Deputy SENCo - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator

The Falkland Islands Department of Education is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic, inspiring and experienced Deputy Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (Deputy SENCo) to join our team in August 2025. This is an exciting opportunity to work with the SENCO to lead, manage, develop and maintain high quality special educational needs provision and effective use of resources, in order to enable quality teaching, excellent progress and learning outcomes for students aged 3 – 16 in the Falkland Island Schools.

We are a value-led organisation, with high ambitions for all students and staff. The values that underpin our work are Respect, Resilience and Curiosity. 

Our Primary section, the Infant Junior School and Camp Education (IJS&CE), has 320 pupils aged from 3 to 11 years. The majority are located at the main school site in the capital, Stanley; 25 of our primary students live in rural locations and attend either small satellite schools or home-based educational settings.

Our Secondary section, the Falkland Islands Community School (FICS), has 232 pupils in the 11-16 age range. An Executive Headteacher, Principal of Primary, and Principal of Secondary lead the schools. Both schools have a staffing complement which includes a SENCo, Deputy SENCo, senior leaders, middle leaders and a team of teachers and support staff, including Special Educational Needs teachers and Learning Support Assistants. Students with special educational needs have a range of needs in four broad categories of cognition and learning; communication and interaction; sensory and/or physical needs; social and emotional and mental health needs. The SEND departments in both schools are well resourced and each have a ‘hub’ classroom for learners with complex special educational needs.

The Deputy SENCo will support the SENCo to be responsible for supporting all aspects of provision and intervention strategies in mainstream and specialist teaching settings within the 3 – 16 age range. The schools aim to match student’s provision to their learning needs and ensure that all students are supported and challenged to reach their potential. Applicants for the post will be experienced and have up-to-date relevant knowledge within the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities field. The successful candidate will join a dedicated team and work across all of our settings. Cross phase working supports student outcomes and curriculum development across the 3-16 age range. 

It is our aim that all students are supported to reach their potential and leave as happy, curious and well-rounded individuals with the knowledge, skills and qualifications they need for the next stage in their lives. Our students are at the centre of all that we do as a school.

We are seeking to recruit a Deputy SENCo who:

• can support and inspire teachers and learning support assistants to make a positive impact by focusing on high quality teaching and learning to ensure children with additional needs achieve their potential

• can demonstrate successful experience teaching students with a wide variety of additional needs working across the ability spectrum and is able to support the design of bespoke programmes for life skills, functional level numeracy and literacy, as well as supporting the students to enable them to access other mainstream subjects;

• is a graduate with qualified teacher status and at least 3 years' successful teaching experience 

• can demonstrate relevant qualifications to support the role 

• is very organised and solutions-focused

• has excellent knowledge of one key stage in the 3-16 age range of the National Curriculum for England and a good understanding of the others

• can demonstrate a good understanding of the SEN Code of Practice

• is up to date with the latest SEND trends, policies and provision

• can facilitate effective team work with colleagues, adopting a coaching and mentoring style

• has excellent interpersonal skills 

• possesses good IT skills 

• is able to contribute to the wider life of the school community including PSHCE, pastoral care and extra curriculum opportunities.

The Package:

• A stimulating and supportive working environment with enthusiastic children who are keen to learn

• £45,244 (for applicants with 5 years experience)

• Eligibility for a 25% gratuity payable upon satisfactory completion of the contract

• Favourable income tax rates

• Airfare for post holder and dependants at the beginning and end of contract, as well as return airfares after every full year of the contract

• Relocation grant

• accommodation to rent

• free education locally for dependent children to GCSE level and possible allowance for overseas studies thereafter

• fixed term contract of either 2, 3 or 4 years, with the option to renew on local terms

• detailed information about life in the Falkland Islands

• a unique and beautiful environment to live and work

School Websites: 

https://www.secondary.ac.fk/ 

https://www.primary.ac.fk/ 

Applicants can download an application form and apply via this page.

Interviews will be held by video conference. More details about an interview task will be provided to shortlisted applicants.

To apply, please complete an application form by downloading the form via this page.

The closing date for this position is Thursday 13th December 2024. We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date.