About Us:

Alderman Pounder Infant and Nursery School is a vibrant school where we believe that every child deserves to thrive in an inclusive and supportive environment, placing them at the centre of everything we do. We are proud of our warm, welcoming ethos and strong sense of community, where every child is supported to achieve their very best.

Our dedicated staff team works collaboratively to create an environment where curiosity is encouraged, individuality is celebrated, and learning is brought to life through a rich, broad, and balanced curriculum. We place high importance on wellbeing, both for our children and our staff, and are committed to nurturing a positive, purposeful culture in which everyone can thrive.

As part of Flying High Trust, we benefit from a wide network of support, professional development opportunities, and a shared vision for excellence in education.

We are looking to appoint a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) with class teacher responsibility. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a deep understanding of inclusion and a passion for SEND, who is ready to contribute to strategic leadership while continuing to make a difference in the classroom. If you're looking to be part of a forward-thinking school, have a strong team spirit, and have a deep commitment to continuous improvement, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role: 

As our SENDCO, you will be responsible for leading SEND provision and practice across the school, ensuring that the needs of all learners are met. You will play a key role in shaping our inclusive culture by implementing and monitoring systems, supporting colleagues, and liaising with families and external professionals to ensure that every child can thrive. Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you will teach for part of the week, delivering high-quality and engaging lessons that inspire children and model exceptional practice to the wider team.

This role would be well-suited to a current Assistant SENCO or an experienced teacher with knowledge of SEND looking for the next step on their leadership journey.

SEND Coordination:

• Develop and oversee the implementation of the school's SEND strategy and policy.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date SEND records, including the SEND register, provision maps, and pupil profiles.
• Coordinate and monitor the progress and outcomes of students with SEND.
• Liaise with parents, teachers, and external agencies to provide the best support for students.
• Deliver training to staff on SEND issues and strategies.

Class Teacher Responsibilities:

• Plan, prepare, and deliver high-quality lessons that cater to the diverse needs of all children in the class.
• Create a stimulating and supportive learning environment that fosters children's curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.
• Assess and track progress, providing feedback to support their ongoing development.
• Foster a positive classroom culture that promotes respect, inclusion, and positive behaviour management.
• Collaborate with colleagues to enhance the curriculum and share best practices for teaching and learning.
• Fulfil the professional responsibilities of a teacher as outlined in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document and meet the expectations in the Teachers’ Standards.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a consistently strong classroom practitioner, who believes in each child and has high aspirations for their achievement.
• Brings energy, enthusiasm, a positive outlook, and a genuine passion for inclusive, values-led education.
• Has a strong understanding of the learning process and uses this to overcome barriers for vulnerable groups of children, including those with SEND.
• Possesses a strong understanding of SEND legislation and best practices.
• Has or is willing to work towards the NPQ for SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators).
• Holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Has great ideas and is eager to share them!
• Is committed to continually developing as a facilitator of learning including engaging with new ideas and research.
• Delights in working with children and puts their well-being at the heart of everything.
• Sincerely values every member of the school community.
• Has the ability to make learning fun and engaging, ensuring all children are appropriately challenged.
• Is prepared to go the extra mile to ensure every child gets an exceptional offer!

We can offer you:

• Peer support and collaboration through a strong network of SENDCOs, Pupil Premium Champions and other leaders across the Partnership, including regular Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to share strategies, challenges, and successes.
• Guidance and expertise from a dedicated Lead Practitioner for Inclusion, Inclusion and System Leader, Safeguarding Lead, and the wider Education Team, providing support to strengthen inclusive practice.
• A balance of class responsibility and leadership time, tailored to school needs.
• A commitment to people across our partnership, underpinned by our people principles: adaptability, wellness, recognising achievement, employee voice and engagement, professional development and growth, inclusivity, and collaboration.
• Access to extensive, high-quality CPL at every stage of your career, including opportunities to grow as a leader.
• The opportunity to progress across the partnership, realising your career ambitions.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme, offering specialist support including counselling, financial support, and legal advice.
• A fantastic working environment, with a team that works together for the benefit of the children in our schools.

Application Details:

Visits are warmly welcomed and encouraged. Please contact the school office team to arrange a visit. 

Early application is strongly encouraged, as we reserve the right to close the advert ahead of the closing date. 

This is a full-time position, but we are open to conversations around flexible/part-time working. 

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applicants. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.