SENCO and Pastoral Lead

The OPS requires a full time SENCO or trainee SENCO to manage and lead Learning Support within the School. In addition to management duties, the Head of Department will also work with students either on a 1:1 basis following individually planned programmes of work or in small groups. The appointee may also be expected to offer some in class support to students, and to contribute to the standard curriculum if appropriate., This job description should be seen as indicative of the type of responsibilities included within the role and not as a comprehensive list.

• Take day to day responsibility of the provision for pupils with Learning Difficulties, and to manage the departmental team to ensure high quality provision for these pupils.


• Provide up to date and well-informed advice to the Headmaster on provision for pupils with Learning Difficulties or other Special Needs.


• Have knowledge of relevant research, national inspection evidence and legislation, including the SEN Code of practice and equal opportunities legislation, and how these apply to pupils in the independent sector.


• Formulating, implementing, monitoring and reviewing specifically planned Programmes for individual pupils and Group Educational Plans for small groups.


• Being proactive in ensuring that all teaching staff are aware of their responsibilities to pupils who have specific difficulties, and providing advice on effective teaching approaches for pupils with learning difficulties.


• Identify and teach study skills that will develop pupils' ability to work independently.


• Liaise with outside experts and agencies such as Educational Psychologists, Speech Therapists, etc.


• Oversee the screening of all new pupils to identify potential learning difficulties, or problems with literacy or numeracy, and follow up on any issues that are identified.


• Maintain an up to date and accurate learning support register, which is disseminated to teaching staff.


• Advise as required on the Learning Difficulties of prospective pupils, and participate in the testing of prospective pupils (in particular administering the VR and NVR tests).


• Collect and interpret specialist assessment data by taking an active role in a system of referral, intervention and review for each of the students.


• Ensure that suitable Access Arrangements for public examinations are in place, and that the evidence to support these arrangements is in order.


• Regularly report to the Headmaster on the activities of the department, and maintain good lines of communication with tutors, Heads of Faculty and other colleagues.


• Ensure that parents are fully consulted on special provision for their children, and receive regular and appropriate reports.


• Identify and deliver effective interventions to raise standards of literacy, and to tackle specific difficulties experienced by pupils.


• Keep accurate records of pupil attendance and activity in the department.


• Hold regular departmental meetings, at least one per term, to discuss matters relevant to the department, individual children, staff matters, etc. to ensure that the department is cohesive and purposeful.


• Take responsibility for the LS Department's resources and development


• Assist in the preparation of examination papers as appropriate


• Attend and contribute to Heads of Faculty and Staff meetings


• Ensure that the finances of the department are properly managed, including arranging for correct billing of parents.


• Establish effective working relationships with professional colleagues and associate staff.


• Seek to continually improve professional practice, to include attendance at departmental meetings, and participating in appropriate INSET, whether organized in school or externally.
  
  Hold a teaching qualification


• Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties


• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop relationships with parents, educational professionals and children


• Flexible, unflappable, patient and with a good sense of humour.


• High level of discretion, good organisational and communication skills


• Caring, kind person with an empathy and understanding of young people.


• Able to teach Mathematics as well as Literacy to a wide age-range of pupils, particularly 7-13 years old.


• Willing to uphold the ethos of the school, including its emphasis on pastoral care for individual pupils
  
  In any school, and particularly in a boarding school, the emphasis is on total education and we provide a wealth of opportunities for our children. The school is therefore keen to appoint teachers who would wish to be involved in activities outside the classroom, provided that their teaching duties permit this.


Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £37,500.00-£41,000.00 per year