Reporting to: Director of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Responsible for: SEND Department Staff
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: Teacher’s pay-scale plus TLR 1.4

Job purpose:

The SENDCo plays a crucial role in fostering inclusive education, ensuring students with SEND receive tailored support to achieve their full potential. The post-holder will lead on embedding strategies to enhance teaching quality across the curriculum, deliver targeted interventions, and meet statutory obligations for students with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). This involves working collaboratively with staff, parents, and external agencies to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

The SENDCo will live our C.A.S.T.L.E. framework of values and behaviours

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Work with the Assistant Headteacher, Inclusion, in developing, implementing and overseeing the school’s SEND policy and provision;

• Maintain a strategic overview of the progress and outcomes of students with SEND;

• Ensure compliance with the SEND Code of Practice and other statutory requirements;

• Collaborate with the leadership team to promote a culture of inclusion and high expectations for all.

Teaching and Learning:

• Support teaching staff in implementing high quality teaching strategies, making reasonable adjustments and adaptations to meet the diverse needs of SEND students;

• Deliver high-quality training to staff, including Progress Coaches, on SEND strategies and inclusive practice;

• Develop and lead intervention programs targeting specific learning needs;

• Teach individuals or small groups requiring focused support to achieve educational milestones;

• Deliver engaging lessons that inspire students to achieve their best and make excellent progress;

• Support exam preparation through setting and marking assessments and assisting with coursework moderation;

• Track and monitor student progress and contribute to developing effective learning strategies;

• Participate in departmental meetings, CPL and collaborative activities;

• Collaborate with the department to share best practice, participate in lesson observations and contribute to curriculum planning;

• Engage in co-curricular activities and support the wider life of the school.

Colleagues will also discharge their duties according to the national Teaching Standards

Support and Collaboration:

• Act as the primary liaison for the families of students with SEND, offering guidance and support;

• Coordinate with external professionals (e.g., educational psychologists, speech and language therapists) to access specialist resources and advice;

• Lead the Annual Review process for students with EHCPs and ensure timely submission of required documentation;

• Lead the Graduated Approach and review meetings for K Coded students and initiate referral meetings for other students where necessary.

Data Management and Administration:

• Maintain the SEND register, ensuring data is accurate and up-to-date;

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of SEND interventions, using data to inform future planning;

• Ensure all statutory assessments and reviews are conducted in compliance with local authority guidelines;

• Ensure that provision mapping is efficient and up-to-date.

Staff Development:

• Mentor and coach colleagues to improve their understanding and delivery of SEND-inclusive teaching;

• Lead CPL sessions focused on SEND best practice;

• Support the induction and training of new staff members on SEND-related matters.

Person Specification

Qualifications:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) (Essential);

• Accredited SEND leadership qualification (Desirable).

Experience:

• Proven experience of teaching SEND students and raising educational standards (Essential);

• Working knowledge of the current SEND code of practice (Essential);

• Familiarity with multi-agency coordination and the statutory assessment process (Desirable).

Skills and Competence:

• Excellent organisational, planning and administrative skills (Essential);

• Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and lead staff effectively (Essential);

• Proficiency in analysing and utilising data to drive student progress (Essential);

• Advanced ICT skills, including experience with digital learning tools and SEND software (Essential).

Personal Qualities:

• Passion for teaching and learning (Essential);

• Commitment to professional development (Essential);

• Ability to relate well to students and a commitment to positive and healthy outcomes for young people (Essential);

• Strong interpersonal skills and sensitivity to others (Essential).

All staff are expected to:

• Positively support equality of opportunity and equity of treatment to colleagues and students;

• Undertake duties as specified by the Headteacher not mentioned in the above;

• Help maintain a safe working environment;

• Present themselves in a smart and professional manner befitting of their profession;

• Comply with any reasonable request from the Leadership Team;

This post is classified as having substantial access to children and appointment is subject to an enhanced police check of previous criminal convictions through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Applicants are required, before appointment, to disclose any conviction, caution or bind over including ‘spent convictions’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offense(s) and when they were recorded.