Returning after surgery and realising my SENCO workload feels unsustainable

[beenquitenicenotknowing]

I’ve been off work for September following major surgery - which naturally fell at the start of the summer holiday! I’m due to return at the start of October.

I’m a secondary SENCO, and in my absence a colleague has been juggling my workload. I’ve made myself available to them via calls/whatsapp because unless you do the job, finding the right paperwork/following the right procedure/Knowing who at the LA to call just makes the job harder. For the last few days, she’s been falling apart - really stressed, can’t sleep, talks about being able to get nothing done because there’s always another fire to put out that’s more immediate. On top of the day to day, She’s dealing with some really tricky families who have joined the school this September, an explosion in right to choose referral paperwork and in three weeks has had 15 EHCP consultations for placement and four parental requests for EHCP assessment that have been submitted during the summer holidays and now the LA wants the school’s evidence (three of which are new starters!) for.

Suddenly, I’ve realised that this is my reality every day. And, I feel a bit sick. It’s only
when you stand back and look at it happening in front of you that sometimes you can see just how damaging for one person it all is.

And now, I don’t think I can do it for much longer. I’ve been SENCO for 15 years, and, up until a few years ago I would tell people I love it - I loved working with children and their families to get the right support, I loved helping colleagues, I got a lot of personal and professional pride from the role. But, actually over the last couple of years, I realise I rarely get to work with the children any more. All I do is sit at my desk fielding paperwork. Still know I’m doing a good (and essential!) job but there’s no immediate satisfaction in it and although I’m good at what I do, there’s a whole side of my skill set that isn’t being used - and that’s the skill set that often made it feel worth it or gave the “ahah” moments that all teachers cling to.

I’m actually sat at home feeling stressed about my workload - I’ve not even started work yet!

Please, please SENCOs tell me that once I’m in the thick of it again I will find my groove?!

Are SLT supportive? Sounds like you are very experienced and good at your job so they wouldn’t want to lose you.
Could you ask for some teaching time and an assistant SENCO/ Pastoral person to support you. Even half a day a week doing pupil groups might give you a boost.

You are bound to feel overwhelmed after surgery. Hope you are recovering well. It sounds like you’ve not had a break from the mental load.
Just because your cover hasn’t been managing things well doesn’t mean that you won’t.
This term is always tough isn’t it, not long until half term.

If you still feel like this next term and SLT haven’t been supportive I’d explore other options using your skills. You could look at Resourced Provisions, SEN advisory/ outreach roles or special schools.

SLT are supportive, yes, but equally under pressure. Time (money!) is cut to the bone - all of SLT except the head have at least a .4 teaching commitment. The head has a .2 commitment. So, we are all drowning.

I have a 4hr a week teaching commitment for my subject - which isn’t core. There won’t be capacity to adjust that this academic year, but, moving forwards perhaps I could ask that this teaching is ring fenced to allow me time to work with SEND students. This is a good idea, but I’m not sure how feasible it is - they would have to pay another member of staff to cover the subject teaching - the rest of my department have full teaching loads. So actually, they would have to recruit - of course I teach a highly specialised shortage subject!

I’m also part time - obviously however, I’m doing all the role. Mostly I do this with three long days 8-6 and a few hours squeezed in to weekends etc. I’ve so often been tempted to ask which bits I can not do to reflect my part time nature… but, actually, they just wouldn’t get done.

It’s all just a bit shit, isn’t it?! I don’t think there is any money left to come up with reasonable solutions!

@beenquitenicenotknowing
I’m retired now after 35 years full time. In my last role ( manager/ advisory SEN teacher in a support service) I always said I wouldn’t go part time. Full time role in part time hours and pay.
You sound overloaded and things sound tough generally.
Don’t make yourself ill. Life’s too short.