1Up Collective CIC SENCO – Job Description
(Alternative Provision & Specialist Post-16 Provider)
Job Title: Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo)
Reports to: Head of Education
Location: Across sites in South Essex (currently Basildon & Southend)
Contract: Full & part time hours available
Salary: From £33,000pa / £175 day rate to negotiable, depending on experience.
Background on 1Up
1Up is a not for profit Community Interest Company that supports young people to identify and reach their potential through education & social inclusion. Beginning in East London in 2015, 1Up has grown rapidly in Essex and is now delivering a range of work areas including youth violence and youth crime prevention, education of young people who have been excluded from or refuse school including those with SEMH and SEND.
The activities 1Up will provide from September 2026 include;
- A formal post 16 education offer that includes functional skills, vocational courses, personal development and therapy for students with SEMH, SEND, EHCP in South Essex & London Borough of Havering.
- Alternative education provision for both mainstream schools and Pupil Referral Units
- Mentoring & sports activities for young people known to the Youth Offending Service and Social Care
- An evening youth / sport / music provision Basildon that focuses on reducing Anti-social behaviour, youth crime and violence.
Purpose of the Role
The SENCo leads and coordinates high-quality provision for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across the alternative provision in KS4 & KS5. The role ensures that students with additional needs receive the support, adjustments and interventions required to access learning, achieve their qualifications, and make successful transitions into adulthood, employment or further study.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership of SEND
- Lead the 1Up Collective SEND college provision in line with the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and post-16 statutory duties.
- Develop, implement and monitor the college’s SEND strategy, policies and procedures.
- Ensure that SEND is embedded across curriculum planning, teaching, assessment and quality assurance.
- Provide professional guidance to staff on SEND, inclusive practice and reasonable adjustments.
2. Identification & Assessment
- Oversee the identification of students with SEND through screening, assessment, transition information and staff referrals.
- Coordinate and contribute to Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) reviews, ensuring high-quality reports and compliance with statutory timelines.
- Work with external agencies to secure specialist assessments where required.
3. Provision & Support
- Design and oversee targeted interventions, in-class support, and personalised learning plans.
- Ensure high-quality support for students with EHCPs, including appropriate staffing, timetabling and resource allocation.
- Lead on reasonable adjustments, exam access arrangements and assistive technology.
- Monitor the impact of interventions and adapt provision accordingly.
4. Staff Development
- Provide training, coaching and guidance to teachers, tutors, support staff and curriculum teams.
- Promote inclusive teaching strategies and differentiation across all study programmes.
- Support staff to understand a wide range of needs including ASD, ADHD, SEMH, SpLD, sensory needs and learning difficulties.
5. Safeguarding & Wellbeing
- Work closely with the Safeguarding Team to ensure that SEND learners’ needs are understood and supported.
- Support students with SEMH needs, behaviour plans and risk assessments.
- Promote positive mental health, resilience and independence.
6. Partnership Working
- Liaise with parents/carers, local authorities, social care, health professionals and external agencies.
- Represent the 1Up at multi-agency meetings, annual reviews and transition events.
- Build strong relationships with feeder schools and alternative provisions to support transition.
7. Monitoring & Quality Assurance
- Track progress, attendance, engagement and outcomes for SEND learners.
- Produce reports for senior leaders, governors and local authorities.
- Ensure compliance with funding requirements, including High Needs Funding (HNF) and EHCP provision mapping.
- Contribute to self-assessment reports (SAR), quality improvement plans (QIP) and Ofsted readiness.
Person Specification – SENCo
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS/QTLS) or equivalent professional qualification.
- Evidence of ongoing professional development in SEND.
- Strong knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice (2015), especially post-16 responsibilities.
Desirable
- National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) or willingness to work towards it.
- Additional qualifications in SEND, mental health, autism, literacy/numeracy interventions, leadership or other suitable for working with young people
Experience
Essential
- Experience supporting learners with a range of SEND needs (e.g., ASD, ADHD, SEMH, SpLD, learning difficulties).
- Experience coordinating or delivering interventions, support plans or EHCP processes.
- Experience working with external agencies and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience supporting teaching staff to adapt and differentiate learning.
Desirable
- Experience in a post-16 or FE environment.
- Experience managing support staff or leading a team.
- Experience with High Needs Funding and exam access arrangements.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Strong understanding of inclusive teaching, differentiation and reasonable adjustments.
- Ability to interpret assessment data and track learner progress.
- Excellent communication skills with students, staff, parents and professionals.
- Ability to write high-quality reports, support plans and EHCP documentation.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Understanding of safeguarding, mental health and behaviour support.
Desirable
- Knowledge of assistive technology and digital accessibility tools.
- Understanding of preparing for adulthood outcomes (employment, independence, community participation).
Personal Qualities
- Compassionate, student-centred and committed to inclusion.
- Calm, resilient and able to work under pressure.
- Confident in challenging situations and able to make informed decisions.
- Collaborative and able to build strong relationships across the organisation.
- Reflective, proactive and committed to continuous improvement.
Please apply through Indeed or send your CV and covering letter to [email protected]. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact us at the same email address.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: £33,000.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
