Assistant Principal / SENDCo

Kenley Primary School is looking for an enthusiastic and committed Assistant Principal / SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator) to join our team, who will also assume responsibility for the leadership of our nurture provision and work as part of the Senior Leadership Team.

We are a welcoming and supportive school, who work as a team to deliver the best possible outcomes and experiences for our pupils, working alongside parents, carers, TCT staff and external professionals.

This role is permanent and the successful candidate will work full time, with no regular timetabled teaching. Other whole school responsibilities will be agreed with the successful candidate.

What does the role involve?

The role of Assistant Principal / SENDCo is varied and wide-ranging, but primarily aims to provide outstanding leadership of SEND in order to secure high quality teaching, the effective deployment of resources, successful learning and improved standards for pupils with SEND. The successful candidate will lead SEND provision across the mainstream school and the newly-established nurture provision (currently 22% SEND) including working closely with other staff to secure the best possible outcomes for SEND pupils, liaising with external professionals such as EPs, OTs and Speech Therapists, working closely with parents to support referrals and reviews, and ensuring the taught curriculum is meeting the needs of children with SEND. As part of the Senior Leadership Team you will help develop and maintain the SEND strategy for the school, be responsible for the line management and performance development of staff and play a full role in the life of the wider school e.g. leading assemblies, delivering PDMs, supporting Parents’ Evenings, undertaking duties etc. You will also be a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an empathetic individual who has a passion for working with children with special educational needs and is committed to making a difference to their everyday experiences and life chances. Our school motto is ‘learning today; shaping tomorrow’ and our staff must be committed and determined to support our demographic of 29% PPG and 22% SEND pupils, inspiring them to be the best they can be, whilst living our school values of ambition, responsibility and community.

Your organisation and communication skills; understanding of how SEN children learn, communicate and may behave; flexibility, ability to multi-task and prioritise; and work within a small team in a busy environment are all essential. You will be working on statutory documents and an eye for detail and ability to write and communicate accurately in a professional manner, is also essential.

The role is demanding due to the proportion of SEND children in our one-form entry school.  It would suit a skilled practitioner who has experience of working with SEND children in either a mainstream or ELP/ Special School setting and has knowledge of Croydon and Surrey LA SEND processes and procedures, although this is not essential. Experience working as a Senior Leader is desirable but the post would also suit an ambitious middle leader who can demonstrate proven impact in an area of current whole-school responsibility. You will also need to either already hold, or be prepared to undertake upon commencement of the role, the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination (NASENCO).

As a school we feel it is important to hire candidates who share our values and are keen to make a difference, which is why we look for staff to join our team who are enthusiastic, hard-working and keen to support excellent educational outcomes for all our pupils. We are keen to welcome to our team, professionals who are reflective practitioners, and proactively seek opportunities for CPD and further development.

Kenley Primary School

Kenley Primary School is a vibrant, welcoming and inclusive school within a caring and supportive school community. We have a fantastic team of staff who work together to provide the best possible teaching and wider experiences for our pupils, who themselves are happy, hard-working and aspire to learn and achieve more each day. Our staff work hard and go the extra mile to ensure that every child is supported to be the best they can be. If you are a team-player, ambitious for our pupils and for your own professional development and committed to making a difference and providing an exceptional education for all, then we would be delighted to receive your application for this post.

The Collegiate Trust

The Collegiate Trust is a family of 8 schools, primary and secondary, located in the Croydon and Crawley areas, educating children and young people from 3-19 years of age with a clear vision to deliver exceptional education for all.

The Central Team is mainly based at Riddlesdown Collegiate, a large, outstanding (OFSTED, March 2023) secondary school in Croydon with a longstanding reputation for high standards and an exceptional education.

Benefits of working with The Collegiate Trust

We care about our staff's health and wellbeing and offer an number of benefits that can be found in more on our website at Benefits of Working with TCT | The Collegiate Trust (tct-academies.org). We continually strive to improve our employee experience, ensuring staff wellbeing is at the forefront of our decision making. We offer generous holiday and salary opportunities and are dedicated to ensuring professional development opportunities for all our staff.

How to apply

For more information on what you will be doing, who we are looking for, the school and the Trust, please download the Applicant Information Pack.

To apply, please fill in the Application form on the TES website.

The Collegiate Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.

The Collegiate Trust is committed to equality, inclusion and diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We are committed to providing a mutually supportive working environment where every individual is respected, valued and included.