Developing the role of Family SENCOs Jane Starbuck – Newark town SENCO Anna Reed – SENCO Chuter Ede Primary Nottinghamshire County Council

HLN AFN ASN LA Family School

Newark Town History 2 Families of Schools – 18 schools (2 secondary & 16 primary) Lack of Trust Voluntary Family SENCO – work load Crisis point

The Big Picture An overview of SEN in Newark was needed. –The make up of our SEN Profile –Our specific needs –Specialisms in our schools

Some drivers for change:  Achievement for All  SEN Review  Green Paper  Political change  Financial constraint

Newark Town: Where did we start? Audits of skills and need Visit all pupils in order to gain an overview of need in Newark Action plan Town policy

What do we do? Moderation of all funded pupils Tracking progress for all externally funded pupils Transition for pupils with complex needs Development plan for SEN across Newark Use SENCO meetings as a forum for training and development Establishing job swapping schemes and sharing good practice First port of call for all SENCOs etc

Newark Network -Schools working together to support one another with challenges in form of expertise, training, ideas, resources and staff -LA able to pilot projects – Closing the Gap -Supporting Behaviour Challenges -Family SENCOs working together to organise district events

Training SENCO – NASEN / Beating Bureaucracy TA Training TA – Network Staff meetings - behaviour NQT programme for SEN

Town SENCO Management Attend Head Teachers Meetings Monthly meetings with 2 line managers Performance management

Funding Town SENCO Salary:  £4,000 per family from FNF  Remaining salary divided by the number of pupils in the area smallest school - £193 largest secondary school - £4,500

Outcomes: A clear system of moderation Improved co-ordination of provision Increased knowledge and sharing of best practice An overview of SEN progress Improved transition processes for pupils Provision of training opportunities

Outcomes: A line of communication with parents Develop SEN practice within schools Developing links and sharing practice with special schools SEN not onerous for the Head Teachers.

Outcomes: Our own ‘Agony Aunt’ Somebody to call upon who has the knowledge Reassurance to SENCOs Better communication between schools in our family Support with difficult SEN situations that may arise in individual schools

Outcomes: A united family of schools that offer similar provision A support system for SENCOs Improved practice and knowledge of the school SENCO Increased parent confidence

“ What we need now are professionals with the capacity to be pragmatically optimistic”