Assistant SENCO

Leigh Academy Blackheath (LAB) is a co-educational 11-19 Outstanding comprehensive school, located in Blackheath, Royal Borough of Greenwich. LAB is also an International Baccalaureate World School, delivering the highly regarded Middle Years Programme at KS3, and will open its new P16 provision - LAB16, in September 2023.

‘Pupils behave exceptionally well. Classrooms are calm places where pupils can focus on their learning’ - OFSTED December 2022

We believe that every learner is entitled to an enriching, varied and personalised education; delivered through a broad and balanced curriculum that provides challenge, irrespective of need, starting point or background. If you are as passionate about achieving this as we are, and have the drive and determination to ensure all students realise their full potential, we invite you to join our team.

‘Staff are proud to work at this school where everyone’s contribution is valued’ - OFSTED December 2022.

We have an exciting opportunity to appoint an Assistant SENCO in a non-teaching capacity to assist in managing the provision for pupils identified as having Special Educational Needs (SEN). The overarching purpose of this role is to promote high quality teaching, effective use of resources, and high standards of learning and achievement for all pupils. The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, flexible, well organised and able to work as part of a team as well as having the ability to work alone when required. This role is ideal for candidates currently working in a classroom support position, keen to progress within the SEN remit and take on more responsibility. Our appointed Assistant SENCo will also take on the role of Wellbeing Lead.

Key responsibilities include;

• To assist the SENCO in leading the provision for SEN within school
• To manage appropriate resources for Special Needs and Learning Support and ensure that they are used efficiently, effectively and safely
• To develop curriculum resources to ensure that pupils identified as having SEN have the required levels of support
• To support the SENCO in managing an inclusive curriculum
• Within the context of the academy’s aims and policies, to work with the SENCO to develop and implement intervention groups and support
• To provide all those with involvement in Special Needs and Learning Support the support, challenge, information and development necessary to sustain motivation and secure improvement in learning
• To support learning of students as allocated by the SENCO and in coordination with Directors of Learning
• To manage and maintain provision maps
• Coordinate access arrangements for pupils during all necessary exams

This is a permanent role offering an actual salary £30,458 - £31,409 per annum (£33,054 - £34,086 full-time equivalent) commensurate with experience. This will be 8:00am - 4:00pm on Monday - Friday with a 3:30pm finish on a Wednesday with a 30 minute lunch break.

Working at Leigh Academy Blackheath: We are a co-educational 11-18yr comprehensive school and, already oversubscribed, our new school is a beacon of excellence for secondary education in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. We are driven by the belief that every learner is entitled to an enriching, varied and personalised education; delivered through a broad and balanced curriculum that provides challenge, irrespective of need, starting point or background. Our mission is to ensure all our students develop into powerful citizens of the digital future on both a national and global scale.

Our strong learning community works together and shares the value of collaboration; every member of our academy family works together to achieve success, cultivating a strong sense of belonging. Our belief in ‘human-scale’ education, delivered through a schools-within-schools model, ensures every one of our students is known and valued. Strong pastoral care is at the heart of our academy and we place great importance on building strong partnerships with parents and carers.

Since opening in September 2018, Leigh Academy Blackheath (LAB) has established itself as the local community’s preferred choice for their child’s secondary education. We have received over 1,000 applications for this September’s 180 Year 7 places, with nearly 300 first choice preferences. It is an exciting time to be joining our learning community.

At LAB, everything we do is built upon our core values of: Respect, Integrity, Ambition, Scholarship and Resilience. We are a strong team and work hard together to ensure every student realises their full potential. Staff have access to a wide range of professional development opportunities both within the academy and across Leigh Academies Trust (LAT). A flexible approach with a can-do ethos is required, as is drive, grit and boundless enthusiasm. A sense of humour is essential!

Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.

Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.