The role in a nutshell
The SENDCo at Willowfield Academy provides strategic leadership and expert oversight of special educational needs and disabilities provision within a specialist SEND setting. Working as a key member of the school’s wider leadership team and in close partnership with the Principal, the postholder will drive high‑quality inclusive practice, robust graduated support and effective implementation of Education, Health and Care Plans.
You will ensure that all pupils access an ambitious, coherent and responsive educational offer that enables strong academic, social and emotional progress and supports positive transitions beyond school. To achieve this, you will work collaboratively with staff, families and external agencies, supporting and challenging practice to secure consistently high standards. A central part of the role is ensuring rigorous monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance of SEND provision, safeguarding practice and statutory compliance, so that provision remains effective, inclusive and aligned to pupil needs.
The candidate
The ideal candidate will, in collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, play a key role in determining the strategic development of the SEND policy and provision in the school in order to raise the achievement of pupils with SEND.
The SENDCO will also take day-to-day responsibility for the operation of the SEND policy and coordination of the provision made for individual pupils with SEND, working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, staff, parents and carers and other schools/academies in the Trust as well as external agencies.
We welcome applications from everyone who believes they meet the expectations of the role regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. To ensure that our staff composition is representative of the communities we serve, applications from groups who are currently under-represented in education including people with disabilities and people from minority ethnic backgrounds are particularly encouraged.