SENCO (1 year maternity cover)

Overview

The Sandon School is a popular 11-18 mixed comprehensive of 1275 students with an excellent reputation in the local area. We have superb facilities and view ourselves as an innovative teaching and learning community. The school is situated close to the A12 on the east side of Chelmsford within easy reach of Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend and Brentwood and has good public transport links.

We are seeking to appoint from September 2025, a well-qualified, enthusiastic SENCO to join a strong and supportive department. The department is well-resourced and benefits from the support of a dedicated team. The role is suitable for experienced colleagues with a SENCO qualification. This role does not have a teaching timetable. Part-time will be considered for the right candidate.

We offer:

Excellent access to ICT facilities
A friendly and supportive staff
A commitment to continuous professional development
Use of gym facilities

We are seeking:

An excellent and innovative classroom practitioner
Excellent administrative and organisation skills
A confident and competent user of ICT systems

Further information can be found in this information pack. If you have any additional queries, or would like to arrange a visit, please contact Recruitment by emailing recruitment@sandon.essex.sch.uk.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Appointments will be subject to references and enhanced DBS checks.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early and encourage candidates to complete and return applications as soon as possible

Job Details

SENCO (1 Year maternity fixed)

Salary: MPS/UPS + TLR1B £11,620

Responsible to: Headteacher

Hours: Full time

Responsible for: SEND Department

Corporate Responsibilities:

To ensure that the responsibilities of the role are carried out in a way that reflects the vision and values of the school.

To be aware of and observe all policies, procedures, working practices and regulations, and in particular, to comply with policies relating to Child Protection, Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, Confidentiality, Data Protection and Financial Regulations, reporting any concerns to an appropriate person.

To contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
To comply with all reasonable management requests.
Strategic Leadership:
To be accountable for the strategic direction, leadership and management of curriculum support, the development of special needs policies, plans and targets within the context of the school aims and policies.
To lead, manage and oversee the operation of the school’s SEND strategy and policy in accordance with the published national SEN policy and the SEND code of practice 2014. Ensure the school is compliant with SEND legislation and requirements and to keep up to date with best practice from SEND networks.
To provide reports for the Governing Body as required by statute.
To coordinate provision for individual students with additional needs and to oversee day to day provision
To work with the SLT lead for Inclusion to produce an annual SEND Development Plan in an agreed format, reviewed in line with the School Improvement Plan
To oversee records on all students with additional needs
To work closely with parents and carers to ensure student needs are met.
To support the school ethos, playing a full part in the life of the school, and to be a positive role model

Operational/Strategic Planning:

To lead the development of appropriate syllabuses, resources, schemes of work, marking policies, assessment and teaching and learning strategies in the department.
The day-to-day management, control and operation of identified course provision within the department, including effective deployment of staff and physical resources.
To actively monitor and intervene in student progress.
To work with classroom teachers, the learning support team, parents and relevant external agencies to develop, implement and monitor individual support/learning plans.
To provide regular updates on student progress through written reports and meetings with parents, including pastoral reintegration meetings, where appropriate. To confidently know the progress and predictions of SEND students.
To meet regularly with pastoral key pastoral staff to discuss and identify plans for specific students who may have additional needs.
Where necessary lead early help assessments (EHSs), for students who have additional needs.
To make referrals and liaise with professionals outside the school eg psychologists, health and social care providers, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.
To implement School Policies and Procedures, e.g. Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, etc.
To work closely with the Leadership Team, Heads of Department and Heads of Year to improve the progress and achievement of SEND students across the school and to support students who are becoming disengaged or at risk of exclusion.
To work with colleagues to formulate aims, objectives and strategic plans for the department which have coherence and relevance to the needs of students and to the aims, objectives and strategic plans of the school.
To lead and manage the business planning function of the department, and to ensure that the planning activities of the department reflect the needs of students within the subject area, SIP and the aims and objectives of the school.
To ensure that Health and Safety policies and practices, including Risk Assessments, throughout the Department are in-line with national requirements and are updated where necessary, therefore liaising with the School’s Health and Safety Manager.
To work closely with the exams officer and key staff to ensure access arrangements are in place and contribute to the auditing for JCQ.

Curriculum:

To ensure the delivery of an appropriate, comprehensive, high quality and cost-effective curriculum programme which complements the School Improvement Plan/School Evaluation.
To be accountable for the development and delivery of the curriculum area within the school.
To actively monitor and respond to curriculum development and initiatives at national, regional and local levels.
To maintain accreditation with the relevant examination and validating bodies.

Recruitment/Deployment of Staff:

To help co-ordinate staff training on SEND issues so as to ensure first quality teaching. To play a key role in coaching and training staff, by modelling and sharing best practice. To exemplify and model best practice in your own teaching
To undertake and maintain safeguarding training and to work with the DSL and other safeguarding leads where necessary.
To effectively line manage and deploy support staff within curriculum support and across the school.
To undertake Appraisal(s) and to act as reviewer for a group of staff within the designated department.
To promote teamwork and to motivate staff to ensure effective working relations.
To participate in the school’s ITT programme.
To be responsible for the day-to-day management of staff within the department and act as a positive role model.

Quality Assurance:

To support the school in ensuring the effective operation of quality control systems.
To establish the process of the setting of targets within the department and to work towards their achievement.
To establish common standards of practice within the department and develop the effectiveness of teaching and learning styles within the department.
To contribute to the school procedures for lesson observation.
To implement School quality procedures and to ensure adherence to those within the department.
To monitor and evaluate the curriculum area/department in line with agreed School procedures including evaluation against quality standards and performance criteria.
To seek and implement modification and improvement where required.
To ensure that the department’s quality procedures meet the requirements of Self Evaluation and the Strategic Plan.
To participate in the school’s quality assurance cycle.

Management of Information:

To ensure the maintenance of accurate and up-to-date information concerning the department on the management information system.
To evaluate performance data provided.
To identify and take appropriate action on issues arising from data, systems and reports, setting deadlines where necessary and reviewing progress on the action taken.
To produce reports within the quality assurance cycle for the department.
To produce reports on examination performance, including the use of value-added data.
To provide the Local Governing Body with relevant information relating to the departmental performance and development.

Communications:

To ensure that all members of the department are familiar with its aims and objectives.
To ensure effective communication/consultation as appropriate with the parents of students.
To liaise with partner schools, higher education, industry, examination boards, awarding bodies and other relevant external bodies.
To represent the department’s views and interests.

Marketing and Liaison:

To contribute to the school liaison and marketing activities, e.g. the collection of material for press releases.
To lead the development of effective subject links with partner schools and the community, attendance where necessary at liaison events in partner schools and the effective promotion of subjects at Open Days/Evenings and other events.
To actively promote the development of effective subject links with external agencies.
To attend appropriate meetings as required.

Management of Resources:

To manage the available resources of space, staff, money and equipment efficiently within the limits, guidelines and procedures laid down, including deploying the department budget, acting as a cost centre holder, requisitioning, organising and maintaining equipment and stock, and keeping appropriate records.
To ensure that the department’s teaching commitments are effectively and efficiently timetabled and roomed.

Pastoral System:

To monitor and support the overall progress and development of students within the department.
To monitor student attendance together with student’s progress and performance in relation to targets set for each individual; ensuring that follow-up procedures are adhered to and that appropriate action is taken where necessary.
To contribute to Work Related Learning and other alternative provision according to school policy.
To ensure the Behaviour Management system is implemented in the department so that effective learning can take place.

Teaching:

To undertake teaching in accordance with the duties of a standard scale teacher, as required.

Additional Duties:

To play a full part in the life of the school community, to support its distinctive mission and ethos and to encourage and ensure staff and students to follow this example.
To undertake any other reasonable duty requested by the Headteacher.
Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified.

Person Specification Qualifications and Training

Qualified teacher status
National Award for SEN Coordination, or a willingness to complete it within 3 years of appointment.
Degree

Teaching experience of at least six years
Experience of working at a whole-school level
Involvement in self-evaluation and development planning
Experience of conducting training/leading INSET
Experience of line management of other staff

Skills and Knowledge

Sound knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice
Understanding of what makes ‘quality first’ teaching, and of effective intervention strategies
Ability to plan and evaluate interventions
Data analysis skills, and the ability to use data to inform provision planning
Effective communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to build effective working relationships
Ability to influence and negotiate
Good record-keeping skills
Commitment to getting the best outcomes for pupils and promoting the ethos and values of the school
Commitment to equal opportunities and securing good outcomes for pupils with SEN or a disability

Salary & Benefits

MPS/UPS + TLR1B £11,620

Supporting documents

Deadline and how to apply

Applicants must complete the application form and submit it to the school by no later than the closing date advertised. All applicants are strongly advised to read the job description and person specification for the post prior to submitting their application.

The Closing date for Applications is Friday 20th June 2025 at Midday.