Deputy SENDCO

We are seeking to recruit a Deputy SENDCO to ensure that student’s individual needs are met and that the faculty is well managed, with a unified approach and philosophy that forms a coherent part of the whole school.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching and Learning

 Review and adapt schemes of work to support learning of pupils with SEND within the Prep School and ensure that staff have high expectations and are able to challenge and engage all the children according to their individual abilities and needs.

Policy/ Strategic Direction

 Work collaboratively with the Head of Prep, Head of LDC, Director of Studies and teachers for translating the vision for teaching within the school into agreed objectives and strategies for delivering an inclusive curriculum and quality first teaching and learning in the school.

 Support the SENDCO with the responsibility for overseeing the implementation of new and agreed SEND-related curricular initiatives.

 Identify innovative teaching and learning practices to inform changes that may need to be made to the curriculum and teaching within the school to maximise learning opportunities for all.

 Help to devise development plans to ensure the school is forward-thinking, particularly in terms of its programmes for individual learning needs.

 Work with all staff to ensure teaching and assessment styles within the school are appropriate for those students with individual learning needs.

 Provide or source INSET and support where appropriate.

 Work as a full member of the LDC team.

 Support the SENDCo to regularly review, co-ordinate and evaluate school policies, as appropriate. Lead on and manage the exam access arrangement assessment process across the whole school.

 Implement a system of regular review of the wider school’s provision, in conjunction with LDC colleagues: monitoring schemes of work, scrutiny of work, classroom observations and analysis of data to ensure that high standards of teaching and learning are maintained with particular focus on students with individual needs.

 Within the prep school, ensure that curriculum planning for students with SEND provides continuity and progression between year groups and to maximise their learning.

 Within the prep school, plan, deliver and evaluate small group interventions/lessons to move children with SEND forward with their learning and development.

 Ensure the individual needs of each child are met as they transition from Junior School or other feeder schools to Kingsley Senior School.

 Ensure ICT is used in an innovative way in empowering and engaging children with SEND to help improve their educational outcomes.

 Ensure the appropriate welfare and well-being of the children and contribute to an ethos in the school where each child is valued, encouraged and able to thrive both educationally and personally, regardless of SEND.

 Provide a professional model for others, clearly demonstrating effective, inclusive teaching, monitoring inclusive classroom organisation, promoting high standards of achievement for all, using SEND expertise to appropriately support and manage behaviour that challenges.

 Communication with mainstream staff about SEND pupils on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis and through the pupil -PROFILING system

Leadership and Management

 Lead by example, providing inspiration and motivation; and embody for the children, staff, Headmaster, parents and wider community the vision, purpose and leadership that delivers the best teaching for all students, particularly those with SEND.

 Develop positive working relationships with and between staff.

 Support the SENDCO to review the performance and development of staff through the annual cycle of appraisals.

 Together with the SENDCO and pastoral team, share responsibility for the health and safety and child welfare matters within the school including the safeguarding of the children.

 Deliver relevant inset day activities.

 Take a share of assemblies to reinforce the Methodist Schools’ ethos, promoting a sense of community and celebrating success.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Assessment

 Monitor teaching to ensure that teachers are employing appropriate, engaging teaching strategies to secure effective learning for students with SEND.

 Evaluate innovative teaching and learning practices for children with SEND to improve curriculum delivery and maximise children’s learning developments.

 Carry out the assessment of individual needs for: Y6 pupils; prospective pupils; mainstream pupils identified as having difficulties; after parental requests. Where appropriate, referring to outside agencies and educational psychologists.

Communications, Marketing and External Links

 In liaison with the Head of Marketing, contribute items for the school website and other publicity materials; to encourage good press relations which celebrate the success of Kingsley School students.

 Contribute to the marketing of the school, such as Open Days and Assessment Days.

 Develop and maintain relationships with other local schools and professional bodies to maintain best practice and ideas.

 Ensure frequent and effective communication between parents and school, with regards to pastoral, academic, social and developmental issues.

 Take assemblies that help foster the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the children.

Management of Needs

 Together with the SENDCO manage and support the Education and Health Care Plan process. This includes liaison with the 0-25 team, other relevant agencies and external professionals.

 Support the SENDCO, LDC specialist teachers and exam officer to organise exam access arrangements; including the screening of mainstream pupils, the individual assessment of pupils, the writing of reports, making applications to the boards, liaising with the exams officer.

 Support the SENDCO to maintain the SEND register and ensure it is accessible to all staff.

Training and Development of Self and Others

 Develop and maintain a culture of high expectations of self and others.

 Regularly review own practice, set personal targets and take responsibility for own development.

Qualifications:

 National Award in Special Educational Needs Coordination

 Qualified Teacher Status – QTS

 Level 7 Organisation Postgraduate Award for Proficiency in Assessment for Access Arrangements or Level 7 Diploma in Assessing and Teaching learners with Dyslexia.

About Kingsley School

Kingsley School is set in spacious and beautiful grounds close to the stunning beaches, rolling countryside and rugged moors of North Devon, in the historic market town of Bideford.

Our buildings and resources – including a purpose-built theatre, dance studio, sixth form centre and respected Learning Development Centre, are excellent. Class sizes are small, usually around 12 pupils. We know each individual and understand their hopes and ambitions: the personal care we devote to each and every pupil is a central part of the school’s ethos. All pupils are valued for their personality and character, which is reflected in the excellent relationships between pupils of all ages, staff and parents.