SENCo role

[Bakingwithmyboys]

I've seen a job going for SENCo, although I've been in the classroom for 14 years, I've not got leadership experience so this would be my first.

I visited the school and really like the feel of it, it's a lot smaller than my current school so the size of it feels nice for a first leadership post.

The role is being offered either 0.8 or full time. DH thinks I should go for it full time having been part time for the last 8 years. I would rather go 0.8 and have a day to sort things out then spend the weekend with my family.

DH thinks I won't be working as much outside of school but obviously there's always more to be done. There is no teaching expectation, but add hock cover as and when it is needed and a bit of doing what is needed around the school.

SENCos do you find yourself doing lots of work outside of school? (This is minus the qualification as that is only for a year).

I'm just trying to work out the impact on my family of 2 boys, 8 and 4.

Is this primary or secondary? Do you know how many EHCPs there are and whether you will have admin support or a deputy SENco? It's a good sign that there is no teaching load.

Yes, non-class based shows a great amount of understanding and respect for the role. Ad hoc cover... this could have pros and cons. A con being if staff absence is an issue you may be put upon meaning you have little time to do your own tasks. From what you have described it sounds good to me. Is the role of DSL also attached?

It's a junior school. 8 classes but 16 EHCPs plus others on the register. I forgot to ask if DSL attached but a few other questions are building up and she was open to me emailing if they did.

The head stated that most cover would be pre planned, me saying I had a lighter week so could do some extra cover. Although they obviously don't have a huge supply budget and it would be the head, deputy and myself providing some cover.

A real family feel to the school which I liked, they had breakout rooms and as I walked around there was a child in a huge plastic box with headphones on on a tablet with an adult next to him (shows they put the children first I took it as anyway).

That sounds awful about the box. Lol. He was sat in it as if it were a boat. Lol.

Your DH saying you should do full time as you won’t be doing much outside school hours suggests he really doesn’t know anything about the role!

Very tired and stressed SENCo here who has spent half term looking for jobs outside education completely :(

I would find out if anything will be taken off the job load if you're 0.8. Otherwise if you go for that, you'll end up trying to do 5 days work in 4! My mum is a SENCO and went down to 4 days and then eventually 3 and it took forever for them to take anything away from her (except half a day's teaching) so she was trying to do 4.5 days work in 3 days. Now they have a second SENCO (who does the SENCO role part time and covers part time) she has a much more manageable workload. She usually works for 1-2 hours at the weekend, nothing in evenings.

A non-teaching SENCO in a school that only has 8 classes sounds very suspicious to me as it's very generous in terms of time

What is the other workload expected ?

DSL
LAC children
ECTs?

There must be something!

Are there lots of children with SEN with no EHCP? These can often take up more time

And yes a child having time out of a class to regulate is no bed thing but my question would be how much of his day is in that room (possibly in a box, possibly not) and how much is with the other children?

Join the club!!! Are there going to be any SENCOs left?? There's a lot of us trying to leave I think.

A non-teaching SENCO in a school that only has 8 classes sounds very suspicious to me as it's very generous in terms of time

@helloisitmeyourelookingfor It doesn’t have to be. We have a non-teaching SENCO for our 9 class school. I obviously don’t know the exact ins and outs of her role but she works 0.8 and is part of SLT and the safeguarding team.

@agirlcandream

That's the point though -your senco is also safeguarding

'Just' senco would be very unusual on those hours

@helloisitmeyourelookingfor I suppose so but she isn’t the DSL or anything - the vast majority of her role is being a SENCO and she does no cover in the school.

The role of DSL can be incredibly time consuming (not in any way downing playing the importance of the role). If it is attached to you role it could be a 'game changer'.

A non-teaching SENCO in a school that only has 8 classes sounds very suspicious to me as it's very generous in terms of time

Me too.
I am also presuming that if they are paying a full salary to someone when they are also happy to think you can do the role in 4 days, then the 5th day would be cover teaching, not just spreading out your workload a little bit.

There is huge amounts of paperwork involved in the SENCo role, and it depends if they want you to do DSL, B.Co, Managing TAs, etc as well.

However, it is positive that in a small school they are still recognising the importance of the SENCo role.

I'm SENCo in my school and it's a very lonely role. I'm retiring this summer (at 55) and can't wait. You've got to REALLY want to do it!

True, it is a very isolating role. Congrats on your retirement.

I'm SENCo in my school and it's a very lonely role

I agree with this-it really can be.

It is also not often not given the time, pay (many get no extra, eg TLR/allowance) or priority (very few sencos in my area are SLT) it should be awarded.

You are also the point of contact for parents who are frustrated with varying cogs in the system and take it out on you. I have had some vile emails during weekends/holidays this year from parents about things that were totally out of my control.