Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator - Birmingham, United Kingdom - The Springfield Project

Description

• Springfield Project staff and volunteers
• Children and families using the service
• Hall Green District Children's Centres
• Local Early Years Network
• Area SENCO
• Partners working with nursery children such as Educational Psychologists, health visitors, social workers and family support workers

• Be responsible for implementing Springfield Park Road Nursery Inclusion/SEND policy and to work closely with others and parents to support children with SEND
• To provide high quality care and early education to children aged 5.

• To promote an ethos of inclusive practice within the nursery
• Work with the manager of the setting to regularly review the SEN and disability policy and practice within the setting and agree how it will be implemented.
• Support staff to uphold the nursery ethos and approach to children with additional needs.
• Support the nursery manager to ensure the nursery provides inclusive early years foundation stage provision.
• Ensure early identification and intervention is implemented across the nursery.
• Advise and support practitioners who are concerned about a child.
• Support staff to do additional observation and assessment of children's learning and development and ensure differentiated planning to meet that child's needs.
• Support the key person to complete Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in partnership with parents.
• Complete additional paperwork and referral forms supported by key person.
• Ensure that all practitioners work closely with parents/carers at all stages
• Liaise with other professionals including those from outside agencies
• Make sure parents receive the information, advice and support that they need in order to participate in the SEN decisionmaking process.
• Ensure parents are closely involved throughout and that their insights inform action taken by the setting.
• Involve parents in the discussion of any early concerns, in identifying any SEN and work closely with parents to ensure an appropriate support package is put in place for the child
• Arrange review meetings with parents and other professionals
• Promote high standards of quality within the nursery in respect of the environment resources and experiences offered to children with a disability/ SEN
• Ensure parents/carers are aware of support groups that could help manage/ support their child's disability
• Support the nursery manager and staff during inspections by regulatory bodies and assist in the implementation of any recommendations.
• To meet with the nursery manager regularly to feed back any updates, improvements, concerns that need addressing.
• Be an advocate to promote the Springfield project's ethos, vision statement, and benefits.
• To support effective partnerships working with children, families and the wider community, continuously looking at ways to build relationships with external agencies
• To ensure that children's development is tracked and that appropriate interventions are implemented to promote good child development.
• To be familiar with and uphold the policies and procedures of the Project especially those relating to Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, Data Protection and Child Protection
• To ensure the safety and welfare of children is prioritised at all times, and follow the Project's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Procedures.
• To provide a warm, welcoming and inclusive play environment where individuals are valued and appropriate adaptations are made to maximise all children's engagement with play.
• To work within a team and maintain good communications.
• To adhere to the confidentiality policy.
• To attend all staff meetings and Project training days as required.
• To contribute to evaluation of services delivered.
• To attend relevant and mandatory training courses.
• To maintain appropriate Safeguarding and First Aid Certificate.
• To undertake personal professional development and training as appropriate.

The SENCO will be based in the nursery room and counted in ratio with the children, and will be expected to role model good practice, ensuring that all children attending the nursery receive rich and stimulating experiences appropriate to their age and stage of development.

• The Springfield Project exists to respond to the needs of individuals, therefore many tasks and responsibilities are unpredictable and varied. It is therefore expected that all staff will work in a flexible manner when required, undertaking tasks that have not specifically been covered in their job description.
  WORKING CONTEXT
• The Springfield Project nurseries are a key part of their services to the local community. The post holder will be expected to understand the wider Project services, ensuring families have acc