SENCO Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

In this blog, you will learn:

• Questions you could get asked in your SENCO interview 
• What the hiring manager may be looking for in your answers
• The average SENCO salary
• Where the latest SENCO jobs are and how to apply for them

A Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is an education professional responsible for overseeing the provision of support and resources to students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in schools. They collaborate with teachers, parents, and external agencies to create tailored plans and promote the overall well-being and development of students with diverse learning requirements.

The salary for a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) can vary based on factors such as the location of the school, the type of school (state-funded or independent), and the level of experience. However, the average salary for a SENCO can be around £23,000 to £46,000 per year.

SENCO interview questions

Preparing for a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) interview involves considering different questions you might be asked about your abilities and how you can support students with special educational needs. 

In this blog, we delve into 25 potential interview questions, along with what the interviewers may be interested in learning from your responses.

What are the main responsibilities of the SENCO?

A hiring manager might ask you this so they can assess your understanding of the role and your familiarity with its key duties. This question helps them determine if you have a clear grasp of the SENCO's job scope, which involves overseeing special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support within the school.

How to answer this question

Your answer could reveal your knowledge about collaborating with teachers, parents, and external agencies, creating individualised education plans, ensuring an inclusive classroom environment, and advocating for students with diverse learning needs.

• You will be expected to have an awareness of some of the main responsibilities of the role as set out in the SEND Code of Practice.
• You should be aware of additional responsibilities that your school requires, e.g. being the inclusion manager or school safeguarding lead.

What are the main responsibilities of the SENCO?

A hiring manager may ask about the main responsibilities of the SENCO and the importance of their integration into the school leadership team to gauge your depth of understanding about the role's significance and its relationship within the school structure. 

How to answer this question

Your response would demonstrate your comprehension of how a collaborative approach between SENCO and leadership enhances support for students with Special Educational Needs and facilitates strategic decision-making aligned with inclusive education goals. The hiring manager will be looking for answers such as:

• SEN is a whole-school issue and should be directed by a school leader.
• Staff, parents and pupils should see the SENCO as a senior figure as it increases the SENCO’s ability to influence decisions.
• SEN should be a key part of the school’s improvement plan.

A SENCO role involves considerable paperwork, staff and parent liaison as well as a teaching component. How good are you at prioritising and meeting deadlines?

A hiring manager might ask about your skills in prioritisation and meeting deadlines in a SENCO interview to assess your ability to handle the multifaceted demands of the role. This question aims to determine how effectively you can manage the paperwork, coordination with staff and parents, and the teaching aspect that comes with the SENCO position.

How to answer this question

Your response would provide insights into your organisational skills, time management abilities, and your approach to juggling various responsibilities while ensuring that essential tasks are completed on time and with accuracy. You should provide examples of how you have prioritised work and reached deadlines in previous SENCO positions.

The SENCO will need to know how whole-school SEN provision is funded. What aspects of the budget do you think you would be responsible for?

The hiring manager might ask about your understanding of how whole-school special educational needs (SEN) provision is funded and the aspects of the budget you'd be responsible for as a SENCO. This question aims to assess your familiarity with the financial aspects of the role, as SENCOs need to manage resources effectively to support students with diverse needs

How to answer this question

Your response would demonstrate your knowledge of funding sources, allocation of resources, and your ability to make informed decisions about budgeting to ensure appropriate support and interventions for students with special needs.

• You should have knowledge of how funding for pupils with SEN works.
• You should also have awareness of school budgets and pupil premium and SEN provision management.

How does your experience prepare you for this role?

A hiring manager may ask about how your experience prepares you for the SENCO role to understand your suitability for the position. This question allows you to showcase your relevant background, skills, and achievements that align with the responsibilities of a SENCO.

How to answer this question

Your response would help the hiring manager assess how well your past experiences equip you to excel in this crucial role. You should draw experience on:

• Being an Assistant SENCO.
• Shadowing a SENCO in another school.
• Gaining qualifications in SEN.
• Teaching lower-ability groups.
• Experience in another inclusion role, e.g. pupils with English as a second language. 
• Having pastoral responsibilities.

Can you tell us about any initiatives you have set up in your current post that have improved outcomes for pupils with SEND?

The hiring manager may ask about initiatives you've set up in your current role that have improved outcomes for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to evaluate your practical experience and innovation in addressing student needs.

How to answer this question

Your response would provide concrete examples of your impact and creativity in creating initiatives that positively influence the educational journey and overall development of these students. You should have evidence of specific interventions and the impact you had. For example:

• Classroom strategies.
• Tools you have created/sourced to support learning.
• Working with parents and families.
• Using differentiation and personalisation.

To do this role, you must complete the National Award for SEN Coordination. Are you prepared to undertake this within 3 years of an appointment? What benefits do you think the award will give you? Do you have any concerns about doing a masters level qualification?

A hiring manager might ask about your willingness to complete the National Award for SEN Coordination within 3 years of appointment and your thoughts on the benefits and potential concerns associated with the qualification.

How to answer this question

Your response would reveal your readiness to enhance your skills and knowledge through formal education and your awareness of the benefits like improved expertise in special educational needs.

• If this is a mandatory requirement, you should be willing to take the national award.
• You should also be aware of its benefits, and raise any concerns about the time commitment of undertaking a qualification.

What role does the SENCO play in attendance? How would you approach a pupil with both SEND needs and attendance issues?

This question aims to assess your awareness of the SENCO's involvement in monitoring and improving attendance, as well as your strategies for addressing complex cases where a student has both special needs and attendance challenges.

How to answer this question

Regular school attendance is important for students to grasp important concepts, learn from teachers, and actively engage in the learning process.

• You should discuss your awareness of how SEND needs and mental health can impact absence, and the importance of school attendance. 
• Mention that you would take action as soon as you notice the issue emerging.
• Suggests appropriate strategies such as working with parents/carers.
• You must have willingness to reassess provision to support attendance challenges.
• You must show your awareness that absence may be a potential safeguarding issue.

How would you make sure that all teachers have the knowledge and skills they need to meet the needs of children with SEND?

This question aims to evaluate your strategies for building a cohesive team that is equipped to support students with diverse needs.

How to answer this question

Your response would reveal your understanding of staff training, your ability to facilitate knowledge-sharing and skill development.You should include points such as:

• Regular staff training.
• Sharing good practice.
• Setting time aside to hold meetings with staff.
• Coaching and mentoring.

How would you make sure that support staff take a consistent approach to the SEND needs in your school?

This question evaluates your ability to provide guidance and coordination to support staff to ensure that they are aligned with the school's inclusive practices.

How to answer this question

Your response would demonstrate your skills in communication, training, and supervision, as well as your capacity to foster a collaborative environment where all staff members are working cohesively to meet the diverse needs of students with SEND. They would be looking for points in your answer such as:

• Regular training.
• Strong communication.
• Effective deployment of staff.

Which parts of teaching pupils with SEND do you think staff might have the most trouble with? What training could you offer to support them?

This question aims to assess your awareness of potential challenges that educators might face when teaching students with diverse needs and your ability to provide effective training to address those challenges. 

How to answer this question

Your response would highlight your analytical skills in identifying common difficulties and your creativity in developing targeted training programs. You should explain how you'd work with staff to identify training needs and then offer the appropriate support and training.

How would you plan support for pupils with SEND in the school?

This question aims to evaluate your ability to analyse individual student needs, collaborate with various stakeholders, and design comprehensive support plans.

How to answer this question

In your response, you should demonstrate experience and knowledge of providing and planning SEND support which is appropriate to the school’s needs and context. Also, include any new ideas you have to support the pupils.

What role does the SENCO play in setting targets, and recording interventions and progress?

This question aims to evaluate your knowledge of the SENCO's responsibilities in maintaining accurate records, analysing data, and adjusting strategies based on outcomes.

How to answer this question

 In your response, you should discuss points such as:

• Developing a consistent whole-school system.
• Producing proformas and guidance.
• Providing staff training.
• The SENCO holds overall responsibility for maintaining robust records of targets, interventions and progress.

When a new pupil arrives, how would you assess them?

This question aims to assess your understanding of the assessment process, your communication skills with both the student and their parents or guardians, and your ability to quickly identify their needs and determine appropriate interventions.

How to answer this question

In your response, you should mention how quickly you would assess them and the process you would follow. For example, you should assess the pupil as soon as possible to: 

• Begin identification and intervention. 
• Establish strategies to meet the pupil’s needs as early as possible.
• Establish a baseline for progress.

What would you do if you had limited information about them?

This question aims to assess your adaptability and problem-solving skills when faced with situations where you lack complete information. They want to understand how you would approach the situation, gather relevant information through observation and communication, and make informed decisions about the initial support and interventions required.

How to answer this question

Your response would demonstrate your ability to handle uncertainties, your resourcefulness in seeking information, and your commitment to providing individualised support even in challenging scenarios. Also, you should include that you would try to contact the pupil’s previous school and talk to parents/careers to get more information about them.

When a new pupil enters the school with a history of needing SEND support, how would you find out what approaches have already taken place?

This question aims to evaluate your investigative and collaborative skills when dealing with students who have existing support histories. They want to understand your process for collecting relevant information from previous schools, parents, or guardians, as well as your ability to collaborate with external agencies if needed. 

How to answer this question

In your response they will be looking out for points such as:

• Talk to the SENCO at the pupil’s previous school.
• Look and assess any paperwork from the school transfer.
• Talk to the pupil and their parents.

How would you make sure that teachers are delivering a broad and balanced curriculum to all pupils with SEN?

This question aims to evaluate your approach to maintaining high educational standards while catering to diverse learning needs. They want to understand how you would collaborate with teachers to adapt the curriculum, offer necessary accommodations, and ensure that students with SEN have equitable access to a well-rounded education. 

How to answer this question

Your response would demonstrate your expertise in curriculum adaptation, your ability to support teachers in differentiating instruction, and your commitment to fostering an inclusive educational experience for all students, regardless of their needs.

What would you expect to see from an ‘outstanding’ teacher in relation to SEN provision?

This question aims to evaluate your criteria for excellence in SEN teaching and your ability to recognise effective strategies. They want to understand your ability to identify and promote practices that foster inclusive education and ensure optimal learning experiences for students with SEN.

How to answer this question

Your response would showcase your knowledge of best practices, your ability to assess and provide constructive feedback, and your commitment to fostering a supportive classroom environment that meets the needs of all students. 

How often do you think targets should be set?

This question aims to evaluate your approach to measuring progress and the frequency at which you believe targets should be adjusted. They want to understand your perspective on maintaining a balance between setting achievable, yet challenging, goals that support students' needs and the practicality of implementation

How to answer this question

Your response would reveal your familiarity with the iterative nature of educational planning, your ability to adapt targets based on student progress, and your commitment to creating meaningful and attainable objectives that guide interventions and support strategies. They will be looking for answers such as:

• Every half term, or more frequently than this.
• You would put suitable monitoring procedures in place to review targets and make sure they’re still appropriate.
• Targets should be set in all subjects.

How would you monitor progress for pupils with SEN?

This question aims to evaluate your approach to assessment, data collection, and analysis in order to measure the impact of your efforts. They want to understand your methods for identifying successes and areas for improvement, as well as your commitment to ongoing evaluation and adjustment of support plans. 

How to answer this question

The hiring manager will be looking for key points in your answer such as:

• Demonstrates clear experience of recording and monitoring progress. 
• Willingness to change progress targets and interventions if pupils are not progressing as expected. 
• Willingness to set more ambitious targets if pupils are progressing quickly.

What impact have interventions had on progress in your current setting?

This question aims to understand your analytical skills and your capacity to measure the outcomes of interventions and support strategies. They want to gain insights into your approach to data analysis, your ability to interpret results, and your commitment to evidence-based decision-making.

How to answer this question

The hiring manager will be looking for key points in your answer such as:

• Demonstrates clear experience and understanding of interventions.
• Can evaluate the impact of interventions on progress.
• You can acknowledge anything that didn’t work as intended, and how you would change your approach to interventions in the future. 

Can you tell us about how you motivate pupils? 

This question aims to evaluate your interpersonal skills, creativity, and empathy when it comes to motivating students with diverse needs. They want to understand your ability to adapt your approach to different students and situations, and your commitment to promoting a sense of belonging and enthusiasm within the student community.

How to answer this question

The hiring manager will be looking for key points in your answer such as:

• Forming good professional relationships, knowing the pupils well and enthusing them.
• Using a variety of techniques in the classroom. 
• Treating pupils equally.
• Adjusting or enhancing practice to meet individual needs.

How would you involve parents and families in the target-setting and progress-review process?

This question aims to evaluate your ability to engage parents as important stakeholders in their child's education and your strategies for fostering open communication and collaboration. They want to understand how you would create a supportive and inclusive environment that involves families in the decision-making process and keeps them informed about their child's progress.

How to answer this question

In your response, you should mention points such as:

•  Termly meetings.
•  Regular communication. 
•  Sharing strategies to help support their child at home.

Can you suggest ways in which parents can be involved in their child’s learning

This question aims to evaluate your creativity and commitment to fostering a collaborative relationship with families. They want to understand how you would encourage parents to actively participate in their child's education, support learning at home, and contribute to the overall progress of students with special needs.

How to answer this question

The hiring manager will be looking for answers such as:

•  Parents are given information about topics being covered.
•  Parents could be asked to support pupils with homework.

SENCO jobs

Located in the dynamic heart of the North West, our thriving SEND recruitment agency is committed to providing the best SEND recruitment service to schools and local authorities, along with offering the best temporary, interim and permanent SENCO jobs.  

Searching for your next SENCO role? Simply upload your CV or get in touch with our Divisional Manager, Richard Shorrock who will be happy to assist you throughout your job search!