SENDCo

The Aurora Group; Redhill; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational organization is seeking a SENDCo for a new secondary school in Merstham. The role involves leadership in managing teaching and learning, supporting neurodivergent students, and ensuring effective curriculum delivery. Candidates should have QTS or QTLS and a strong background in special education.

Benefits

Life assurance

Competitive Pension

Perkbox - offering high street discounts

Employee assistance programme

Car lease scheme

Fully funded training and qualifications

Bike to work scheme

Free membership to Health cash back plan

Qualifications

• Proven track record of excellent creative and structured teaching.
• Experience of holding responsibility for and turning policy into effective practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example in encouraging and mentoring team members.
• Ensure high quality, engaging curriculum for all children.
• Communicate with parents and external agencies on pupil progress.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Conflict Resolution

Education

QTS or QTLS

Management/leadership qualification

NPQSL/H/SENDCo

Job description

Overview and Responsibilities

SENDCo

Location:Merstham, Surrey

Contract:Full-time, Permanent

Salary:£33,075 - £48,719 (M1 – UPS2 Fringe)

Hours:40 hours per week

Closing Date: 11pm 26/05/25 - Interviews will be in half term

Aurora Chaldon School

As part of our growth strategy, Aurora is really pleased to be opening Chaldon School, a brand-new SEND Secondary School in Merstham for young neurodivergent people aged 11-16. The school will support 100 young people, with 80 attending the main site and 20 young people supported at our satellite site in Caterham, based at Caterham Education Centre. Chaldon School is part of a close network of Aurora Schools in Surrey. Staff and students benefit from strong school-to-school links which include sharing best practice, resources and running joint events.

All of our students have access to a broad and exciting curriculum, allied to the national curriculum, personalised to meet their needs, interests and passions. Our model of small classes, high levels of classroom support and a supernumerary multi-disciplinary intervention team enables us to give students “every opportunity to achieve.” By supporting students to develop the social communication, sensory processing and emotional regulation skills they need to overcome any barriers to curriculum and community access, we aim to prepare our students to be independent young people who can develop safe, meaningful relationship in the community and feel empowered to follow their individual aspirations towards further education training or employment.

Key to the success of this new school will be the appointment of a highly effective SENDCo to join us on this exciting project!

This is an exciting opportunity to work with the Head of School in all aspects of leadership and management and to take responsibility for managing and developing learning and teaching, curriculum, careers & work experience, assessment and enrichment throughout the designated phases of the school.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the school when required, please see the link below for our full job description:

Job Description – SENDCo

Key Duties:

• To play a key role in the overall smooth running of the school.

• To lead by example by positively encouraging, coaching and mentoring support the training and development for all members of the team.

• Promote best practice and contribute to the aims and ethos of the school through inset and CPD for new teachers.

• To work with the Head of School to ensure that the school offers a high quality, exciting, engaging, well resourced, differentiated and well matched curriculum for all children.

• To act as Deputy Exam Officer for the site, working with the AHT/Exam Officer, subject teachers to ensure examinations and accreditation processes are in place and that JCQ requirements are met.

• To lead the successful identification of meaningful post16 destinations

• To implement successful transition plans to secure Post16 destinations, liaising with destination colleges around school link courses, visits and specific pupil needs.

• Lead Y9 transition reviews, ensuring student voice is captured and that outcomes align with Pathways for Adulthood.

• To identify and enable access arrangements for exams and other accreditation.

• To oversee high quality Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance and work with the wider school team to deliver a Careers Framework that supports KS3-4 pupils on their pathway to adulthood.

• Ensure that the school carries out its statutory responsibilities in accordance with each pupil EHCP and their defined SEND assessment.

• Oversee the day-to day operation of a school’s special education policy.

• In relation to each pupil’s EHCP and defined SEND assessment, coordinate and deploy the school’s provision with regard to its policies, staffing and resources.

• Communicate with parents/carers, school employees, other agencies, and local authorities on the progress of pupils and the effectiveness of intervention and support strategies.

• Ensure that there is an integrated approach to schools SEN provision generally and for specific pupils, incorporating the deployment of staff, including therapist, resources, strategies and the types of support and intervention.

• Exercise a key role in advising and assisting the Head of School with the strategic development of SEN policy and provision, including reviewing, and formulating policies.

• Carry out safeguarding duties as required.

• Lead and manage the school’s therapy offer.

• Prepare information and carry out annual statutory reviews or specific case conferences.

• To keep abreast of developments in SEN (e.g., research, changes to the law) and inform SLT and Head where appropriate.

• To beopen to lead in a curriculum area across all Surrey Schools

• To develop positive relationships within the school, within the Surrey Schools and the wider Aurora Team and externally, which support the running and developing of the school towards and sustaining outstanding.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• QTS or QTLS is essential.

Desirable Qualifications

• Accredited training in specific areas of special education, e.g. Autism, Dyslexia etc.

• Management/leadership qualification

• NPQSL/H/SENDCo or willingness to achieve within 2 years

Essential Experience

• Proven track record of excellent creative and structured teaching within relevant key stages and/or special needs environment.

• Experience of holding responsibility for and turning policy into effective and successful practice.

• Leadership of a significant area or phase or inclusion, including responsibility for raising standards across the whole school.

• Effective team management and working collaboratively and effectively with others.

• Communicating effectively to a wide range of different audiences though a range of different mediums.

• Successful management of complex scenarios and conflict resolution

• Effective relationships working successfully with a range of external agencies

Benefits and Additional Information

You will also benefit from a generous package that includes:

• Life assurance
• Competitive Pension
• Perkbox - offering high street discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Car lease scheme
• Fully funded training and qualifications
• Bike to work scheme
• Free membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more.

How to Apply:

Please complete an online application form in full, remembering to include all employment and education details. If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Lizin the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at [e-mail]

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be paused or taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled or we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.