The SENDCo will play a pivotal strategic and operational role in ensuring high‑quality provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities across the school and, where appropriate, the wider trust. As a member of the extended Senior Leadership Team, the post holder will lead the development, implementation and evaluation of SEND policy and practice, ensuring statutory responsibilities are met and that all students with SEND are supported to achieve their full potential.

Working collaboratively with senior leaders, teachers, support staff, parents/carers and external agencies, the SENDCo will oversee effective identification, assessment and provision for students with SEND. The role requires strong leadership, excellent communication skills and a commitment to inclusive practice, with a focus on removing barriers to learning, improving wellbeing, and securing strong educational outcomes for all SEND students.

At Shelley College, you will be part of a friendly, ambitious and high‑performing school community where staff are valued and encouraged to grow. This is a rewarding opportunity to inspire students, develop your practice and play a key role in their academic and personal success.

The Ideal Candidate will:

Be a qualified teacher with strong knowledge and understanding of SEND legislation, guidance and best practice
Demonstrate proven ability to lead and manage SEND provision effectively at a whole‑school level
Have experience (or the clear potential) to strategically evaluate, develop and improve SEND practice and outcomes
Be skilled in analysing data to monitor progress, inform interventions and evaluate impact
Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with staff, families and external agencies
Be committed to high expectations, inclusion and safeguarding, placing students’ wellbeing at the centre of decision‑making
Have the ability to coach, support and develop staff through CPD, training and line management
Show resilience, organisation and the capacity to manage competing priorities effectively
Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development, including undertaking the National Award for SENCO if not already achieved
Act as a positive role model, upholding the trust’s values and professional standards at all time

Overall Purpose of the role:

The post will require you to work in partnership with leaders and staff across the school &/or MAT to:
Strategically develop, implement and evaluate the SEND policy and provision as part of the extended Senior Leadership Team
Support all staff in identifying, assessing and planning to meet the needs of all students who are identified as SEND
Develop and embed specialist provision for students with recognised special educational needs
Liaise with parents/carers and a range of specialists and agencies to plan and evaluate provision, including preparing and reviewing formal documentation on behalf of students
Effectively and efficiently deploy resources to meet the other accountabilities

Safeguarding Requirement:

This post requires the post holder to work in settings with children and young adults. Any employment offer is therefore subject to the results of an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). People who may have contact with younger children (i.e. primary school age) are also required to complete a declaration about family or other members of their household.

Applicants will be required to provide evidence of identity and qualifications and offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references. For applicants who work or have recently worked in a school, one of the references must be from the Head.

Key outputs:

Work with the Senior Leadership Team to lead on SEND practice across school

Support all staff in understanding the needs of students with SEND

Monitor the progress of SEND students against agreed objectives and targets, including the review of EHCPs.

Working with the Assistant Principal Curriculum, oversee an ambitious, but accessible curriculum for all SEND students

Working with leaders and teachers provide the support, coaching and training to deliver an exceptional Quality of Education for SEND students

Liaise with staff, parents, external agencies and other schools to provide maximum support and ensure continuity of provision for SEND students

Work with relevant staff to develop effective ways of removing barriers to learning for students with SEND through:

Early and effective assessment of needs

Monitoring of teaching, learning and student progress

Liaising closely with the pastoral and safeguarding teams

Target setting, including provision and revision of plans

Undertake the day-to-day co-ordination of SEND students’ provisions through close liaison with staff, parents and external agencies

Advise on and contribute to the professional development of staff, including whole school CPD

Oversee the Quality Assurance of SEND provision across school, and use outcomes to drive continued improvement

Advise the Principal &/or line manager of priorities for expenditure and deployment of staff, and utilise resources with maximum efficiency

Co-ordinate all annual and interim reviews and attend / chair meetings when necessary

Provide leadership and management of whole school SEND provision, including training.

Make sure that consistent and meaningful information is used and monitored effectively to raise the well-being and outcomes for SEND student

Keep up to date with educational SEND publications and the Ofsted inspection framework

Help colleagues that you line manage to produce their own personal development plan. Review progress towards objectives consistently within the school’s framework

Hold the staff that you manage accountable for performance against their objectives and wider professional performance

Attend such meetings as may be required with SLT, Principal or governor

To undertake any other duties associated with the role, as may be decided by the Principal

Expertise in role required:

Essential

Qualified Teacher Status
Degree or equivalent
Evidence of continuing professional development and a willingness to undertake further training, including National Award for SENCO if not already achieved
Good working knowledge of the OFSTED framework and other measures for evaluating the performance of a school.
Evidence of/potential to become an excellent classroom practitioner, capable of inspiring students and forming good relationships with colleagues
Able to monitor and evaluate impact of interventions and strategies.
Excellent communication skills.
Excellent behaviour management skills.
Commitment to the safeguarding of young people.
Ability to coach and develop others
Able to successfully lead others, identifying clear priorities, communicating effectively and supporting improvements.

Other (physical, mobility, local conditions)

Is willing to work flexibly within scope of overall hours, e.g. evening meetings.
Good role model in terms of promoting trust aims and values, together with professional standards for teachers and leaders.
Willing to work at different trust schools sites for short or medium term placements.

Desirable

Master’s level National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
Successful leadership experience at a significant (e.g. whole-school) level
Able to analyse data with a view to developing strategies to improve the provision and outcomes for SEND students

In order to be considered for interview, you must fully complete the online application form through MyNewTerm website (https://mynewterm.com/) and demonstrate your ability to meet the requirements of the job by giving clear, concise examples of how you meet each criterion. Any applications that do not demonstrate how your abilities, skills and experience meet the requirements of the role or any applications that have incomplete sections, unanswered questions or ‘please see CV’ will not be taken through to the shortlisting stage.

Please contact the team at Shelley College at shelley.recruitment@sharemat.co.uk if you have any questions with regard to this vacancy or if you need any support in making an application.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to enhanced DBS disclosure, and a 'prohibition from teaching' check will be completed for all applicants.

We are committed to Equal Opportunities and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and characteristics.

SENDCO

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