SENDCo - Lambeth

SENDCO – Specialist Autism and SEMH School

Location: South East London

Start Date: ASAP

Hours: Full-time, term time only 

Teaching Commitment: 11 periods per week out of 24

Interviews: Arranged ASAP

What does effective SEND leadership look like when every pupil has a different story, individual barriers to learning, and support needs that require careful coordination?

For some students, it means ensuring their EHCP accurately reflects their needs and that the provision outlined is being delivered. For others, it means identifying emerging needs, working with staff to put the right support in place, or liaising with families and local authorities to ensure no pupil is overlooked.

In a specialist school supporting young people with autism and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, the SENDCO plays a vital role in making sure that support is personalised, provision is effective, and every student has the opportunity to engage with education and make meaningful progress.

I am currently working with a specialist education provision in South East London that is looking for a dedicated and experienced SENDCO to work across two school sites on a long-term to permanent basis. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who combines strong SEND knowledge and organisational skills with a practical, pupil-centred approach. You will lead on SEND provision across both sites while maintaining a teaching commitment at secondary level.

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a varied SENDCO position offering the opportunity to influence provision across two specialist sites, working with pupils with autism, SEMH needs, and a range of additional educational needs.

You will have responsibility for coordinating support for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), as well as those on the SEND register who do not currently have an EHCP. The role will involve close liaison with multiple local authorities, families, teaching staff, and external professionals to ensure pupils receive appropriate support. The SENDCO will work across two sites, spending two days at each location. You will therefore need to be confident managing competing priorities, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring consistency of SEND practice across both settings.

About the School and Pupils

The schools provide specialist education for secondary-aged pupils with autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, and a range of additional barriers to learning.

Many pupils require personalised support to access education, develop confidence, manage emotional regulation, and engage successfully with learning. The SENDCO will play a central role in ensuring that individual needs are identified, understood, and appropriately supported.

Key details include:

• School sites: One site has more than 30 pupils with EHCPs and the other site has approximately 15–20 pupils with EHCPs.
• Local authority liaison: Working with approximately four to six local authorities.
• Covering both secondary and primary provision.
• Teaching commitment: Secondary-level teaching only, with no primary teaching responsibility.

Although the wider service-level agreement with Lambeth covers primary and secondary provision, the teaching element of this post is specifically secondary-level.

What the Role Involves

As SENDCO, you will take responsibility for coordinating and developing SEND provision across both sites, ensuring pupils receive appropriate support and that statutory responsibilities are managed effectively.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating SEND provision for pupils with EHCPs and those identified on the SEND register without an EHCP.
• Overseeing the implementation, monitoring, and review of EHCP provision, ensuring that pupils’ needs and specified support are appropriately addressed.
• Liaising with approximately four to six local authorities regarding EHCPs, annual reviews, consultations, placements, and provision.
• Working closely with the LA, supporting effective communication and coordination across the relevant primary and secondary services.
• Organising and contributing to EHCP annual reviews, gathering evidence, coordinating professional advice, and ensuring relevant documentation is completed accurately and within required timescales.
• Supporting the identification of additional needs and ensuring appropriate assessment, intervention, and support are in place for pupils on the SEND register.
• Working collaboratively with teachers, support staff, senior leaders, families, and external professionals to ensure a consistent approach to meeting pupils’ needs.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of SEND provision and identifying opportunities to improve outcomes, engagement, attendance, and access to learning.
• Maintaining accurate SEND records and ensuring relevant policies, procedures, and statutory responsibilities are followed.
• Supporting staff to understand individual learning profiles and implement appropriate strategies for pupils with autism and SEMH needs.
• Contributing to the development of inclusive, structured, and supportive learning environments that recognise the impact of communication differences, emotional regulation, and barriers to engagement.

Alongside these responsibilities, you will teach 11 periods per week at secondary level, delivering King's Trust prepared and resourced materials. This is a practical teaching commitment within the role, and there may be scope to negotiate a reduced timetable for a particularly strong candidate.

Who Should Apply?

We are looking for a knowledgeable, organised, and proactive SEND professional who can balance strategic responsibilities with the practical demands of working in a specialist school environment.

You may be an experienced SENDCO looking for a new challenge or a suitably qualified SEND professional ready to take the next step into a broader leadership role.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold qualified teacher status (QTS) and the relevant SENDCO qualification or meet the applicable requirements for the position.
• Have strong knowledge of SEND legislation, the SEND Code of Practice, EHCP processes, and annual review procedures.
• Have experience supporting pupils with autism, SEMH needs, and a range of additional learning needs.
• Be confident managing EHCPs and coordinating support for pupils both with and without an EHCP.
• Have experience liaising with local authorities, families, and external professionals to coordinate appropriate provision.
• Be highly organised and able to manage competing priorities across two school sites.
• Understand how autism, emotional regulation, anxiety, and other barriers can affect pupils’ engagement with education.
• Be confident supporting teaching staff to adapt their approaches and meet individual needs.
• Have strong communication, problem-solving, and record-keeping skills.
• Be comfortable combining SENDCO responsibilities with a secondary-level teaching commitment.
• Be committed to improving outcomes and ensuring that pupils receive the support they need to access education successfully.

Experience working across multiple sites or liaising with several local authorities would be particularly advantageous. Candidates with experience in specialist autism or SEMH settings are strongly encouraged to apply.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to take on a varied SENDCO role where you can make a tangible difference to pupils with autism and SEMH needs while helping shape provision across two specialist school sites.

You will have the opportunity to strengthen SEND systems, work closely with multiple local authorities, support staff in meeting pupils’ needs, and ensure that EHCP provision and wider SEND support are coordinated effectively.

For an experienced SENDCO who enjoys a combination of leadership, collaboration, and direct involvement in teaching and learning, this role offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a specialist educational provision in South East London.

About Parker Smith Inclusion

PS Inclusion recruits exclusively for SEND roles, with placements focused on long-term and permanent opportunities.

Before introducing candidates to a school, the team takes time to understand their experience, strengths, and the type of setting in which they would thrive. The aim is to connect educators with opportunities that suit their skills and allow them to make a meaningful difference.

With more than 1,500 educators placed and over 400 five-star Google reviews, the team is recognised for its efficient and supportive approach throughout the recruitment process.

How to Apply

If you are an experienced SENDCO or a suitably qualified SEND professional looking for a new opportunity within a specialist autism and SEMH setting, we would love to hear from you.

This is an opportunity to lead SEND provision across two sites, manage EHCPs and local authority relationships, and help ensure that every pupil receives the support they need to succeed.

Apply today to find out more and arrange an interview. Reach out to Jamie Martinez.