[senco-forum] What are we for?

I've just been reading all the responses to Amanda's original post.

Hi Paulette

  And you do all of that on a TA's pay!!  You are certainly underpaid.

  I hope I don't underestimate 'mums'.  Not only am I one myself, most of my excellent TA team came into the job via the traditional volunteer route.

  The only part of what is definately part of my job is missing from yours.  That is advising teachers on how to teach specific pupils and, indeed, sometimes on how to manage whole classes.  Is this part of your role?

  Amanda
  Secondary SENCO
  Cornwall

paulettew at hulltrinity.net wrote:
  Well I think its time I stopped 'lurking' and introduced myself to the forum. Sadly, having read some of the recent postings, I do so with some trepidation because I am one of the new breed of non-teacher SENCOs.

Indeed, I started out as one of the mums turned TA which was actually an excellent training ground and quite different from my previous career as a provincial newspaper journalist.

Like the more traditional SENCO, I am overworked and definitely underpaid (being a TA!) but I am passionate about my job and my role in the lives of the 300 teenage boys for whom I help provide 'good' and in some cases 'outstanding' (Ofsted says so) pastoral care. 

Working in a small secondary school, my role of Head of Pupil Services/SENCO means that I deal with all pastoral and support related issues and am usually the first point of contact for parents. I line manage several other teaching assistants; deal with all outside agencies (including the Special Educational Needs Support Service, the Ed Pysch, Social Service etc); go into classrooms; take intervention groups; attend Child Protection conferences; run the School Councils; organise and train the Peer Mentors; deal with all discipline issues to the point of sending pupils home; organise and coordinate PSPs, PEPs etc; sort out bullying issues; write policies; take assemblies; produce the half termly school newsletter; organise the School Prom...and I could go on. 

Please do not underestimate the so called 'mums'. Like teachers, there are good and bad out there. I joined the forum 'quietly' at the start of this year. Already, I have learned a lot from all you experienced teachers but I think I'd be right in saying there's probably a little I could 'teach' you as well. But at the moment, I almost feel ashamed to admit to being a SENCO who hasn't got there by the traditional route. 

Yes there are times when the SENCO part of my job leaves me questioning my abilities but I certainly don't need anyone else to do it for me. Perhaps I should go and find some paint pots to clean!

Paulette W

"chris white" on Sun, 29 Oct 2006 12:57:32 -0000 wrote:
> I've just been reading all the responses to Amanda's original post.
> (I'll do anything but get down to some work!)
> I've been a member also for a number of years but was originally a 'lurker'.
> 
> I agree with almost everything she has said. I'm not very good yet at the
> 'delete' button but am improving with time.
> 
> The help and assistance on here is invaluable...I'm in the process of trying
> an idea I got from here at the moment. (The B-P box)
> 
> However I also think that our views as Sencos are listened to through the
> discussions on this forum. If this forum did not exist there would be no
> other way that our views could be heard as a 'body'. 
> ..I hope this makes sense!
> The specific example I'm thinking of is the appointment of Teaching
> Assistants as Sencos. Hopefully this will not now become widespread
> practice. This can surely be put down to representatives from this forum
> contacting the powers that be.
> Chris
> Seconadry SENCO
> 
> 
> 
> 

---
paulettew at hulltrinity.net
http://www.hulltrinity.net/

Amanda
Secondary SENCO
Cornwall