Senco

We are looking to recruit an experienced, skilled and committed SENCO to join our SEN team, to work alongside our existing SENCO, the Assistant Principal for Learning Support. We welcome applications from experienced SENCOs to join our enthusiastic department, supporting students with special educational needs.

At Harris Academy Merton we promote the ethos "Achievement is Success" and believe every student has the right to the highest standard of education so that they can accomplish their aspirations. Our aim is to give every student an educational experience that is enjoyable and holistic so that they develop into responsible, articulate and successful young people. We combine the traditional values of strong discipline, good manners, respect and pride in appearance with contemporary best practice in teaching and technology.

• To ensure that Academy practice is compliant with the SEND Code of Practice (2014) and other relevant statutory requirements.
• To work with the Academy Leadership team ensuring an ethos of Inclusion within the Academy and a culture of high aspirations for students with SEND.
• To work with the Academy Leadership team ensuring the implementation of the Academy SEND Policy.
• To ensure that the provision of SEND support is in accordance with the aims of the Academy and curricular policies.
• To be responsible for maintaining an accurate and up-to-date Academy SEND Profile.
• To be responsible for the accurate identification of SEND need across the Academy, ensuring a rigorous and thorough assessment process.
• To be a role model with regard to Quality First Teaching and differentiation within your own teaching practice.
• To be responsible for the embedding of Quality First Teaching across the Academy.
• To be responsible for the Academy SEND Offer, ensuring high quality targeted interventions enabling students with SEND to make better progress.
• In consultation with the Academy Leadership Team, to provide a programme of professional development with regard to SEND, that ensures all staff have the knowledge, skills and understanding to plan teaching and learning effectively and enable students with SEND to make expected progress.
• To be responsible for tracking the progress of students with SEND, using a wide range of Academy data relating to progress, attainment, referrals, exclusions, detentions and attendance to identify barriers to learning.
• To deploy staff and resources according to the needs of SEND students.
• To write a termly report to the Governing body on progress and developments.

• QTS (or equivalent) and a good undergraduate degree.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development relevant to the SENCO role or willingness to undertake this training.
• Knowledge and understanding of national priorities, current curriculum development and an ability to design and implement an innovative curriculum based on students' needs.
• A thorough understanding of quality assurance techniques.
• An appreciation of student motivation.
• An understanding of how professional development contributes to raising quality.
• SEN experience in a secondary school.
• Evidence of successful teaching experience.
• Evidence of pastoral experience.
• Experience of working with key stakeholders such as parents, governors, employers etc.

We offer a wide range of high quality teacher professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership, a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance (usually £2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Flexible working options are also available.

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack. If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email or call to arrange a conversation. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.