SENCo

 Comber Grove Primary School

We are looking for either an experienced or trainee SENCo to join our team. Our vision is to maintain a school with a culture that encompasses academic and creative excellence. Children, staff and governors are committed to the school ethos, which is built on the principles of learning through a creative curriculum, encompassing the arts. The school is committed to developing all children’s academic and creative abilities alike. Every child deserves the chance to succeed. Comber Grove gives the pupils of Camberwell the chance to do so. 

Job details

Job title: Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) 

Salary: Depends on experience

Contract type: Full Time/Permanent 

Reporting to: Headteacher

Start date: 25th February 2019 

Main purpose

The SENCO, under the direction of the headteacher, will:

• Determine the strategic development of special educational needs (SEN) policy and provision in the school
• Be responsible for day-to-day operation of the SEN policy and co-ordination of specific provision to support individual pupils with SEN or a disability
• Provide professional guidance to colleagues, working closely with staff, parents and other agencies 
• Duties and responsibilities
• Strategic development of SEN policy and provision
• Have a strategic overview of provision for pupils with SEN or a disability across the school, monitoring and reviewing the quality of provision
• Contribute to school self-evaluation, particularly with respect to provision for pupils with SEN or a disability
• Ensure the SEN policy is put into practice, and that the objectives of this policy are reflected in the school improvement plan
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of national and local initiatives which may affect the school’s policy and practice
• Evaluate whether funding is being used effectively, and propose changes to make use of funding more effective

Operation of the SEN policy and co-ordination of provision

• Maintain an accurate SEND register and provision map
• Provide guidance to colleagues on teaching pupils with SEN or a disability, and advise on the graduated approach to SEN support
• Advise on the use of the school’s budget and other resources to meet pupils’ needs effectively, including staff deployment
• Be aware of the provision in the local offer
• Work with early years providers, other schools, educational psychologists, health and social care professionals, and other external agencies
• Be a key point of contact for external agencies, especially the local authority
• Analyse assessment data for pupils with SEN or a disability
• Implement and lead intervention groups for pupils with SEN, and evaluate their effectiveness

Support for pupils with SEN or a disability

• Identify      a pupil’s SEN
• Co-ordinate      provision that meets the pupil’s needs, and monitor its effectiveness
• Secure      relevant services for the pupil
• Ensure      records are maintained and kept up to date
• Review the education, health and care plan with parents or carers and the pupil
• Communicate      regularly with parents or carers
• Ensure      that if the pupil transfers to another school, all relevant information is      conveyed to it, and support a smooth transition for the pupil
• Promote      the pupil’s inclusion in the school community and access to the      curriculum, facilities and extra-curricular activities
• Work with the designated teacher for looked-after children, where a looked-after pupil has SEN or a disability

Leadership and management

• Work with the headteacher and governors to ensure the school meets its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 in terms of reasonable adjustments and access arrangements
• Prepare and review information the governing board is required to publish
• Contribute to the school improvement plan and whole-school policy
• Identify training needs for staff and how to meet these needs
• Lead INSET for staff
• Share procedural information, such as the school’s SEN policy
• Promote an ethos and culture that supports the school’s SEN policy and promotes good outcomes for pupils with SEN or a disability
• Lead and manage teaching assistants working with pupils with SEN or a disability
• Lead staff appraisals and produce appraisal reports
• Review staff performance on an ongoing basis

The SENCO will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, and follow school policies and the staff code of conduct.

Please note that this is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that the SENCO will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the Headteacher.