SENDCo (Special Education Needs and Disabilities Coordinator)

Job purpose:

To provide strategic leadership and operational management of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision across the Academy, ensuring excellence, equity, and inclusion for all pupils. The SENDCo will play a key role in driving whole-school improvement, securing outstanding outcomes for pupils with SEND, and upholding the Catholic mission of the school and Trust.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Key Responsibilities
• Strategic Leadership (Whole-School Impact)
• Lead and implement a whole-school SEND strategy aligned with the School Improvement Plan and Trust priorities.
• Act as a key member of the middle leadership structure, contributing to policy, self-evaluation, and school development.
• Champion inclusion, ensuring SEND is embedded across curriculum design, teaching, and assessment.
• Analyse whole-school data to identify trends, gaps, and priorities for SEND pupils.
• Quality of Education
• Drive high-quality adaptive teaching across all departments to meet the needs of SEND learners.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of teaching, interventions, and provision on pupil outcomes.
• Lead staff training and professional development to improve inclusive classroom practice.
• Ensure ambitious expectations and curriculum access for all SEND pupils.
• Operational Leadership of SEND
• Oversee identification, assessment, and provision for all pupils with SEND.
• Maintain robust systems for SEND records, provision mapping, and compliance.
• Lead EHCP processes, annual reviews, and statutory responsibilities.
• Ensure full compliance with the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and relevant legislation.
• Line Management & Team Leadership
• Line manage and deploy Learning Support Assistants and SEND support staff effectively.
• Build a high-performing SEND team through coaching, support, and performance management.
• Ensure efficient and impactful use of SEND funding and resources.
• Partnerships & Community
• Develop strong, supportive relationships with parents and carers.
• Lead engagement with external agencies and professionals.
• Represent the school at multi-agency and Trust-level SEND forums.
• Safeguarding, Inclusion & Ethos
• Promote the safeguarding, wellbeing, and dignity of all pupils, particularly the most vulnerable.
• Embed the Catholic ethos in all aspects of SEND provision, promoting inclusion, compassion, and respect.
• Ensure SEND pupils are fully included in the spiritual and wider life of the school.
• Trust-Wide Contribution
• Work collaboratively with SENDCos across the Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust.
• Contribute to Trust-wide SEND development, moderation, and shared practice.
• Support wider school improvement where appropriate.