Sendco and Pastoral Lead

The Oratory Prep School seeks to appoint a fantastic SENDCO, with some teaching commitment, to join our talented staff team from September 2024. The OPS has a fantastic local and national reputation as one of the country's leading prep schools, which educates children from 2 – 13. As you can imagine, our dedicated staff and superb facilities provide our children with unique opportunities to support their learning. We are looking for the right person to contribute to our children, our team and the wider school family. The pupils at The Oratory Prep School are delightful and enthusiastic learners. Parental support is very strong and the Governing Body (Bellevue Education) is committed to improving outcomes and experiences for our children. We are looking for someone who is:

• Understanding of what makes ‘quality first’ teaching, and of effective intervention strategies
• Experience of working at whole school level, self-evaluation and development planning
• Experience of conducting training/leading INSET
• A commitment to continuing classroom teaching
• Commitment to 1:1 and small group teaching to accelerate progress
• Working with teachers, the ability to vary, develop and implement an innovative and effective curriculum tailored to our pupils
• Experience of managing and mapping school SEND finances and data analysis skills
• Undertaking and supporting with the process of EHCP application when necessary
• The highest commitment to ensuring the safeguarding of pupils across the school
• Strong communication skills to communicate the vision and ethos of The Oratory Prep School, and to inspire others, engaging with our school family, including pupils, families, staff, and partners and local authority stakeholders.
• A commitment to getting the best outcomes for our students, ensuring they receive the highest quality of education using the SEND Code of Practice and other statutory frameworks
• A high degree of empathy, warmth and positivity, resilience, and adaptability
• Qualified teacher status, a degree, a minimum of six years teaching experience, the NASENCO qualification and the desire to continue to teach.
• Experience of performance management.
• Able to demonstrate strong, positive relationships with Prep-aged pupils (2 - 13)
• As the candidate will be required to teach - Excellent in the classroom, with an outstanding ability to engage and enthuse children
• Keen to showcase leadership behaviours to support pupils, staff and parents
• Open to new ideas and willing to commit to new initiatives
• Eager to take a full and active part in all aspects of our school community - including sports
• An excellent communicator with pupils, parents and staff
• Naturally positive and a fun team player – with a great sense of humour

In return, we can offer you the opportunity to:

• Be a member of the newly created Middle Leadership Team (MLT)
• Teach well behaved, highly motivated children who are keen to develop their own learning
• Work within a school community that is proud of its achievements and well-motivated to continue to develop further
• Work within a supportive team
• Regular non-contact time to monitor the quality of provision, support staff and pupils and to provide quality next steps to support our school
• Professional development tailored to fit your needs

Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status
• National Award for SEND Coordination
• Degree Level

Experience

• Involvement in self-evaluation and development planning
• Experience of conducting training/leading INSET
• Evidence of outstanding and creative classroom practice with the skills to develop this in others
• Able to demonstrate high standards of teaching and effective pupil learning in all areas of the curriculum
• Evidence of meeting the needs of all pupils
• Passion for making learning experiences exciting, memorable and fun
• Evidence of positive behaviour management
• Knowledge of the individual and diverse ways that children learn and develop
• Ability to build excellent relationships with children
• Experience of working at a whole-school level
• Experience of performance managing staff
• Experience of working in more than one school
• Experience across the whole primary/preparatory age range

Skills and Knowledge

• Sound knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice
• Understanding of what makes ‘quality first’ teaching, and of effective intervention strategies
• Ability to plan and evaluate interventions
• Data analysis skills and the ability to use data to inform provision planning
• Ability to identify if there are gaps in provision for pupils with SEND in hospital and ensure appropriate support and follow-up
• Ability to think creatively when devising SEND plans that provide the best support for outcomes for pupils with SEND
• Excellent and empathetic communication and interpersonal skills to support families and pupils with SEND to access education during a time of hospitalisation or home tuition or placement at the community pupils site
• Ability to build effective working relationships with an extensive range of external professionals and others for the purpose of ensuring access to education for pupils with SEND and medical/mental health needs
• Ability to influence and negotiate
• Excellent record-keeping skills and communication with internal and external colleagues
• Ability to develop associated policies and implement

Leadership qualities and competencies

•Able to lead and inspire the whole school community in all areas relating to SEND

•Positive attitude with a clear vision, passion and conviction for Preparatory Education

•Excellent organisational and management skills including effective time management

•Experience of effective working with the Head, senior leaders and governors

•Experience of effective monitoring and self-evaluation

•Evidence of reporting the school’s data position to OFSTED/ISI/Governors, providing a detailed analysis of next steps and what success will look like

•Experience of leading CPD

•High level of literacy and attention to detail

•High level of computer literacy

•Experience of accountability within leadership

•High expectations of self, of pupils and of staff, seeking to fulfil their potential

Personal Qualities

• In sympathy with Catholic Education (although staff do not need to be Catholic)
• Commitment to getting the best outcomes for pupils and promoting the vision and virtues of the school
• Commitment to equal opportunities and securing good outcomes for pupils with SEN or a disability
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality at all times
• Commitment to safeguarding and equality
• Commitment to a child/young person-centred approach at all times
• Be self-motivated and able to work in a solution focused manner
• Recognises when to seek advice and support and is prepared to do so
• Reflective, creative and innovative
• Has professional integrity - displays a constructive and optimistic attitude that has a positive effect on others
• A generosity of spirit towards the demands of a busy school, as the role requires flexibility and will involve out of hours, weekend and holiday work
• Professional in their relationships with children, staff and parents and has a good sense of humour