[senco-forum] applying for senco jobs

Hi Andy, welcome to the forum. Its a great place for new (and would be) 
sencos
I would look carefully at the job spec, as the SENCo role can vary 
wildly. The link below is to the wordy National Standards for SENCos .

http://www.tda.gov.uk/upload/resources/pdf/n/national_standards_sencos.pdf

  Staffordshire do a handy checklist for all SENCos looking at their 
professional development. I cant get the link to work  but if you google
stafford senco self audit
it comes up as the first link. "photocopiable...."
It might help you to identify some key areas and explain how your 
experience so far has equipped you.....

As this is a non class based post I would emphasise any management 
experience you have had, as a subejct leader etc If you have organised 
resources or rewritten schemes of work these all show that you have the 
skills to carry out the SENCo role.
Mention any and every SEN course/experience, in and outside school If 
you are short on expert knowledge of dyslexia etc I would emphasise that 
you know where to find info/support and are keen to develop your 
expertise perhaps a reason for applying for role?  As a classroom 
teacher you could stress the value of your recent understanding of the 
curriculum, the practicalites of teaching IEP targets in a busy class, 
which will help you to relate to staff.
Also SEN experience, eg with statemented children in your class which 
has brought you into contact with outside agencies, parents etc as this 
is another big part of the role.
The buzz words in my authority are inclusion, personlised  learning, 
wave 3 programmes, provision mapping....a look at the forum postings 
will bring you up to date with them
Good Luck,
Kate
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