Job description: special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO)
Main purpose
The SENCO, under the direction of the principal, 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.
- Make sure the SEN policy is put into practice and its objectives are reflected in the school improvement plan (SIP).
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of national and local initiatives that may affect the school’s policy and practice.
- Evaluate whether funding is being used effectively, and suggest changes to make use of funding more effective.
Operation of the SEN policy and co-ordination of provision
- Maintain an accurate SEND register and filling.
- Provide guidance to colleagues on teaching pupils with SEN or a disability, and advise on the approved 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 school policies.
- Work with early years providers, other schools, educational psychologists, health and social care professionals, and other external agencies if needed.
- Analyse assessment data for pupils with SEN or a disability.
- Implement and lead intervention groups for pupils with SEN, and evaluate their effectiveness.
- Add any other duties of particular relevance to our school (ANS).
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 (EHCP) with parents or carers and the pupil.
- Communicate regularly with parents or carers.
- Ensure 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 principal and governors to ensure the school meets its responsibilities under the inclusion policy.
- 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 training for SEN 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 (TAs) working with pupils with SEN or a disability.
- Lead staff appraisals and produce appraisal reports.
- Review staff performance on an ongoing basis.
Other areas of responsibility
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 [principal]
