What are SENCOs and what do they do?

SENCO stands for special educational needs coordinator and every school in the UK has to have one.

SENCO roles and responsibilities

A SENCO is responsible for the school’s special education department and the register of all special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) children in the school. The SENCO’s job is to coordinate additional support for pupils with SEND, and liaise with parents, teachers and other professionals who support those children. All SENCOs must be qualified teachers and gain the National Award in Special Education Needs Coordination within three years of being appointed to their role.

SENCO in schools

The SENCO is the first port of call for teachers and parents if they think something is not quite right with a SEND child or they feel the child is falling behind their school peers in literacy and numeracy. It is the SENCO’s job to ascertain if the child’s needs are severe enough to warrant further investigation. Often, if the SENCO feels it necessary, initial literacy and numeracy tests are done in school before contacting the parents.

It’s important to note that the SENCO is not usually in a position to diagnose a specific learning disability. SENCO qualifications provide an overview of legislation for SEND provision rather than the tools to diagnose an individual’s condition. Obviously, there are some SENCOs who do have specific qualifications in all types of SEND needs and can make a very competent diagnosis. However, you can think of most SENCOs like GPs; they can provide general guidance, but often the individual’s specific needs must be addressed by a specialist. In schools, SENCOs will typically bring in outside educational specialists to determine the precise conditions and needs of a SEND child.

Things to consider when choosing a school

There are some key considerations to look into when choosing a school for your SEND child, including:

• The SEND department has a strong reputation.
• You like the SENCO.
• Websites like Mumsnet recommend the school and/or SENCO.

A resource like Mumsnet is a good place to start your research because it will give you a more realistic picture, often with lots of reader input and opinion.

You can also visit the government’s site about SEND children for more information about the role of a SENCO and the steps you need to take to be get the right help for your child.

Looking for personalised support to help your child succeed? Meet Charlotte, a teacher for 11 years and qualified SENCO. She currently teaches in a SEND School, supporting children with ASC and GDD. Learn more about Charlotte and how she can make a difference in your child’s education journey:

Ione Inness
Ione is the Director at SEND Tutoring and has over 20 years’ experience working with children and young people. In the last 10 years she has worked with children of varying different needs, including: Autism, Pathological demand avoidance (PDA), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Attention deficit disorder (/ADD), Social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Speech and language delays or difficulties, Cerebral palsy, Nonverbal, speech/communication delays, Challenging behaviour, Profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), Anxiety, Cognition difficulties, Learning difficulties.

If you’re looking for support for a child or young person with special educational needs or a disability, book a free call with us today and find out how we can help.