Head of Learning Support

Main purpose of the post

To lead, support and manage all aspects of the Learning Support department at the school (3-18 years) and to take responsibility for ensuring high quality provision to meet the additional learning needs of children with identified SEND needs and those subsequently identified.

Key Responsibilities

• As a member of the Middle Leadership Team (Academic), to lead a team of specialist staff to support SEND children across the school and to utilise our teaching assistants to support the learning needs of our SEND children.
• To quality assure the SEND work of other members of the department and in wider teaching and learning.
• To induct and appraise members of the SEND staff team.
• To be able to demonstrate an excellent, practical, working knowledge of SEND children’s needs through relevant training and experience.
• To be able to assess accurately children with SEND needs and make recommendations for further educational evaluation, if required, especially in relation to public examinations.
• To set and monitor targets for SEND children to ensure they are making progress in line with their age, stage and ability.
• To be able to teach and support SEND children in class, small group and one to one situations.
• To ensure regular communication with parents, including guidance and preparation for examinations and specialist lessons. To ensure that parents are fully included in decisions about their children and are confident in the strength, expertise and guidance offered by the school.
• To oversee the timetabling and delivery of specialist SEND lessons.
• To take responsibility for the departmental budget, staff handbook, strategic development and action planning, policies, procedures, lesson plans and assessment of SEND children.
• To chair regular departmental meetings, and oversee staff training within the Learning Support department, providing opportunities and ideas for relevant professional development.
• To ensure adequate record keeping within the department and to attend parents’ meetings and to write reports in line with the school’s recording and reporting schedule.
• To organise and schedule meetings with parents of SEND children to discuss progress and specialised learning programmes etc.

The Wider School

• To maintain a sufficiently high profile within the school such that colleagues, pupils and parents have confidence in the authority, expertise and skills of the SENCo and the wider department & therefore to act as an advisor on SEND issues.
• To coordinate the specialist teaching and support of all SEND children throughout the school, with the support of the team.
• To monitor, track and evaluate the progress of SEND children, reporting to parents, staff, the leadership team and governors as required. Recording and tracking pupil data on the school’s Management Information System (MIS).
• Liaise with, and be the school’s contact for, external agency work, including the referral process of providing children with EHCPs or IEPs where needed.
• As a member of the Middle Leadership Team (Academic), to promote and develop SEND learning throughout the whole school, providing staff with help, guidance and support to help children in class via high quality classroom teaching, differentiated work and other training and to champion the cause of those pupils with additional needs. In line with our Values, Learner Profile, Aims and Mission.
• To create a successful environment, with the expectation of high levels of achievement for all pupils and staff, through discipline, motivation and leadership.
• To liaise and to develop the links with our Prep School and to actively engage in the transfer of SEND children to the College. This will entail close working with the Deputy SENCo, who is the lead teacher responsible for work at the Junior School under the auspices of the overall School SENCo.
• To play a full and active role in the wider life of the school and to complete duties and responsibilities in line with all Heads of Departments and full time academic staff. This may include attendance at Open Mornings, Chapel services, tutoring, supervising Detentions, extra-curricular activities and contributing to the school duty rota.
• To undertake any duties or tasks as reasonably expected of you by any member of the Senior Leadership Team at any time.