SENCO ROLE

The SENCO, under the direction of the headteacher, will:

Determine the strategic development of special educational needs (SEN) policy and provision in the school

Be responsible for day-to-day operation of the SEN policy and co-ordination of specific provision to support individual pupils with SEN or a disability

Provide professional guidance to colleagues, working closely with staff, parents and other agencies

Duties and responsibilities

Strategic development of SEN policy and provision

• Have a strategic overview of provision for pupils with SEN or a disability across the school, monitoring and reviewing the quality of provision
• Contribute to school self-evaluation, particularly with respect to provision for pupils with SEN or a disability
• Make sure the SEN policy is put into practice and its objectives are reflected in the school improvement plan (SIP)
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of national and local initiatives that may affect the school’s policy and practice
• Evaluate whether funding is being used effectively, and suggest changes to make use of funding more effective

Operation of the SEN policy and co-ordination of provision

• Maintain an accurate SEND register and provision map
• Provide guidance to colleagues on teaching pupils with SEN or a disability, and advise on the graduated approach to SEN support
• Advise on the use of the school’s budget and other resources to meet pupils’ needs effectively, including staff deployment
• Be aware of the provision in the local offer
• Work with early years providers, other schools, educational psychologists, health and social care professionals and other external agencies
• Be a key point of contact for external agencies, especially the local authority (LA)
• Analyse assessment data for pupils with SEN or a disability
• Implement and lead intervention groups for pupils with SEN, and evaluate their effectiveness