SENCO

Full Job Description

At Outcomes First Schools we allow for greater work life balance and extra time to do the things you love outside work

Job Title:  SENCO
Location:  Wessex Lodge School, Frome, Somerset BA11 4LA
Hours:  40 hours per week | Monday to Friday 
Salary:  From £38,000.00 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:  October 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

At Wessex Lodge School, we're looking for an outstanding SENCO to join our specialist team and help shape the future of inclusive education within our therapeutic setting. This is far more than a coordination role. It's an opportunity to lead, innovate and advocate for some of the most vulnerable learners, ensuring every student is understood, supported and empowered to achieve their full potential.

As SENCO, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the quality of SEND provision across the school. You'll provide both strategic leadership and operational expertise, ensuring that students receive tailored support that enables them to flourish academically, socially and emotionally. Working collaboratively with teachers, therapists, families and external professionals, you'll champion inclusive practice and ensure that statutory responsibilities are met with excellence and compassion.

This is a rewarding opportunity to influence whole-school culture, develop staff expertise and make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people with complex needs.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and develop the school's SEND provision, ensuring it reflects current legislation, best practice and an inclusive ethos.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and support of students with SEND to secure the best possible outcomes.
• Lead the development and review of EHCPs, ensuring statutory compliance and meaningful involvement from students and families.
• Monitor student progress and use data to implement effective interventions that drive achievement and wellbeing.
• Coach and support staff in high-quality SEND practice, adaptive teaching and trauma-informed approaches.
• Work collaboratively with education, therapy and care teams to deliver joined-up, holistic support.
• Build strong partnerships with parents, carers and external agencies, including Educational Psychologists, CAMHS and Local Authorities.
• Contribute to whole-school improvement and strategic development, including aspects of the inspection framework for suitably experienced candidates.

About You

We're looking for someone who is:

• Qualified with the National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO), or willing to complete it within three years.
• Experienced in supporting students with complex SEND, particularly SEMH and Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC).
• Knowledgeable about the SEND Code of Practice and current SEND legislation.
• An inspiring leader who can influence practice and champion inclusive education.
• An excellent communicator with strong organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative and committed to working effectively with families and multidisciplinary teams.
• Reflective, resilient and dedicated to continuous professional development.
• Full UK Driving Licence

Desirable Experience

• Experience within a specialist or therapeutic school setting.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and attachment-aware approaches.
• Experience leading multi-agency meetings and contributing to EHCP documentation.
• Previous leadership experience or the ambition to contribute at Senior Leadership level.

About Us

Learning at Wessex Lodge goes far beyond the classroom. Our outdoor spaces across all three sites offer meaningful opportunities for students to regulate, connect and engage. These environments, whether it be out in the the community or time with animals, are key to helping our children feel calm, confident and curious.

At Outcomes First Schools, we provide specialist education for learners who need a deeper level of understanding, expertise and support than mainstream education can typically offer. We support students with a wide range of complex, co-occurring and neurodivergent needs, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, speech and communication needs, dyslexia and experiences of trauma or adversity.

We are proud to be a part of OFG Education who in 2025 were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place students and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

OFG Education is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, OFG Education does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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