SENDCo Interview and Recruitment Pack

Looking to recruit a new special educational needs and/or disabilities co-ordinator (SENDCo)? Or are you applying for the role?
If you’re wondering how to prepare for the recruitment process or unsure of what tasks and questions to ask at interview to recruit the right candidate for your school, this SENCo Interview Pack can support you throughout the entire process, from advertising to employment.

A comprehensive guidance pack with accompanying templates to help you plan and prepare before the recruitment process begins and supports your thinking throughout the shortlisting, interview and appointment stages.

Included are nine different editable interview tasks plus a wide variety of example interview questions so you can find a brilliant SENDCo for your school. You can select from these tasks and SENDCo interview questions to create a recruitment package that’s tailored to exactly what your school is looking for in a new special educational needs co-ordinator.

In this pack, you’ll explore how to design your recruitment timeline, consider what to include in the SENCo job description and person specification for the role and how to lead and manage an effective shortlisting process, including who to have on your interview panel. We’ve also included some elements to consider to ensure your new SENDCo has a smooth induction into their new role once they begin.

This pack gives an overview of some of your legal responsibilities during recruitment, including what to add and update on your single central record and the necessary pre-employment and safer recruitment checks that need to take place.

While the pack is tailored towards appointing a new SENDCo, it can be used to support the recruitment process for any SEND leadership roles, including assistant SENDCos, deputy SENDCos, SEND strategic leads, trust-wide SEND leads, cluster SEND leads, trainee SENCos or other senior leadership roles, such as a deputy or assistant headteacher, who hold responsbility for SEND and inclusion.

This pack is also available on the Honeyguide SLS website.