Level 3 SENDCo
Dots & Tots Day Nursery | Brixworth, Northamptonshire
£15.00 per hour | Full-time
*COMING END OF 2026*
Champion of little wins, big possibilities & making sure every child is included
We’re looking for an experienced Level 3 SENDCo to join our brand-new Dots & Tots family.
You’ll be the person who knows that sometimes the biggest nursery achievements aren't the ones that make it onto a wall display.
It might be a child joining circle time for the first time.
Trying a new texture.
Using a new word, sign or gesture.
Managing a transition that felt impossible three weeks ago.
Or simply walking through the nursery door feeling safe and happy.
Those are the moments we think deserve celebrating too.
At Dots & Tots, SEND isn't something that happens in a folder in the office. Inclusion should be happening everywhere — in our rooms, our routines, our environments, our activities and in the way we understand each individual child.
And we need someone brilliant to help us make sure it does.
So, what does being our SENDCo actually involve?
You'll wear two hats — Early Years Practitioner and SENDCo — although we're fairly sure neither needs to be an actual hat, or does it?
You'll spend time with children, work alongside practitioners and become the person our team can turn to when they need another pair of eyes, a different idea or some SEND wisdom.
Of course, there’s an organised side to SEND too.
You’ll keep our SEND records up to date, make sure plans and reports reflect each child’s journey and help us ensure the right support is in place at the right time.
You'll:
- Lead and coordinate SEND provision across the nursery.
- Support practitioners to recognise and respond to emerging developmental needs.
- Help create individual strategies, plans and meaningful next steps.
- Observe children within their everyday environment — because sometimes the best way to understand what a child needs is simply to sit, watch and listen.
- Work closely with parents and carers, including having sensitive conversations with warmth and confidence.
- Prepare reports, evidence and SEND documentation.
- Lead EHCP applications and processes.
- Bring knowledge and practical experience of Portage Assessments.
- Attend SEND, family and multi-agency meetings.
- Liaise with external professionals and agencies.
- Coordinate referrals and requests for additional support.
- Help practitioners adapt environments and experiences so all children can participate and be included.
- Support children through transitions between rooms, settings and eventually school.
- Work alongside our management and safeguarding team.
- Keep our online SEND records organised and up to date.
- Be the person who asks “What does this child need from us?” rather than expecting the child to fit around us.
You'll probably love this job if...
You can spot a tiny piece of progress from across the room and get ridiculously excited about it.
You understand that behaviour is communication.
You aren't afraid to advocate for a child when they need additional support.
You can walk into a room, notice something isn't quite working for a child and think “Right... how can we change this?”
You fully appreciate a beautifully completed piece of SEND paperwork.
And most importantly, you genuinely believe there is no single version of what development, communication, play or progress should look like.
What you'll need
This role does require someone with existing SEND knowledge and experience.
You'll need a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification, alongside practical experience supporting children with additional needs.
We're particularly looking for experience with:
EHCPs, Portage Assessments, SEND reports & documentation referrals working with families multi-agency working individual planning inclusive early years practice
You'll need to be organised, confident and able to manage the professional side of SEND while never losing sight of the little person and their voice behind all those forms.
Child first. Paperwork second. Always! And we've got some exciting things for you to work with...
Our nursery has a dedicated sensory room, giving you a separate environment that can be thoughtfully developed around children's individual needs.
You'll also have access to support from a private Clinical Psychologist where appropriate, providing another valuable source of professional knowledge and guidance.
And perhaps one of the best bits...
We're brand new.
There isn't a dusty SEND folder that's been doing the rounds since 2014.
There isn't a system you'll be told you can't change because “that's how we've always done it.”
You'll have the opportunity to help us develop our online SEND systems, processes and inclusive practice from the very beginning.
We value your experience. We want your ideas.
And if you've previously thought “there has to be a better way of doing this”...come and help us create it.
Our Benefits Package
28 days annual leave
Inclusive of bank holidays.
Christmas Eve off on us- An additional paid closure day, separate from your annual leave entitlement.
Two paid wellbeing days- After one year's service, you'll receive two additional paid wellbeing days each year — one to use between January and June and one between July and December.
Staff childcare discount- 50%- Helping make childcare a little easier for members of our own team, subject to availability and the nursery's staff childcare scheme.
Training & development
We want people to grow with us, with opportunities for ongoing training, professional development and progression.
Dedicated development time
Planned opportunities for team learning, observations, reflection and professional development.
Long-service rewards
£250 after 2 years' service
£500 after 5 years' service.
Team events
Team events and a Christmas party — because the grown-ups deserve to have fun too.
Our Recruitment Journey
We know interviews work both ways.
We want to find out whether you're right for Dots & Tots, but it's just as important that you have the opportunity to decide whether we're right for you.
Our recruitment process has three stages:
- Initial phone conversation – Let's have a chat
- In-person interview – Let's talk properly
- Stay & Play – Come and meet us
Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment
Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility.
Dots & Tots Day Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and safeguarding runs throughout our recruitment process — not simply at the DBS stage.
Appointments will be subject to satisfactory safer recruitment and suitability checks, which will include, as appropriate:
- Enhanced DBS checks.
- Identity verification.
- Right-to-work checks.
- Verification of relevant early years qualifications.
- Full employment-history checks and exploration of any gaps.
- Appropriate professional references.
- Consideration of the candidate's suitability to work with children throughout the interview and selection process.
- Any additional checks required for the position.
As part of our safer recruitment process, we will make direct telephone contact with the applicant's most recent childcare employer to verify their reference and discuss their previous employment and suitability to work with children.
Offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory completion of the required safer recruitment checks.
Dots & Tots is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds.
And finally...
If you know your EHCPs from your Portage, aren't frightened by a referral form, celebrate the little wins like they're enormous ones and believe every child deserves someone firmly in their corner...
We'd really like to meet you.
Pay: £15.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Childcare
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Do you hold a current and valid Level 3 qualification?
- Do you have current experience working with children with SEND?
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
