Assistant SENCO

Full Job Description

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!

Job Title:  Assistant SENCo 

Location:  The Grange Therapeutic School, Knossington, Oakham LE15 8LY

Salary:      Up to £42,000.00 per annum (not pro rata)

Hours:      37.5 hours per week, Mon to Thurs 8.30am – 4.30pm, Fri 8.30am – 4.00pm

Contract:  Permanent, Term Time Only plus 5 days for training 

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for an Assistant SENCo to join our close-knit team at The Grange Therapeutic School, part of Acorn Education.

About the role

The SENCO will ensure that Special Education Needs provision is effective and efficiently managed and that all legal and statutory requirements are met for students needing SEN. 

The SENCO will work within a small team who have the responsibility to take on the day-to-day responsibility in the Education Team to provide professional guidance of SEN to teaching staff in order to maintain and increase a high-quality standard of teaching, to make good use of resources to improve standards and achieve positive outcomes for the students. 

As part of a team, review, attend and lead EHCP reviews for pupils. Liaise with class teachers in advance of meetings to ensure up to date information is collected and collated. Liaise with multi-agency professionals, Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that all outcomes are updated, outcomes are shared with class teams and other key staff as well as external professionals. 

Key task areas and responsibilities

• Liaise with parents/carers about pupil’s needs and any provision made
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to regularly review and evaluate the breadth and impact of SEND support the school offers or can access and co-operate with the LA in reviewing the provision that is available locally and in developing the local offer
• Work with the therapy team, teaching staff and SLT to identify patterns in the schools identification of SEN, both within the school and in comparison, with national data, and use these to reflect on and reinforce the quality of teaching
• Be a point of contact for external agencies, especially the LA and its supportive services, and work with external agencies to ensure that appropriate provision is provided
• Liaise with potential next providers of education to make sure that the pupil and their parents are informed about options and that a smooth transition is planned
• Plan and chair annual review meetings of pupils with Education, Health and Care plans and produce reports, ensuring that the SEND code of practice is complied with
• Ensure teaching staff have the most up to date EHCP’s for pupils and that pupils are working towards the correct targets

Qualifications Required

• Qualified teacher status or equivalent
• Completed the SENCO qualification/willing to complete within the next two years

About Us

The Grange Therapeutic School is an independent school for students aged 8 -18 years with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Our school is based in a Victorian country house near Oakham with stunning views and fantastic facilities to develop not only the educational, but also the social and emotional needs of our pupils. With access to woods and lakes on site, the school has an ethos about delivering a personalised curriculum tailored to, and driven by, the individuals. Behaviour is currently rated as “Outstanding” by Ofsted.

We need hardworking, pupil centred staff who are resilient and willing to go the extra mile. In return we offer significant investment in your professional development, a supportive staff group and opportunities for progression.

Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care. 

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit 

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