SENDCO, drowning.

[cheesecurdsandgravy]

Someone throw me a life belt, please?

Storm Arwen knocked out power to my school, so, I’ve spent two days at home using the time productively to catch up on all the paperwork - the paperwork that I’ve always wished I had two days at home to get done.

My husband and child are away, it’s just me here. Nobody has called me to deal with a child they can’t, nobody has knocked on my door for advice, nobody has emailed me with “just a quick question”.

The paperwork is not done, and, having now had the thing I wished for, I realise it never will be done. I have no control over my time or what I have to do in it.

It used to be bearable, because there were so many things I enjoyed about working with the young people directly, or working with other progressional. But now, I resent the things I used to enjoy, because they mean I can’t get through the things that I hate but that have to be done.

Remind me why I do this someone, please?!

Me too. Endless parent meetings, pupils having panic attacks or meltdowns. Bloody JCQ increasing worklad. I don't think I am ever going to finish testing year 9 individual pupils. The paperwork! My SEND list is increasing daily. Oh, and we have inspection looming and I need to deliver an inset. Oh joy. Felt like I was standing in front of an unstoppable wave of need today. Passing you the gin.

I opened staff room to write a similar thread, so have nothing to offer. I’m sorry.
I made the decision in the night to get signed off for a few weeks. I am completely burnt out. My own children are an utter mess and I can’t give anything to them. I dread even coming home because it means I’m not getting the work done. But being at home is not pleasant either as I’m too worn out/ down to even communicate with anyone.
I’m going in to school today to prioritise the essentials so I don’t land colleagues in too much shit. Or at least so they don’t have to look through my desk and realise how crap I am.
Then I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have to fix my family somehow.

Oh no @parrotonmyshoulder what’s wrong with your own kids? Sounds like a really good idea to get signed off.
No useful advice as I’ve never been a SENCO but I do recognise that feeling of being so overwhelmed at work that you can’t even communicate properly at home.

Unfortunately I think the SENCO role has just become unmanageable now. I don't think I'd ever go back to it - it's certainly in no way worth it for the money.

This was me a few years ago, signed off with stress due to it being completely unmanageable alongside teaching some of the week. I now teach in a special needs school and LOVE it. It’s not just you, it’s the role.

I’m not yet at crisis point but agree that the role not what it was 5/10 years ago. I now have zero interactions with children as I spend lol of my time completing paperwork -referrals, reviews, managing budgets etc. My advice is to make a list, prioritise and accept that you will probably never get to the end of your list!

We now have to complete referrals for paediatric assessments ( for possible ASD/adhd diagnosis) as GPS are " too busy". 28 bloody pages!

I feel exactly the same-it’s a never ending ‘to do’ list of bits of paper. Nobody ever comes to speak to me unless there’s a problem with a child they want me to wave a magic wand at and teachers wants numerous children added to the register because they are ‘behind’.

I do think I can do this for much longer. I don’t want to go back in the classroom and teach either though!

@spanieleyes

We now have to complete referrals for paediatric assessments ( for possible ASD/adhd diagnosis) as GPS are " too busy". 28 bloody pages!

This general theme annoyed me when I was a SENCO. Anyone could start an EHCP but doctors always suggested schools did. I didn't have time for this any more than they did - all jobs like this I essentially did on a Saturday in my own time, or I did in PPA and then spent Saturday planning for my class. My brother is a GP and works shorter hours than I do. Why is it always assumed teachers have time? Surely it's obvious we're busy teaching for at least 6 hours of the day?!

Urgh. Yes, the times when Health suggest an EHCP is what’s needed, but that it’s my problem to start the process… even when I have ZERO evidence that whatever the problem is is having any effect on the child’s education OR when whatever the problem is is entirely health (especially mental health, because the GP knows CAMHS is a lost fucking cause!)

Anyway. I’m still alive. Thanks for the life raft. Also, the offer of gin.

I’m definitely gritting my teeth and hanging in for the end of term. Today I received a snot-a-gram from two different LAs because I have declined invites to CLA reviews (I’m also DTCLA) that nobody asked me if I was available for and that have been planned for the 20th and 21st of December. Both at 4:30 fucking PM!!! Gah!

It is a lovely role to have and I felt proud to be a SENCO and advocate. After many years I resigned from the hamster wheel. I felt as though I was getting no where no matter how fast I worked or how many hours I invested. I once wrote thirty EHCP requests in one academic year and carried out forty annual reviews and staff still thought that I should be in class and supporting more. Coupled with an Inclusion Manager with little knowledge or experience and a giant ego I knew when it was time to bow out. Best career decision I ever made. I hope you find a balance but the reality is... an overwhelming amount of paperwork and staff who think they know your role ! Academy or non academy?

@spanieleyes

We now have to complete referrals for paediatric assessments ( for possible ASD/adhd diagnosis) as GPS are " too busy". 28 bloody pages!

Yes, our LA has now decided that it will only accept autism/ ADHD referrals from schools not GPs, and schools must provide 'compelling evidence'.

So, they want us to diagnose them basically? Form is huge and vague and you would really need to know a lot about every different presentation of either condition to be able to provide 'compelling evidence'.

Just adding to this! It's a different job these days isn't it? I'm quite experienced as a SENCO, but now have a job where I look after just short of 100 echps and 2x semh provisions. It's relentless. I'm also on less pay than the head of English. I feel like I'm an administrator. It's not fun any more and I'm permanently exhausted and anxious. I'm supposed to be finishing my masters next year too.

I'm wondering whether to quit. The kids are brilliant (of course!) but most of my contact is with parents and the local authority and I feel I work for them, rather than the kids.

I'm wondering whether to go freelance? Has anyone done this? I'm so institutionalised that I'm scared of life outside schools but I feel there's a lot out there for people with our experience and skill set.

@parrotonmyshoulder

I opened staff room to write a similar thread, so have nothing to offer. I’m sorry. I made the decision in the night to get signed off for a few weeks. I am completely burnt out. My own children are an utter mess and I can’t give anything to them. I dread even coming home because it means I’m not getting the work done. But being at home is not pleasant either as I’m too worn out/ down to even communicate with anyone. I’m going in to school today to prioritise the essentials so I don’t land colleagues in too much shit. Or at least so they don’t have to look through my desk and realise how crap I am. Then I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have to fix my family somehow.

Oh god how I feel for you. I can really see this happening to me too as my own kids are struggling and I feel like I have nothing left in the tank to offer them. I hope you are feeling better.

I am a relatively new SENDCo and have had to cover for a Deputy SENDCo on a long term absence all of this term and teach nearly a 50% timetable of a core secondary subject! 68 EHCPs! I'm glad the term has ended! Hope everyone else is okay and is able to get some rest this break.

@andbreathe555

I am a relatively new SENDCo and have had to cover for a Deputy SENDCo on a long term absence all of this term and teach nearly a 50% timetable of a core secondary subject! 68 EHCPs! I'm glad the term has ended! Hope everyone else is okay and is able to get some rest this break.

Wow! That's shocking! I wonder whether SENCO workload has ever become a union issue? I think we are expected not to complain because we are expected to take the hit out of good will? Honestly, it's absolutely staggering the amount of admin that number of echps generated. School admins aren't expected to teach 50%timetables and yet we are? It's crazy!

Yes indeed! Large secondary with over 2000 on roll, no administrator or deputy SENDCo support at the moment!

Just checking in - how is everyone keeping?