SENCO in Royston

Location: Meldreth, Nr Royston, Cambridgeshire/Hertfordshire border

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £32,916 - £49,232 (M1-UPS2)

Hours: 40 hours per week

Aurora Meldreth Manor School is an IQM awarded, independent, specialist day school dedicated to providing a highly personalised learning environment for students aged 6 to 19 with a range of complex needs, including Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), Moderate Learning Disabilities (MLD), Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD), autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and other associated difficulties. Many of our students also have medical needs and sensory or physical impairments. Our approach is tailored to help students manage sensory overload, anxiety, low self-esteem, and challenges with transitions, often reflected in their behaviour.

Our school boasts exceptional, fully inclusive facilities, including a Hydrotherapy pool and expansive outdoor learning spaces. We are lucky to have our own full therapeutic team who work closely with class leaders to create a child-centred curriculum that meets the needs of all learners.

We are currently seeking a SENCo to join us from April 2026.

The Role:

As the SENCo at Aurora Meldreth Manor School, you will work closely with our Head of School, taking responsibility for managing and developing inclusive learning and teaching, curriculum, careers & preparation for adulthood, assessment and enrichment throughout the designated phases of the school. You will take a central role in assisting the Head of School to develop our school in accordance with its shared values and our school Quality Improvement Plan whilst developing the school's Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEND) provision and oversight of the day-to-day operation of that policy with the aim of raising SEND pupil achievement.

Key Duties:

• Support the day-to-day management of the school and school community, including recruitment & training, line-management of support staff, development and implementation of school specific and company-wide policies, arranging cover for absent staff.
• Manage CPD for classroom-based staff ensuring their needs are identified and met through quality training opportunities.
• Support management of the school's budget and resources and account for delegated funds, to achieve the school's stated aims, meet its targets and sustain high achievement.
• Ensure that there is a very safe, secure, effective and pleasing environment for everyone through awareness and implementation of Health and Safety regulations.
• Take responsibility for collating evidence for specific sections of the school’s self-evaluation form.
• Report to governance on learning and progress and the development, implementation and review of school improvement plans.
• Assist the school’s achievement reviews and target setting processes by taking a major role in assessment and actively supporting and securing the school's success in national tests.
• Ensure the effective and sustained use of systems for the collection of useful, timely, and accurate assessment data to track the progress of individual and groups of children in order to inform planning, evaluate performance, track progress and secure raised achievement across relevant key stages.
• Monitor the effectiveness of teaching and learning including teachers’ planning, monitoring planning, work sampling and scrutiny, lesson observations, supporting auditing and reporting outcomes.
• Determine, organise and implement a diverse, inclusive curriculum and implement an effective assessment framework.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the school when required.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential Qualifications/Experience:

• QTS or QTLS.
• Proven track record of excellent creative and structured teaching within relevant key stages and/or special needs environment.
• Experience of holding responsibility for and turning policy into effective and successful practice.
• Leadership of a significant area or phase or inclusion, including responsibility for raising standards across the whole school.
• Effective team management and working collaboratively and effectively with others.
• Communicating effectively to a wide range of different audiences through a range of different mediums.

Desirable Qualifications/Experience:

• Accredited training in specific areas of special education, e.g. Autism, Dyslexia etc.
• Management/leadership qualification.
• NPQSL/H/SENDCo or willingness to achieve within 2 years.
• Evidence of developing and delivering effective and inspirational professional development for staff including mentoring and coaching as appropriate.
• Evidence of contributing effectively to the work of the senior leadership team.
• Understanding of the implementation of ASD intervention and support strategies (TEACCH or other similar).
• Experience of curriculum leadership action planning and resource management.

Benefits & Additional Information

What’s on Offer at Aurora? We believe in supporting you as much as we support the children and young people in our care. Here’s a snapshot of the fantastic benefits waiting for you:

• Grow with Us – Training & Development: Learning never stops at Aurora! We offer a wide range of training programmes and career development opportunities to help you build your skills and reach your goals.
• Save Money on Everyday Essentials: With the rising cost of living, our Perkbox app helps you stretch your money further: Discounts on groceries, phone plans, internet, dining out, gym memberships & more.
• Access to our Cycle to Work and Car Scheme.
• Access to Wagestream – a financial wellbeing app that helps you track earnings, save, get expert money advice, and even access part of your pay early when needed.
• Competitive Pay & Reward: We regularly benchmark our pay and benefits to stay ahead of the curve. You’ll enjoy: Enhanced Annual Leave, Company Sick Pay, Enhanced Pension, Life Assurance.