Any rules regarding SENCO and head being the same person?

[Mapleleaf3]

School is large, about 500 students. SENCO and head are the same person and I have strong concerns about this, but didn't think there was much at I could do. But somebody today said that with the new SEN framework is direction or similar about how SENCOs should not be heads. Anybody know if this is true? Would love to know more about this. Thanks.

I think they are right, I'm sure that I read it as well......

Ooooo interesting....

Need links, if anybody else has them!

I don't think that's the case- The Education (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) (England) Regulations 2014 make specific reference to the head being a SENCo, but can only find a link to the draft.

Have skimmed the code of practice and found this:

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO): A qualified teacher in a school or maintained nursery school who has responsibility for co-ordinating SEN provision. In a small school, the headteacher or deputy may take on this role. In larger schools there may be a team of SENCOs. Other early years settings in group provision arrangements are expected to identify an individual to perform the role of SENCO and childminders are encouraged to do so, possibly sharing the role between them where they are registered with an agency.

Which seems to imply that, in a big school, it should not be the head. But does not state it outright. Wonder what the definition of a small school is?m