SENCo

SENCo

Closing date: Sunday 28 April 2024 Midnight

Interviews: Week Beginning 29 April 2024

Start: September 2024

Salary: Leadership Scale, Main Pay Scale or Upper Pay Scale

About United Learning

United Learning is a unique group of independent and state schools working together to achieve the best in everyone. Our vision is to provide excellent education so that all young people are able to make a success of their lives and, if we are to realise this vision, we need to make sure we attract, develop and reward the key ingredient – you.

Job Introduction

This is a wonderful opportunity to play a role in the development of our highly successful Academy.

We are seeking a dynamic and inspirational SENCo. You will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of this highly successful faculty and supported by a Deputy SENCo and a team of fantastic Learning Support Assistants. You will play a key role in raising the profile of the faculty and in leading the development of our provision for students with Special Educational Needs, developing practice across the Academy and contributing significantly to our enrichment programme and work with partner primary schools and in the wider community. As SENCo you can expect to play a major strategic role in the Academy’s development; leading change, coordinating learning support across the Academy and managing the provision of students with special educational needs. You will also have a clear vision of a contemporary personalised curriculum, which challenges all levels of ability. If you have the expertise to lead this area of academy life then we would be delighted to hear from you. There is the possibility of an exceptional candidate having an increased Senior Leader role in leading inclusion across the Academy.

This opportunity is open to those with the SENCo qualification (NASENCo), those working towards the SENCo qualification and those who are committed to gaining the qualification.

You will relate to the Academy’s ethos of “the best in everyone” and enjoy working with a rich, diverse group of young people in a dynamic and vibrant learning environment. Walthamstow Academy is sponsored by United Learning. As part of the largest group of Academies and independent schools, we offer outstanding professional development and career progression across both the maintained and independent sector.

To conclude, we need someone who is passionate about making a difference, please get in touch.

Main Responsibilities  

• To know, follow and act as a point of reference with regards to national regulations on arrangements for students with SEN
• To ensure all students with an Educational Health Care Plan receive the reasonable adjustments set out in their plan and an annual Person Centred Review takes place with the Waltham Forest SEN Officer and parent/carer
• To maintain the Academy’s register of student needs, and oversee related records including the creation, implementation and review of pupil passports and reasonable adjustment forms.
• To develop effective working relationships with the parent/carers of students with special educational needs
• To ensure there is a clear system for referral at stages other than point of entry and set up follow-up processes for these referrals

Working for us

Walthamstow Academy opened its impressive new building in 2006 and since then we have achieved excellent results both at GCSE and at A Level. In 2023, Walthamstow Academy students achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.49. At A-Level, our students achieve excellently with many of them progressing to Russell Group institutions. Because we are so successful, the school is now full and oversubscribed on first choices alone. 

We do not achieve these results by accident. At Walthamstow Academy, we believe in the best in everyone. We have a relentless focus on high expectations and aim to identify barriers to success and provide necessary support as quickly as possible to ensure our students achieve. We do not accept excuses and always strive for the best. 

The Academy is proud of its multi-cultural character, and we celebrate the diversity of heritage in our community. 90% of our students are from minority ethnic groups, many coming from African, Caribbean, Eastern European, Turkish and Pakistani communities. 

Within the community served by the Academy there is social and economic disadvantage with 35% of students being eligible for Pupil Premium. Almost 60% have a first language other than English and a significant number have low levels of literacy on entry. Many students enter the Academy with low levels of attainment and the staff work hard to add value to their performance. Standards across the Academy are above national averages in most subjects. 

The Academy is located close to the North Circular Road, M11 and both Blackhorse Road and Walthamstow Central underground stations from where it takes about half an hour to get into central London. The Academy is situated in a part of London where property prices are still relatively inexpensive and within easy access of Epping Forest, the Lee Valley and rural Hertfordshire and Essex. 

Walthamstow Academy has achieved the CPLD Gold Award in recognition of our investment in professional development, because we know that without our wonderful staff, what we have achieved would not be possible, so thank you for your interest in coming to work with us. It starts with someone like you believing you can contribute further to our community. 

What we Offer 

Here at Walthamstow Academy, we are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued and appreciated and this includes your employee benefits. 

Westfield Health, Health Cash Plan, available to all staff after 6 months service, providing you with access to 24/7 virtual GP consultations, quick access to specialist health services and the facility to claim back some of the cost of services and treatments you may currently be paying for yourself. Dependent children (up to the age of 22) are also covered as standard with an option to upgrade the level of cover or add other adult family members for an additional cost.

We recognise that flexible working has a key role to play in attracting, retaining, developing and rewarding outstanding members of staff. We are committed to encouraging and enabling flexible working opportunities at Walthamstow Academy. 

We work with Perkbox to offer you over 250 exclusive benefits.

Cycle2Work Scheme provides you with a bicycle and equipment such as lights, locks and panniers so that you can cycle to work and in your spare time! As this is a salary sacrifice scheme, you can save money through income tax and NI deductions. 

Car Lease Scheme, as a Group, we have partnered with SG Fleet to launch the Novalease scheme for all staff, providing you with access to great discounts on car leasing through a direct debit scheme. You can also exchange a portion of your gross salary in return for any lower CO2 emission car of your choice.