SENCO

[mineisacuppa]

Can I ask any SENCOs what their daily working day is like. Have seen an advert and thinking of having a change of direction from classroom teacher. Thanks

Do you mean in secondary? I'm a SENCO in primary but also a class teacher.

Yes. Secondary. Thank you

This will depend massively on what your cohort is like. Some schools are known for their SEN provision so their SEN population is huge and includes complex EHCPs and a high percentage of them.
What is your experience in Sen?

Not a great deal of experience. But willing to learn

Than much will depend on that specific schools cohort to be honest. I would be surprised if a secondary school is willing to recruit a teacher with no SEN exp for a senco role. You should check what % they have on the register and what sort of provision they offer. You'll be expected to run it. You'll also be expected to know what to do with referrals and how the LEA offer works.

Thank you. That is good advice. I will have a good think about this

You'd also want to read a lot about the specific SEN that your cohort have, so you are getting on towards being as informed as the parents you are dealing with and don't have any old-fashioned preconceptions about the conditions that have since been updated.

Thank you. This is great and I totally aceept your advice

Lots of schools will take on an unqualified SENCO as more people do the qualification in post than before it. Often the existing SENCO is available to mentor you, or if not then someone else with relevant knowledge and experience. You won't know unless you apply. Read the Code of Practice, the local offer and SEND information report on the school website before writing your application.

@useitorlose yes, for sure. The requirement is you need to do the qualification within 3 years I think?
It's common to not have it upon starting, but its not common to have no SEN experience. You'll be expected to be able to answer parents and teachers questions about provision, interventions, things to look out for etc. from the get go. It would be highly unusual to go in without prior experience.

Don't do it. Killer of a job. I have just finished 20 years of SENCo-ing in secondary and am now an SEMH teacher. At last I can sleep on a school night! It's extremely stressful.

I'm not SENCO.
But mine describes her day as being on fire whilst everything is on fire and you need to put out all the fires. Oh... and there are no fire extinguishers.