•       Understands the importance of teamwork and good communication with pupils, parents and colleagues

•       Is organised, able to meet deadlines and is an inspiring leader to others

•       Is committed to on-going professional development.

The right candidate will:

·        Hold QTS and a recognised SEND Qualification (or willingness to complete the NPQ SEN within 3 years of appointment)

·        Be able to work collaboratively as part of the school’s Senior Leadership Team

·        Have high expectations for pupils in their care

·        Promote our Christian vision and values

·        Be committed to the safety and well-being of our children as part of the safeguarding team

·        Have the desire and ambition to continually develop and improve as a professional.

Please be aware that we take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously. Applicants should review our safeguarding policy and be aware that we operate safer recruitment and probation processes to ensure the suitability of candidates to work with the children at Bishop Ridley Primary School.

Further details about this vacancy, including the Job Description and Person Specification, are available to download from the downloads section.

Applicants invited to interview stage will be required to complete a Self-Disclosure form.

An Enhanced DBS certificate will be required on provisional offer, including a check of the Children’s Barred List. Further vetting checks, in line with the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 will be completed following a provisional offer of appointment.

This post is considered to be a customer-facing position; as such it falls within the scope of the Code of Practice on English language requirement for public sector workers. Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the person specification. These will be applied during the recruitment/selection and probationary stages.

Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School is committed to equality and diversity in employment practice and service delivery and expects employees to comply with our values of promoting equality and diversity, treating colleagues and service users with dignity and respect at all times.

To apply for this vacancy please download and complete the application form from the downloads section, paying particular attention to Section 4 of the form indicating how you satisfy the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Applications should be submitted via email to admin@bishop-ridley.bexley.sch.uk. Alternatively, paper applications should be sent to Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School, Northumberland Avenue, Welling, Kent, DA16 2QE. CVs will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 9:00am on Monday 10th June 2024.

Interviews are planned to take place during the afternoon of Monday 17th June 2024.                                                                                       

References will be requested for applicants shortlisted for interview only and prior to interview.

Only applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted. Shortlisted applicants will be required to complete and return a Self-Disclosure form prior to interview.

Online Searches will be carried out on shortlisted applicants prior to interview. Any concerns will be discussed with candidates at interview.