The role of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is pivotal in determining the strategic development of the SEND policy and provision in school. The SENCO enables children with SEND to achieving their full potential. It is a complex and far reaching role that can at times require additional support.
The role of the SENCO involves collaboration with school staff, parents/carers, the governing body, and a wide range of outside agencies from both health and education sectors. The SENCO seeks to develop effective ways of overcoming barriers to learning and sustaining effective teaching through the analysis and assessment of children’s needs and by setting targets for improvement.
The key responsibilities of the SENCO may include:
Overseeing the day-to-day operation of the school’s SEN policy
Coordinating provision for children with special educational needs
Liaising with and advising fellow teachers
Managing learning support assistants
Overseeing the records of all children with special educational needs
Liaising with parents of children with special educational needs
Contributing to the in-service training of staff
Liaising with external agencies including the LEA’s support and educational psychology services, health and social services, and voluntary bodies.
Inclusion Solutions advisory teachers can support SENCOs with a wide variety of these everyday tasks, guiding them through challenges that the SENCO may feel less confident with. These tasks may include preparation for statutory assessment, completion of the ‘All about me profiles’, requesting additional equipment from county, advice on conduction annual reviews and the paperwork, ensuring the SEND in a school is OFSTED ready, completing provision maps and applying for exam concessions – to name a few.
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