Post: Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) and Lead Teacher in a Resourcebase provision.    (Experience or aspiring SENCo, full training will be provided.)                                              

HOURS: Part Time: 3 days per week

GRADE: MS plus SEN allowance

RESPONSIBLE TO: Head Teacher

PURPOSE OF THE POST

To be responsible for the Strategic development of the school’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision and oversight of the day-to-day operation of that policy with the aim of raising SEN pupil achievement.

 

Areas of responsibility and key tasks:

Inclusion:

• Promote an ethos of inclusive practice within the setting
• To provide and maintain a high-quality service to children and their families working as part of a staff team to meet children’s individual needs.
• To promote non-discriminatory behaviour among children, staff and all the people using the school and ensure that the work is sensitive to the needs of a range of cultural, linguistic groups, is gender sensitive and values diversity.

 

Knowledge of the Role

• Expert knowledge of the EYFS statutory framework and the SENCo code of practice, and other relevant legislation and guidance within the Education Sector.
• Ensure that the school carries out its statutory responsibilities regarding all students with an Educational Health and Care Plan.
• Maintain an accurate SEND register and provision map
• Be aware of the provision in the local offer.
• To assist in the development of policies and the monitoring of practice.
• Follow all confidentiality and data protection rights
• To carry out such other duties, appropriate to the post as may be required

Progress

• The ability to plan, organise and resource and “enabling” environment for young children with SEND and the ability to evaluate and assess this.
• Analyse assessment data for pupils with SEN or a disability.
• Implement and lead intervention groups for children with SEN, and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Ensure early identification and intervention is implemented across the nursery.
• Work closely with the nursery team to ensure the environment is tailored to the children’s individual needs

Support staff and Training

• Support staff to uphold the setting ethos and approach to children with additional needs, ensuring the setting provides inclusive EY provision.
• Attend professional development opportunities including external training to support areas for development identified during annual appraisal
• Advise the head teacher and governing body of priorities for deployment of staff, and utilise resources with maximum efficiency.
• To take appropriate steps to develop their own expertise/skills in consultation with the Head teacher and to assist in the professional development of others.
• Talk to, advise and support practitioners who are concerned about a child.
• Support staff to do additional observation and assessment of children’s learning and development and ensure differentiated planning to meet that child’s needs.  Support key workers to identify smart targets and implement interventions.

 

Parents

• To promote parents’ involvement in their children’s learning and development. To ensure that all practitioners work closely with parents/carers at all stages
• Complete Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) in partnership with parents
• Arrange reviews meetings with parents and other professionals

Additional Responsibilities

• Liaise with other professionals, including those from outside agencies to draw on the expertise and advice of colleagues within the school and that of outside agencies to plan to meet the needs of individual children and their families
• Take responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and families within the nursery. This will include complying with and actively implement the schools policies regarding Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding and Behaviour Management.

Safeguarding

• Liaise and collaborate with the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) on matters of safeguarding and welfare for pupils with SEN.
• Remain alert to the fact that pupils with SEN may be more vulnerable to safeguarding challenges.
• 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 Head Teacher.

Person specification

criteria	qualities
Qualifications and training	·      Qualified teacher status ·      Degree ·      National Award for SEN Co-ordination / NPQ SENCo or willingness to undertake.
Experience	·   Early Years Teaching experience ·   Involvement in school self-evaluation and development planning ·   Teaching in an ARP / leading a team to support the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities ·   Teaching children with Autism ·   In a SENCo role ·   Working in partnership with parents and carers ·   Working in collaboration with other professionals, including therapist.
Skills and knowledge	·   Understanding of high-quality teaching, and the ability to model this for others and support others to improve ·   Effective communication and interpersonal skills ·   Ability to communicate a vision and inspire others ·   Ability to build effective working relationships
Personal qualities	·   A commitment to getting the best outcomes for all pupils and promoting the ethos and values of the school ·   Commitment to safeguarding and equality, ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways that exploit the position ·   Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively ·   Commitment to maintaining confidentiality at all times