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SENDCo

Woolmer Hill School

SENDCo

£24960

Woolmer Hill School, Lexden, Colchester

  • Full time
  • Permanent
  • Onsite working

Posted 3 weeks ago, 11 Apr | Get your application in now before you miss out!

Closing date: Closing date not specified

job Ref: 394ff2ec74f04ca2998be819fe33e38e

Full Job Description

  • Identify and adopt the most effective teaching approaches for SEND students.

  • Monitor teaching and learning activities to meet the needs of SEND students.

  • Liaise with other schools to ensure continuity of support and learning when transferring SEND

    • students.
  • Promote Inclusion best practice and contribute to the aims and ethos of the school through

    • and when possible, attendance at school events.
  • Promote quality first teaching

  • assess children who have long or short-term learning difficulties and working with colleagues

    • to identify individual pupils' special needs
  • implement specific interventions

  • develop and advise on schemes of work, resources, teaching and learning strategies

  • develop and disseminate teaching and learning expertise in SEND teaching



    • Recording and assessment

  • Set targets for raising achievement among SEND students and other groups as appropriate.

  • Collect and interpret specialist assessment and performance data and share with other staff

    • and Governors as appropriate.
  • Maintain systems for identifying SEND, and assessing and reviewing SEND provision. This

    • includes creating and monitoring EHC plans, provision maps with teachers and learning
    support assistants.
  • Update the Principal and governing body on the effectiveness of provision for SEND students.

  • Keep parents informed about their child's progress through individual meetings and at

    • parents' evenings.
  • As necessary, prepare applications for EHC Plans; co-ordinate and attend annual reviews.

  • Create IEPs as necessary

  • Coordinate the assessment of students for access arrangements with the examinations officer

    • and ensure that arrangements are in place for all internal and external exams
  • Maintain SEND register.

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of provision.



    • Leadership

  • Line management of the staff of the department.

  • Ensure all members of staff are able to recognise and fulfil their statutory responsibilities to

    • SEND students.
  • Provide training opportunities for learning support assistants, HLTAs and teachers to learn

    • about Inclusion, including whole-school in-service training.
  • Disseminate good practice in Inclusion across the College.

  • Identify resources needed to meet the needs of SEND students and manage the SEND, Work with the Principal and Governors on the strategic development of SEND and Inclusion,

    • including reviewing and formulating appropriate policies.
  • To be responsible for the supervision and organisation of learning support assistants,

    • including their performance management.
  • Support student progress meetings, recording agreed provision within provision maps.

  • To be involved in the appointment of Learning Support Assistants.

  • To work with the Principal, Deputy SENDCo, and other key staff on developing the

    • effectiveness of transition arrangements
  • Liaise with the Educational Psychology service and other specialist and support agencies.

  • To keep abreast of developments in SEND (e.g. research, changes to the law) and inform

    • staff and Governors as necessary.
  • To attend appropriate training, CPD and conferences and provide feedback to colleagues.

  • Lead CPD on inclusion matters as needed across the college.

  • Work with the Principal to plan the overall deployment of teaching assistants, and HLTAs

    • throughout the college.
  • Liaise with key stage leaders and all teachers in the successful deployment of learning

    • support assistants within key stages and year groups.
  • Undertake SEND self-evaluation, contributing to the college SEF and improvement plan and

    • planning for continuous improvement in inclusion practice
  • Model good practice in teaching students with SEND including those with severe complex

    • needs.
  • Develop links with governors, the LA, external agencies and neighbouring schools.

  • Line management of identified staff. Co-ordinating their workload and delegating tasks as

    • appropriate.


    This is a public facing role and the post holder must communicate fluently in English.

    The duties above are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the post holder may be required by the
    Principal to carry out additional duties within the context of the job, skills and grade, Empathise with the difficulties of SEN pupils in accepting the

  • curriculum
    Organise and sustain systematic support from a variety of

  • providers for a range of SEN
    Line management of staff

  • Advise and motivate teaching staff

  • Present clearly a wide range of specialised information to both

  • educationalists and non-educationalists
    Make consistent judgements based on careful analysis of

  • available evidence

  • able to challenge all students to make exceptional progress

  • a strong team player who forms excellent relationships with staff, parents and students

  • willing to support the strong Catholic ethos of our college

  • SENDCo qualification holder, Qualifications and experience Essential Desirable

    • Qualified Teacher status

  • Evidence of continuous INSET with particular reference to Special

  • Educational Needs (SEN)
    Teaching at KS3 & 4

  • Qualified teacher with at least four years' experience

  • Evidence of continuing professional development

  • Evidence of work with colleagues

  • Experience of budget management

  • Experience of training other teachers

  • Experience of working alongside other teachers in the

  • development and learning
    Experience of setting targets and monitoring, evaluating and

  • recording progress
    National SENCO Qualification


  • Knowledge and Understanding
    Strategies for meeting SEN in a mixed ability class situation

  • The SEN Code of Conduct and its practical application

  • The statementing / EHCP process and the evidence needed

  • Behaviour management techniques for groups and individuals

  • Familiarity with the concepts of Gifted and Talented

  • Good understanding of curriculum and pedagogical issues

  • related to extending pupil performance and the development of
    thinking skills
    Good understanding of factors promoting effective transfer of

  • learners from one phase of education to the next
    Good understanding of the principles behind school improvement

  • including school improvement planning, monitoring, review and
    evaluation of progress
    An understanding of using comparative information about

  • attainment
    An understanding of the funding support mechanism for SEND

  • An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of educational

  • psychologists and of learning and behaviour support services
    An understanding of the broader secondary and primary context

  • and Government initiatives to raise achievement
    An understanding of Pastoral support plans

  • Good understanding of the principles behind project management

  • including planning, monitoring, review and evaluation progress
    Knowledge and understanding to support EAL children
  • , Excellent classroom practitioner

    • Good communication skills, both written and oral

  • Good presentation skills with the ability to enthuse and motivate

  • others
    Good organisation skills

  • Confident in the use of information and communication

  • technology
    Good influencing and negotiation skills


  • Personal Characteristics
    Willingness to share expertise, skills and knowledge

  • Sensitivity to the aspirations, needs and self-esteem of others

  • Commitment to team working

  • Willingness to address challenging issues with clarity of purpose

  • and diplomacy
    Preparedness to attend national and regional venues for

    • meetings and training sessions, which may involve overnight
    stays and occasional work in the evenings, at weekends or in
    school holidays

    St Benedict's Catholic College is a highly respected and oversubscribed Roman Catholic 11-16 school
    serving Christian families throughout north-east Essex. We strive to promote the values of our Christian
    faith throughout our daily life.

    Our 2023 Ofsted inspection found that we continue to be a good school, that we are a welcoming
    school with a strong ethos of caring for pupils and promoting academic achievement. We are
    recognised for many strengths of our college - as well as noting how well-behaved, confident and
    happy our young people are.

    Student attainment at GCSE in the core subjects of English and mathematics, and in science and
    humanities subjects, is well above average. St Benedict's is a great place to be and I'm delighted that
    you are interested in applying to be part of our team.

    As our mission statement says, we are proud to be an inclusive community where spiritual, emotional
    and academic growth are nurtured. We believe in putting learning first and striving for excellence

    Our facilities are superb and we have a rich variety of extra-curricular opportunities that underpin our
    academic success. The college is set in pleasant, spacious grounds which include hard play areas,
    playing fields and tennis courts. We have a well-equipped sports hall and fitness suite. Our chapel is
    used regularly by students and staff for worship, prayer and quiet reflection.

    The special needs department has a Deputy SENDCo, 3 HLTAs, 13 LSAs, and use of an outside
    classroom. The SENDCo has a dedicated PA to provide administrative support.

    St Benedict's students develop into happy confident and self-aware young adults. There are many
    opportunities for them to thrive and shine, through high quality teaching and numerous clubs and
    activities.

    There is a growing arts scene in the town, with two
    highly acclaimed local theatres and the renowned
    Firstsite and Minories Galleries hosting significant
    art exhibitions and installations.


    The town also benefits from a wide range of
    excellent schools and colleges as well as being the
    home of Essex University's main campus.


    Colchester also benefits from superb transport links,
    including excellent road links, direct rail lines going into
    London (which is less than an hour away), and easy
    access to London Stansted and London Southend
    Airports which fly to a growing number of destinations
    throughout Europe.