Non-class based primary SENDCo. Can anyone tell me the good bits?

[parrotonmyshoulder]

I’m applying for a post. I’d like to hear some positive stories as a boost before writing my statement today. I’ve been told lots of negatives by teacher friends, but not of them are actually doing the role.
Any nice bits of your job you can share? Thanks.

Actually having time to spend with the children, parents, TAs and do the paperwork! I went back into the classroom “temporarily” 5 years ago and I know the SEND work took the hit.
I used to have a lot more time to research new ideas and strategies rather than relying on the ones we already have in place. I could talk a lot more to parents, really useful during the day so we could talk openly without children feeling embarrassed (esp if there are personal care issues as the children get older) or needing to rush home.
I love teaching my class, but I really miss tge time that arrangement gave me.

Thank you. Do you think the downsides often associated with being a SENDCo are mostly to so with lack of time to actually do the job then?

Yes, definitely. I think the job itself is very important (obviously!) and can be greatly rewarding. But I look back on the times when I could chase up outreach (chasing up anything actually- sometimes phoning/ emailing several times a week), write referrals, run decent assessments and sit with parents to explain what we are doing properly.
I want my parents to understand what is happening and this takes hours of meetings. I hate rushing them.

It's fab. You get to observe and support and really get to know the pupils and teachers. You need time, time, time to do the job properly. Most of the job is hidden so people don't see what you do. There is tons of paperwork so if you cannot type, be efficient with paperwork then it'd not the job for you. You learn new things everyday and keeping up to date with new develpoments in neurodiversity is very interesting. Lots and lots and lots of meetings. You are that child's advocate - school mum, if you like and sometimes you can be a lone voice in the wilderness. It can be quite lonely. You don't get people to bounce ideas off. A lot depends on how on board SLT are. Then there are the TAs. Will you be managing them? There is always one who has been doing the job for eleventy billion years who will not change and won't undertake any new schemes.