How can I get some senco experience?

[Imsosorryalan]

I've been out of teaching for 3 years as a SAHM. I'm now looking to go back and an happy to volunteer at my dds school to refresh my skills. However, I'd also like to get some senco experience as I'd like to go into this area. Is it possible to speak to the head about this? Will he let me sit in or volunteer to do some senco work or is it too confidential?

I think heads will be reluctant to give you actual SENCo experience. The information involved is highly sensitive and relating to specific children. If you want to eventually become a SENCo you will need a recent proven track record as an effective teacher, including of pupils with a wide range of additional needs. Maybe you could focus on that first?

You would also need to study for a recognised SENCO qualification

Depends what you mean about 'SENCo experience' - if you mean 'working with children with SEN' then I'd expect most schools to be delighted to have a volunteer to give additional support.

If you mean 'find out more about the role' then, once again, most SENCos I know would be very happy to spend time talking to you about what they do, showing you forms, etc - easy enough to bring an IEP onto your computer and remove all trace of the child's name, replacing with 'X' or whatever.
If you do decide to go into it, then you do have to do additional qualification now to become a SENCo, but it's got to help your application if you can show that you've done x/y/z, and have knowledge of a/b/c

Thanks everyone, yes back for good, I just want some general idea on what forms are filled in, target setting, etc. I haven't actually thought of helping in a class as additional support so thanks, I'll look into that too.

I'm a SENCO but also a full time class teacher so much of my actual "form filling" secretarial stuff is done in my own time. There are some general forms (although they change all the time - big changes for Sept 14 expected) but schools also have their own internal systems. BackforGood mentioned IEPs for example which I don't use as we have pupil profiles & provision mapping instead.

you might be interested in this article
www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/oct/16/special-needs-education-children-families-bill