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Job Title: SENCO
Location: Wessex Lodge School, Frome, Somerset BA11 4LA
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday–Friday
Salary: From £38,000 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: July 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available
About the Role
Do you believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of the barriers they face? Are you an experienced SEND professional ready to influence whole-school practice, inspire colleagues, and ensure children and young people receive the exceptional support they deserve?
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 pupil 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 pupils 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 pupils with SEND to secure the best possible outcomes.
- Lead the development and review of EHCPs, ensuring statutory compliance and meaningful involvement from pupils and families.
- Monitor pupil 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 pupils 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.
- Passionate about safeguarding, pupil wellbeing and securing outstanding outcomes.
- 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 pupils 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.
Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.
We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why Join Us?
We place pupils 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 pupils 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.
Outcomes First Group 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, Outcomes First Group 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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