Any other fed up SENCOs?

[LooksLikeImStuckHere]

Only in our fourth week and already the work load is impossible. I was asked to do a large piece of work by SLT yesterday, to be completed by Monday, and when I said how long that would be likely to take, the response was ‘yes, but it’s going to be so helpful’. No allowance of the statutory consultations coming in, me covering for absent TAs or the seventeen gazillion things I already have going on.

Does anyone have a magic solution? Or is it only looking forward to retirement?!

Hi there

SENCO of 10 Years. In my last school I was teaching 11 hours full classes, one GCSE and trying to be a SENCO with 1300 students and you know what the SEN needs are now. I stepped down as SENCO in my previous place after 8 years in the role and then left after 8 years. I have joined agencies and have been a SENCO in a PRU (non teaching) and a primary school (non teaching). It reminded me why I did the job as the non teaching allowed me to concentrate on that. I am now teaching in a PRU and really like it. I actually starting finding that it became a thankless role as SENCO was being paid lip service to only because it is a legal requirement to have a SENCO'. However is not given the same status or respect as other subject areas in the school. The workload is horrendous and if you are having to teach and or cover at the same time you cannot do it. Don't run yourself into the ground doing it though as you are replaceable in a heartbeat. Wish you all the best.

*Sorry meant to say left after 18 years there

Thanks for the response 🙂 I’ve been in SEND for 20 years as SENCO and in Local Authority. I have pretty much come to the realisation that it’s just an impossible task so I get what I can done. Which usually works until people who have no idea about Send just dump one thing after another on your plate.

Just needed a vent and I really appreciate you replying!