SENCO in Southampton

St Mark's CE School is one whole school community, where we create a sense of belonging for all who enter our school. Our core Christian values of love, belonging and service are nurtured and modelled through high standards by excellent staff. We are seeking to employ a passionate and dedicated Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to join our dynamic team, specialising in our secondary phase.

As a SENCO, you will play a crucial whole school role in ensuring that all students with special educational needs (SEN) receive the support and opportunities they need to thrive academically and socially. You will lead the development and implementation of the school's SEN policy, embracing our value of academic excellence, and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation. You will coordinate and oversee the provision of support for students with SEN, working collaboratively with teachers, support staff, parents and external agencies.

To be successful, you will hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with significant experience in special education, with a strong understanding of SEND legislation, policies, and best practices as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills. In order to attract the best candidates, we can offer either a part-time SENCO role or full-time with some teaching responsibilities.

Our Purpose

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 and progress. To ensure that the SEN legal framework is followed.

Areas of Responsibility and Key Tasks

• To have a full understanding and working knowledge of the SEN code of practice.
• To be a champion for the rights of our SEND pupils to ensure they are fully included within our school.
• To keep up-to-date the school SEN local offer.
• To recommend and monitor SEN provision to ensure that progress of pupils with SEN improves relative to those without SEN.
• Ensure that the school carries out its statutory responsibilities regarding all students with an EHCP.
• Support all staff in understanding the needs of SEN pupils and their responsibilities under the SEND code of practice.
• Support developments of SEN provision across the curriculum.
• For those pupils with a SEN Plan or EHCP, monitor progress towards their targets.
• Analyse and interpret relevant school, local and national data.
• Analyse the outcomes of SEN Support Plans/EHCPs and Interventions for SEN pupils and set improvements based on these.
• Liaise with staff, parents, external agencies and other schools to co-ordinate their contribution, to provide maximum support to the child and ensure continuity of provision.
• Contribute to cases where SEND is a contributing factor in school disengagement or part-time schooling.
• To coordinate assessments for children who are demonstrating a special need or disability.
• To quality assure referrals to outside agencies in a timely way to ensure the correct external support is obtained for individual children.

Teaching and Learning

• Support the identification of and disseminate the most effective teaching approaches for individuals and groups of pupils with SEN.
• Work with staff to develop effective ways of bridging barriers to learning through assessment of needs, monitoring of teaching quality and pupil achievement, and target setting (e.g. Support plans).
• Keep accurate records.
• To ensure that all teachers are completing paperwork on time and sharing these with parents.
• Collect and interpret specialist assessment data to inform practice.
• Undertake day-to-day co-ordination of SEN pupils' provisions through close liaison with staff, parents and external agencies.
• Work with all staff to ensure all pupils' learning is of equal importance and that there are high and realistic expectations of pupils.
• To support teachers in the assessment of pupils including but not exclusive to end of key stage assessment.
• Attend relevant training through weekly PDM (where appropriate to SEN) and other external training.
• To teach whole class or groups of pupils if required by the senior leadership team, to a high standard.

Leading and Managing

• Provide professional guidance to staff to secure good provision for SEN pupils.
• To analyse data at regular intervals to report the progress and areas of development of SEND pupils.
• To analyse intervention data for pupils with SEN, including: Physiotherapy, ELSA, SALSA, Attention Autism, and specific interventions stated on EHCPs.
• Advise on and contribute to the professional development of staff, including whole school INSET provision.
• Provide regular information to the senior leaders and governing body on the evaluation of SEN provision.
• Manage the SEN register and medical plans for children with active outreach NHS services, updating plans and sharing these with staff as necessary.

Effective Deployment of Staff and Resources

• Advise the Head of SEND and governing body of priorities for deployment of staff, and utilise resources with maximum efficiency.
• Maintain and develop resources, co-ordinate their deployment and monitor their effectiveness in meeting the objectives of school and SEN policies.
• Work with external agencies to maximise resources made available.
• To line manage TAs through the appraisal process.
• The SENCO will direct the use of time of Secondary TAs to deliver the provision stated on EHCPs and those with complex medical needs.
• The day-to-day sickness/absences of staff will be managed through the Business Manager/Executive Head.

Other Professional Requirements

• Chair Annual Reviews meetings and quality assure the written records of these, ensuring compliance with SEN legislation and procedures.
• Quality assure SEN Support Plans and support teachers where necessary to facilitate meetings.
• To apply for EHCP Applications.
• To support parents in the appeal process for EHCP applications, signposting where necessary.
• To work in a professional manner with all external agencies to the benefit of the child.
• To develop a trusting relationship with parents across the school by being a visible member of the teaching team.
• Attend Annual Reviews and transition meetings for pupils from feeder schools with EHCPs to help facilitate continuity and progression through the development of a transition programme for children.
• Liaise with pupils and parents requiring advice about provision.
• Exercise a key role in assisting the Head of SEND with the strategic development of SEN.
• Contribute to the writing of the annual SEND Information Report and Accessibility Policy.
• To attend multi-agency meetings such as TAFs, if SEN information is pertinent to the case.
• Liaise and keep records of advice with the Educational Psychology Service, CAMHS, Social Care, Paediatricians, GPs, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language, Play Therapist, School Nurse, SEND Lead Workers, Alternative Provision providers, and other support agencies.

To apply please visit our website: https://www.stmarksschool.co.uk/community/vacancies-at-st-marks/ and complete the 'teaching staff' Application form. When completed please email to: recruitment@st-marks-southampton.org.uk. If you need any more information on the role please call: 02380 772968.

St Mark's Church of England School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role requires an enhanced DBS.