SENDCO

Are you a passionate and experienced SENDCO ready to make a real difference as part of our senior leadership team?

Crawley Green Infant School is seeking an exceptional Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) to join us as a key driver in raising standards for all children, especially those with additional and complex needs.

This is a senior leadership role where you'll have the authority and influence to positively impact our pupils with SEND and lead whole-school improvement. You'll be working in a supportive, experienced team within a school that was judged “Good” in all areas at our December 2024 inspection, with a strong therapeutic approach embedded throughout our practice.

If you're committed to inclusive education, have the vision to lead strategic change, and want to be part of a friendly, driven team (complete with our beloved school dog!), we'd love to hear from you.

Vacancy:

SENDCo/ Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator

Job details

Job title: SEND Coordinator

Salary: MPS/UPS + TLR

Hours: FTE

Contract type: Permanent

Reporting to: Headteacher

We are seeking to appoint the right person to coordinate inclusion at our friendly and diverse infant school. 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 senior 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 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 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 effective

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

• Lead on and be involved in the EHCP application and review process

• 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 PPG

• 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

• Liaise and connect with local networks to ensure best local and current practice meets the needs of our learners

• Lead on the current provision in place for children with complex needs and continue to develop this in response to the needs of children

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 inclusive ethos and culture that supports the school’s SEN policy and promotes good outcomes for pupils with SEN or a disability

• Lead on training and embed ordinarily available inclusive practice across the school

• 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

• Review staff performance on an ongoing basis

• 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 Headteacher.

Closing date: 12th October

Interviews: Week beginning 19th October