Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) – NEST Provision
About This Role
Newhaven School is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, motivated and inspiring SENCO to join our NEST (Newhaven Education Support Team) provision, based at our Gardens site.
NEST is a specialist setting supporting secondary-aged students who are unable to attend mainstream education due to severe and enduring mental health difficulties. All students are supported by CAMHS, and our aim is to provide a bridge to help them overcome barriers to learning.
Working closely with the Head of NEST and Pastoral Team, you will lead on raising standards across all four areas of SEND and ensure the effective integration of SEN policy into the daily life of the provision, with a strong focus on trauma-informed practice and mental health.
Key Responsibilities
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Provide a clear vision for SEN provision and lead improvements in areas such as social communication and student confidence -
Ensure all statutory requirements for EHCPs and the SEN register are met and regularly reviewed -
Monitor and evaluate teaching and learning strategies, including specialist approaches for students with Autism -
Lead and manage complex student transitions (into, within, and beyond Newhaven) -
Work closely with external agencies, parents and borough colleagues to provide holistic support -
Build strong relationships with families in crisis and support SEN-related applications, including PIPs and transport
We are looking for a candidate who:
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Is resilient, empathetic and passionate about supporting vulnerable young people -
Has a strong understanding of trauma-informed practice -
Holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and the National Award for SEN Coordination -
Has experience supporting students with mental health and social communication needs -
Can effectively motivate and regulate students who may display challenging behaviour or school avoidance -
Is a confident communicator, able to lead and contribute to multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) -
Demonstrates creativity in developing visual supports and social communication strategies
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Source: UK Teaching Vacancies Service (teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.