SENCo

Overview and Responsibilities

SENCo – Aurora Ivy Lane School

Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire  

Hours: 40 hours per week

Salary: £30,000 - £46,525 (M1 - UPS3)

Closing date: Tuesday 30th July at 12 noon

Aurora Ivy Lane School

Aurora Ivy Lane School is a 'Good' (Ofsted, October 2023) rated innovative provider of specialist education, supporting young people aged 11 - 19 with complex needs including autism, moderate and severe learning disabilities; speech, language, communication and interaction needs and behaviours that can challenge.

We are currently seeking an experienced SEN Coordinator to join our growing school.

Key Duties:

Teaching and Learning

• Monitor teaching and learning activities to meet the needs of SEN pupils and track data for the purposes of Annual Reviews general School reporting
• Liaise with other schools to ensure continuity of support and learning when transferring SEN pupils
• Promote best practice and contribute to the aims and ethos of the school through Inset and CPD for new teachers

Recording and Assessment

• Set targets for raising achievement among all pupils
• Collate and present assessment and performance data and share with staff and other professionals where appropriate
• Set up systems for identifying, reviewing and monitoring need. This includes the management (chairing) of Annual Reviews for EHCPs
• Update the SLT on the effectiveness of the provision and delivery of SEN provision
• Keep parents informed about their child's progress through individual meetings and at parents’ evenings

Leadership

• Ensure all members of staff are able to recognise and fulfil their statutory responsibilities to SEN pupils
• Provide training opportunities for teaching assistants and teachers to learn about SEN, including whole-school Inset
• Disseminate good practice in SEN across the school
• Identify resources needed to meet the needs of SEN pupils and make recommendations to the SLT for appropriate spends
• Work with the SLT on the strategic development of SEN, including reviewing and formulating policies
• To work with key staff on developing the effectiveness of transition arrangements and integration into provision post school.
• Liaise with the outside professionals and manage/disseminate to staff their reporting
• To keep abreast of developments in SEN (e.g. research, changes to the law)
• To attend appropriate training, CPD and conferences and provide feedback to colleagues
• Lead Inset on SEN as needed across the school
• Undertake SEN self-evaluation, contributing to the school SEF and Quality Improvement Plan
• To complete the SENCO qualification within 3 years of appointment to the post.

Other Responsibilities

• To willingly undertake any reasonable task requested by the Head teacher and take part in the duties and extra-curricular activities of this busy school

For the full job description please contact Kirsty from the recruitment team kirsty.wilkinson@the-aurora-group.com

Skills and Qualifications

Qualifications: 

• PGCE, QTS, or equivalent teaching qualification and evidence of in-service training
• SENCO qualifications preferred or teacher working in special school and willingness to undertake SENCO qualification

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Relevant knowledge and experience of pupils with SEN and SEND Code of Practice
• Understanding of the Safeguarding principles and Child Protection procedures
• Experience of managing a range of approaches to behaviour, including managing behaviours that challenge

Skills: 

• Commitment to the role, the desire to put children first and treat them as individuals
• Be positive and creative in meeting students’ needs
• Work on your own as well as part of a team
• Work collaboratively with other staff and professionals with good interpersonal skills
• Good numeracy and literacy skills
• Competent ICT skills.

Benefits and Additional Information

Be part of our successful team and also benefit from a generous package that includes:

• Life assurance
• Competitive pension
• Perkbox - offering high street discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Car lease scheme
• Fully funded training and qualifications
• Bike to work scheme
• Free membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more.

How to apply:

Please complete a full online application form. If you would like assistance in completing this application form or more information on this position, please contact Kirsty in the Recruitment Team at kirsty.wilkinson@the-aurora-group.com

We encourage visits prior to application – please get in touch to arrange.

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.