SENCO and Inclusion Coordinator

The role of the Nursery SEND and Inclusion Lead is to help ensure the setting is inclusive for every child, regardless of background, ability, language, or circumstance. Alongside our wider teams, they will embed inclusive values, practice, and culture across the whole setting with a focus on equity, access, and participation for all children. The SEND and Inclusion Lead will support management in ensuring that all children attending the University of Birmingham nurseries receive high-quality care and education in a safe and secure environment where they feel welcomed and valued, with the opportunity to reach their full potential.

The post holder will be required to prioritise the safeguarding and wellbeing of the children in our nurseries and will need to work closely with parents, colleagues and external professionals in order to achieve this.

Main Duties:

Support Nursery Leadership teams in the development and implementation of the UOB Nursery SEND and Inclusion Strategy and ensuring that inclusion is embodied by all members of the nurseries and regularly included as part of our audits.

Support the Nursery Management teams to monitor the day-to-day operation of the setting's SEND policy and help coordinate SEND provision across all sites, ensuring that all staff have the understanding and knowledge to implement policies, procedures and relevant strategies.

Where needed, seek out additional support for those children that may need it, including applying for additional funding, such as ISEY, SSPP, EHCP, EYPP and ensure that funds are utilised effectively and in accordance with children's individual plans.

Support management with the design, review and implementation of a setting-wide approach that ensures early identification and that every child identified with SEND receives high-quality, inclusive support that enables them to make meaningful progress and reach their full potential in accordance with the Graduated Approach.

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records that help evidence the child and family's journey and the support being provided or required.

Draw on a range of sources, including the views of the child, to inform the advice and support being given to practitioners in determining the most appropriate strategies for improving children's outcomes.

Complete applications and comprehensive reports for sharing with external agencies and to access additional support for children.

Support keyworkers in fulfilling the sector responsibility of planning enhanced transitions for those children that may find the process challenging, liaising with external professionals including schools.

Support the Nursery Management team in helping all practitioners within the setting to understand their responsibilities towards inclusion and how they may need to adapt their practice or approach to meet the differing needs of the children in their care, including those with SEND, those who are deemed as 'Looked after', those identified as vulnerable or those from less advantaged families.

Support the planning and delivery of training on inclusive environments, behaviour, and curriculum access through sharing updates from the sector, other professionals and information about good practice.

Maintain strong collaborative relationships with parents so their insights inform all actions taken by the setting and demonstrate empathy and understanding when engaging in challenging conversations.

Facilitate workshops for parents who may have emerging concerns about their children, to enable them to meet with internal and external professionals.

In accordance with statutory requirements, connect with the local authority and other agencies to liaise over individual children and gather information on wider sector issues such as securing sufficient expertise and experience.

In accordance with statutory requirements, build strong partnerships and work collaboratively with organisations specialising in SEND and inclusion to enhance staff knowledge, strengthen provision, and ensure the setting remains aligned with best practice, whilst also understanding and promoting Birmingham's Local Offer.

Liaise with the Nursery Leadership teams to help ensure that our policies reflect inclusive values and that each Nursery Curriculum has inclusion at the heart of it, whereby all nursery staff actively work to remove barriers to learning and development.

Support the University's sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.

Treat everyone with dignity and respect in line with current equality legislation including responding to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures.

Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

Qualified in Early Childhood Education or relevant field to Level 3. A SEND qualification is desired. Where possible GCSE English Language and Maths at Grade C or above.

Experience of supporting children with a range of needs and vulnerabilities. Understanding of the EYPP processes. In depth knowledge of the factors that can impact children's opportunities to learn and develop and strategies to support. Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant university policies and procedures.

Experience in working with children with special educational needs, including behaviour management. Robust knowledge of SEND Code of Practice and current legislation surrounding special educational needs. Experience of managing a caseload for early interventions to the EHCP process.

Strong communication skills, ability to write legibly and present information well to liaise effectively with parents, external agencies, and colleagues. Ability to write comprehensive reports that can be shared with other agencies. Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks effectively. Ability to share and impart knowledge so that it is understood by colleagues with a range of different knowledge and experience levels.

In depth understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework. Ability to manage own workload and prioritise tasks appropriately.

Benefits:

40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. Access to three high quality subsidised day nurseries. State-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, art gallery, museum and botanical gardens on campus. Access to the Birmingham Professional programme for career development. Flexible working arrangements considered.

A DBS check is required for this role. References from at least one referee will be sought prior to interview.