SENDCo

SEND Coordinator - Woodlands Infant and Nursery School, Lincoln 
Salary: MPS+ TLR
Hours: 11.5 hours per week
FTE Contract type: part-time, permanent
Reporting to: Headteachers

The Special Educational Needs Coordinator, with the support of the Headteacher and Governing Body, is responsible for inspiring and motivating the school community to develop effective ways of overcoming barriers to learning and promoting effective teaching and learning for children with specific needs or vulnerabilities. This is a key role for the school and the successful applicant will be directly involved in driving the school forward.

If you have the skills, determination and experience to support us in raising standards then we’d love to hear from you.

Main purpose
The SENDCo, 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 SEND
• Provide professional guidance to colleagues, working closely with staff, parents and other agencies
• The SENDCo will also be expected to fulfil the professional responsibilities of a teacher, as set out in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document.

Duties and responsibilities Strategic development of policy and provision

• Have a strategic overview of provision for pupils with SEND across the school, monitoring and reviewing the quality of provision
• Contribute to school self-evaluation, particularly with respect to provision for pupils with SEND
• Ensure policy is put into practice, take part in policy development and ensure that the objectives of these policies 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 effectively.

Operation of the SEN policy and co-ordination of provision

• Maintain an accurate SEND register and provision map(s)
• 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 SEND and other vulnerable groups including, but not limited to, EAL and LAC
• Coordinate appropriate adjustments and interventions for pupils and evaluate their effectiveness
• Work with class teachers and support staff to ensure daily provision is effective and meeting children’s needs

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
• 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 inclusive ethos and culture that supports the school’s SEN policy and promotes good outcomes for pupils with SEN or a disability
• Lead and manage support staff in liaison with class teacher’s deployment and for those working with individual children
• Lead staff appraisals and produce appraisal reports
• Prepare reports and action plans for senior staff and governors in relation to pupil progress and attainment

The SENDCo 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 SENDCo will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the Headteachers.

We can offer the successful candidate:

• A team of experienced and dedicated staff,
• Friendly, well-motivated children who enjoy learning,
• A growth mindset culture,
• Plenty of opportunities for CPD and personalised professional development.

We warmly welcome and advise external candidates to visit our school. To enquire, please contact the School Bursar, Mrs Maxine Clark via email on maxine.clark@forestskies.co.uk or on 01522 685078

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

The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role, as directed by the Headteachers or line manager. This job description may be amended at any time in consultation with the postholder.

To apply please visit our website and complete the Application form and return to maxine.clark@forestskies.co.uk 

Closing Date - 20 January 2025

Interview date to be confirmed  

Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for an enhanced criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. Therefore, it is essential in making your application you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind-overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences.

This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders 1974 (Exemptions) (Amendments) Order 1986. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the school. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment. Disclosures are handled in accordance with the CRB Code of Practice which can be accessed from the Children and Learning Department, HR Division, or on www.disclosure.gov.uk We will consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), to enable an applicant with a disability (as defined under the Act) to meet the requirements of the post.

Fluency Duty

In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

The school advertising the vacancy will contact you directly regarding the outcome of your application and any interviews. When interviews are taking place schools will follow all Government and Public Health England Guidelines.

All shortlisted candidates will need to verify their eligibility to work in the UK at interview.