Lead SENDCo

Lead SENDCo 

Location: Rockshaw Road, Chaldon, Surrey 
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent 

Salary: £54,983 (L4 Fringe)  

Hours: 40 hours per week 

Closing Date: 5pm 17th July 

Aurora Chaldon School  

As part of our growth strategy, The Aurora Group are really pleased to be opening a brand new SEND Secondary School in September 2025 in Merstham, Surrey for young people aged 11-16 who require support with social communication, emotional regulation and sensory processing, typically associated with Autism. All our students have access to a broad and exciting curriculum, allied to the national curriculum, personalised to meet their needs, interests and passions. With a model of small classes, high levels of classroom support and a supernumerary multi-disciplinary intervention team we are able to give students “every opportunity to achieve”  

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

This is an exciting opportunity to join the school at the start of their journey.  Part of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) you will take responsibility for the leadership and further development of this key area across Chaldon School including Caterham. You will work with the Principal and Heads of School to review and assess referrals both formally and informally as well as overseeing tribunals, including representing the schools in this process. You will have clear oversight of the SEND teams, the OT delivery, SaLT interventions and clinical work to meet the needs of all young people and their EHCP’s  

You will be based at Aurora Chaldon school with a requirement to work out of our satellite site Caterham.  

To learn more about this amazing school, please follow this link – Chaldon School.

If you would like the chance to visit the school and meet the Principal to hear about the roles that we currently have please book a space on our open evening - 15th July 4pm - 6pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1447261681649?aff=oddtdtcreator

Key Accountabilities: 

• To work closely with the SLT to deliver key targets within the school development plan. 
• To ensure all relevant testing on entry occurs across the school (e.g. Thrive) 
• To have a clear understanding of OT, SaLT and EP delivery across the schools which are communicated effectively and to ensure objectives in individual EHCP are met. 
• To have oversight of the strategies and interventions being delivered across the schools and their effectiveness, including reporting to stakeholders as required. 
• To support, manage and develop the SEN/Clinical team to deliver effective strategies that support pupils social, emotional, health and wellbeing and EHCP.  
• To support, manage and develop the SEN team to ensure training and skills development empowers staff, this will include supporting and training SEND staff.  
• To have oversight of the EHCP process and reviews, ensuring deadlines are met (including leavers) and assisting necessary with the more complex cases.  
• Monitoring of interventions, including those delivered to any child who has designated 1:1 support or a recognised need e.g. Dyslexia and train staff to support effective interventions as needed. 
• To link effectively with Local Authority SEN and the business development team to ensure clear and accurate information is shared building trusted professional relationships 
• To ensure all pupils have the support required to access examinations and arrangements are in place for students requiring support. 
• To quality assure targets towards EHCP outcomes, Reviews and any other localised documentation. 
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of changes in SEND legislation and cascade that across the SEND teams. 
• Develop, implement and quality assure effective systems of communication, including reports to key stakeholders. 
• To deliver training as required. 
• As part of the SLT team contribute to Governance and other relevant reporting. 
• To be an advocate for the Aurora Values and represent these at all times. 

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 – Lead SENDCo 

Essential Qualifications  

• QTS or QTLS is essential. 
• A good honours degree 
• NPQSL/H/SENDCo 

Skills 

• Teaching a range of ages from Year 3 to Sixth Form as a Learning Support/SEND teacher 
• Experience of holding a SENDCo position within the last 3 years 
• Experience of teaching pupils with ASC 
• Experience of delivering Dyslexia strategies  
• Ability to support access arrangement to examinations 

Experience  

• Be an excellent communicator with strong administrative and ICT skills.  
• Have experience of administering and interpreting a range of standardised literacy assessments.  
• Have experience of interpreting diagnostic reports.  
• Ideally hold a post graduate SEND qualification.  
• Possess the drive and energy to maintain a high quality SEN provision across two schools. 
• Understanding of the expectations and ethos of inclusive practice. 
• Exceptional organisational skills.  
• Ability to get the best out of people  
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to lead, communicate, motivate and develop trust.  
• Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and the Equality Act 2010  
• An understanding of a range of teaching, learning assessment and behaviour management strategies to make a positive impact on the progress of pupils who have a range of barriers to learning  
• Effective relationships working successfully with a range of external agencies   

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 Liz in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at liz.hudson@theauroragroup.co.uk  

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.