Aspiring SENDCO Programme

This 3-part programme has been designed for experienced teachers and middle leaders who are interested in learning more about leadership of SEND in mainstream schools. Participants may be interested in progressing into a SENDCO role, or interested in reflecting on how they can be leading effective SEND provision within their subject or pastoral roles. New-to-role SENDCOs are also welcome to attend the programme.

The programme consists of 3 x 90 minute sessions held at RLT Central Office. Participants will work collaboratively to build their understanding of:

• SEND Legislation and guidance
• High-quality teaching strategies for all pupils, particularly those with SEND
• Co-production
• Distributed leadership of SEND

Sessions will be divided into the following elements:

Session 1: Mon 13th January 2025, 1.30pm to 3pm

SEND Legislation and guidance and Co-production

• 30 mins pre-reading: SEND Code of Practice – Chapter 6

Session 2: Mon 3rd February 2025, 1.30pm to 3pm

Effective Teaching Strategies

• 30 mins pre-reading: Teacher Handbook SEND – Section 6

Session 3: Mon 10th March 2025, 1.30pm to 3pm

Distributed Leadership of SEND

• Pre-session school-based activities

To maximise the impact from the programme, attending all 3 sessions is recommended, but for increased flexibility, participants can opt to attend on a session by session basis.

About the facilitator | Katherine Walsh

Katherine is an experienced teacher and school leader, bringing more than 15 years’ experience to her role. She is an experienced SENCO, with experience leading SEND provision in mainstream schools in England and America. Katherine has taught in both primary and secondary schools as a class teacher, qualified teacher of the deaf and autism resource base teacher. Over the past ten years, Katherine has developed particular expertise in working with leadership teams to develop school-wide systems, establishing shared and inclusive visions for the education of children and young people with SEND. Katherine is the regional SEND leader for South Central England and Northwest London with Whole School SEND and was a project director for the Educational Endowment Foundation’s SEND Review Trial. She contributed to the drafting of the NPQ SENCO Content Framework was a lead author for the Teacher Handbook: SEND.

*This programme is free for colleagues working in River Learning Trust schools. For other attendees the cost of the programme is £120 for 3 sessions or £50 per session, please state which session you would like to attend when making your booking.

Most larger schools and trusts run their own CPD programmes. This programme is being run by River Learning Trust with places offered to colleagues in other schools in partnership with OTSA. Do you have any spare places on school or trust led events/programmes that you would open up to colleagues in other schools? If so, please get in touch (info@otsa.org.uk).

Payment

Payment is required at the time of booking by credit card, debit card or Paypal. Unless otherwise stated, a ticket gives admission to one person at face-to-face and online events. In the event that you share an online event link with other people who then attends the event, including sharing your screen, or you arrive at a venue without a ticket and we are able to admit you, we will invoice you or your organisation for additional tickets retrospectively.

Refunds

No refunds will be given with less than 30 days notice.

In the event of a refund request, please note that the Eventbrite booking fee of 6.95% plus 0.59p per ticket is not refundable.

To keep our event fees as low as possible, we are not able to issue invoices for payment by cheque or bank transfer and we are not able to reserve places without payment.

We strongly recommend that you take out ‘event ticket insurance’ which may cover the cost of your fee should you be unable to attend the event.