In this blog you will learn:
What a SENCO is.
What the responsibilities of a SENCO are.
What qualifications a SENCO needs.
What skills a SENCO needs.
Who employs a SENCO.
The average salary of a SENCO.
Where the latest SENCO jobs are and how to apply for them.
What is the role of a SENCO?
A SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) is a qualified teacher who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a school's SEN policy.
A SENCO will identify the specific requirements which an individual child or young person with SEN will need in order to create a safe and supportive environment within the education system. The role of a SENCO is an extremely critical one as they are responsible for ensuring children with SEN receive the extra support they need to thrive.
SEN pupils may have learning difficulties or disorders (such as dyslexia), a physical disability, hearing, visual or multisensory impairments or emotional and behavioural problems.
Every mainstream school in the UK must have a SENCO to ensure that all children with SEN are well supported and have the opportunity to reach their full educational potential.
In smaller schools, a Head Teacher or Deputy Head Teacher may take on the role as SENCO.
In larger schools, there may be a dedicated SEN team which includes SENCOs and Assistant SENCOs. In these instances, the SENCO should have the support of the Head Teacher and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to develop effective ways of overcoming barriers to a child's learning.
A SENCO can also be known as an Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo).
What are the responsibilities of a SENCO?
While working as a SENCO, you will be required to:
Identifying pupils who may need additional support.
Identify the individual needs of SEN pupils through assessments.
Ensure the needs of pupils with SEN are met
Make adjustments to a child with SEN when necessary.
Assist the Head Teacher to develop and oversee the implementation of the school's SEN strategy and policy.
Advise staff and colleagues on the SEN strategy and provision within your school.
Monitor progress of pupils with SEN.
Build effective relationships with various parties including the child or young person with SEN, their family, colleagues, the school leadership team and relevant external agencies.
Ensure parents are regularly updated through written reports on the progress of the SEN pupil.
Work well in conjunction with internal professionals including the Head Teacher, their Deputy, teachers, Teaching Assistants, Heads of Department and School Governors.
Work well in conjunction with external professionals including Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Health and Social Care Providers.
Be a key point of contact for the local authority and any relevant external agencies.
Give guidance to teachers on how to best support SEN pupils.
Ensuring teachers have the resources in order to effectively support SEN pupils.
Assist teachers in developing schemes of work and learning programmes for SEN pupils.
Liaise with parents and potential future providers of education. Parents should be made aware of the potential options available to the child or young person and a smooth transition should be planned with minimal disruption.
Working with the Head Teacher and School Governors to ensure all relevant legislation is met.
Assist teachers to create and implement effective teaching and behaviour management approaches within the classroom.
Oversee and advise on the school budget and resources for SEN provision.
Update databases and systems with clear and current information in a timely manner.
Maintain up to date knowledge relating to national and local policies related to SEN.
What qualifications does a SENCO need?
To work as a SENCO, you must be a qualified teacher with QTS (qualified teacher status) and have a minimum of three years teaching experience within a classroom. At least one of those years must be spent in a senior role such as the head of a subject or department.
It can also be advantageous to have a degree in a relevant subject if you’re hoping to work in a school which specialises in a particular subject.
What skills does a SENCO need?
Key skills of a SENCO include:
Empathy and understanding for a child or young people with SEN.
Great communication skills with the ability to provide clear, concise and effective written and verbal communication.
Great organisational skills as SENCOs will manage daily responsibilities with long term plans and schedules.
The ability to influence school strategy and policy.
Problem solving skills.
Great leadership skills to inspire and motivate fellow colleagues to be fully committed to supporting pupils with SEN.
Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
The ability to successfully manage multiple cases and competing demands at once. A good SENCO will be able to balance and prioritise their workload efficiently.
Great emotional intelligence to recognise and respond sensitively to the needs of the child or young person with SEN - and their parents or guardian.
A good understanding of the importance of working in partnership with a number of different parties to secure the best outcome.
A strong commitment to raising educational attainment for children or young people with SEN.
Commitment to providing a strong level of support.
Commitment to improving services when needed.
The ability to ensure the right decisions are made to ensure the needs of a child or a young person with SEN are met.
Great negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
Commitment to continued professional development.
Who employs a SENCO?
The majority of SENCOs work in the public sector within mainstream schools. This includes early years, primary, secondary and further education.
SENCOs can also be found within academies, private schools and alternative education provision such as Pupil Referral Units (PRUs).
What is the average salary of a SENCO?
The average salary of a SENCO ranges from £35,000 to £50,000 per annum.
Due to the higher cost of living, the average salary for a full-time SENCO in London is between £45,000 to £70,000 per annum.
However, this can vary depending on factors such as the size and type of school, the SENCO's experience, and other benefits or allowances that the school may offer.