Love your SENDCO

Here are a few top tips for supporting your SENDCO and helping that vital part of the school community thrive and survive.

Homeward Bound

1. Who is their gatekeeper?

When your SENDCO is going home to work (yes, I did just say 'going home to work') who has their back? Who is the colleague who tells the others that this is what is happening?

In this way you can make sure your SENDCO doesn't have to sneak out so that nobody asks where they're going. 

I once coached a SENDCO to practise saying, "I’m going home to do paperwork. I’m going home to do paperwork".

I even got them to record it and play it back to themselves so that it became easier to say to others when asked – or dare I say challenged? – about where they were going and why.

Toilet Time!

2. Help put in a system so that your SENDCO can actually go to the toilet without being accosted by members of staff.

Don't believe me?

Here are two true-life examples:

There was that time the SENDCO was in the toilet cubicle and a member of staff was trying to have a conversation through the cubicle door.

Then there was the SENDCO who was in the cubicle only for a member of staff to shout to her, "I know you’re in there because you’ve left your lanyard by the sink so I’m going to wait here till you come out".

If ever I'm being pursued by colleagues down a corridor, I direct them to fill in an SAS (SEND Action Support) form.

This allows me to read about the child at a more suitable time – a time that suits me – and ensures everyone can ‘get on with their business' as it were.

'Out, Out'

3. Give them your undivided attention during meetings.

Dare I be so bold as to suggest going off site to meet as way of ensuring the SENDCO will receive your full attention?

I realised that when I used to have meetings with headteachers on site we were forever interrupted.

By taking that 'brave pill' and suggesting going ‘out, out’ the meetings were far more productive and efficient. 

Top tip: A cuppa and a cake make the meetings even better.

Whose Job Is It Anyway?

4. Help them delegate.

Do they need to be in that meeting or typing up those minutes or finding that information?

Sit down with them with a list of jobs they do.

Go through it and identify if everything on it has to be done by them?

You'll be amazed one, at how much they do and two, at the tasks which could be easily taken on by admin, teachers or Teaching Assistants.

To Meet or Not to Meet?

5. Back to meetings again.

Help them to manage their meetings.

How long should a meeting last? Who should be there? And, more importantly who doesn't need to be there at all?

The 'To Doom' List

6. Support them with paperwork.

Are they doing live electronic minutes in meetings which are then shared with everyone straight after the meeting?

If not, do they need support to develop this vital time-saving skill?

Without it, the writing up of the minutes becomes another task to do on their never ending ‘to doom' list.

Cupboard Love

7. Please find them a space to call their own, however small it is.

In one of my schools, I walked into an old cupboard with no window and walked out of a new office.

My new office.

I made it my own with a mirror and fairy lights and now I even have staff asking to use ‘The Boot Room’ for their PPA.

These little things make such a big difference to your SENDCOs to help them feel valued. 

#loveyourSENDCO

For more tips and ideas on how to get the best from your SENDCO -– or be an even better SENDCO yourself – check out Ginny's book Independent Thinking on Being a SENDCO: 113 tips for building relationships, saving time and changing lives.

Use the code 'ITL20' at checkout for 20% off and free UK p+p!

Ginny Bootman