If your child has special educational needs, you may be referred to their school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).
A SENCO is responsible for overseeing support for pupils with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities). They ensure that children with additional needs receive the right help, and that this support is coordinated and shared across teachers, parents, and external professionals.
A SENCO isn’t just an administrator; they are the advocate at the heart of a school’s SEND provision. They bring together parents, teachers, and resources, making sure every child has the tools to access learning confidently.
Key Responsibilities of a SENCO
- Identifying children with special educational needs and assessing their needs
- Planning and coordinating a SEND support package for a child: this may include advising teachers, recommending strategies and resources, referring to external professionals if needed, organising interventions, and much more!
- Liaising with parents, teachers, and external professionals (e.g., speech therapists, educational psychologists)
- Ensuring school staff understand their responsibilities in supporting pupils with SEND
- Maintaining records of interventions and progress
Catherine Jewkes, TTS Expert added: “If you are at all worried about your child’s needs, a conversation with their teacher/educator and the setting’s SENCO is often the best place to start. They can work with you to identify, understand and put in place additional support if needed.”
SENCO Requirements
- By law, every maintained school and academy in England must have a SENCO.
- New SENCOs must gain the National Award for SEN Coordination within three years of appointment (unless in post before 2009).
- School SENCO’s will have gained qualifications and attended training to support them in their role.
Catherine Jewkes, TTS Expert added: “The SENCO qualification ensures consistency across schools, but ongoing training and access to new strategies are just as important.”
Questions You Might Want to Ask a SENCO
If your child has already been identified as having special educational needs, you should have been notified by school. If not, then you can ask to speak to school staff at any point if you are concerned.
If you plan to meet with your child’s setting, either with their teacher, the SENCO or both, think about the questions you want to ask. What information will help you to understand how they are supporting your child?
Here are a few examples of things you could ask:
- What are they really enjoying at school? (it can always be good to start with a positive)
- What do you feel they are finding most tricky/what do you feel are their specific educational needs?
- What support is/will be in place to support them with these needs? (This could be resources, interventions or strategies)
- How is this recorded? And how could this be shared with me?
- Are there any strategies you would recommend for us to try at home?
- How are they being assessed? And how often is this?
Transition can also be a challenging time, so consider speaking to your child’s setting about support for transitions e.g. from Nursery to School or Primary to Secondary.
Every school will have a SEND Policy, so this can also be a helpful tool in finding out more information – this should be available on the school’s website.
Catherine Jewkes, TTS Expert added: “Parents should feel confident asking questions—it’s your right to understand how support is being delivered. Open, regular communication with the SENCO helps build trust and ensures your child’s needs remain at the centre.”
Supporting Teachers and Staff
SENCOs also play a key role in training and guiding teachers so that SEND strategies are embedded across the whole school.
When classroom teachers are confident using SEND resources, children don’t feel singled out; they just feel included. SENCOs make sure inclusion is woven into everyday teaching, not treated as an add-on.
SENCO Training and Development
- Required qualifications: SENCOs must complete the National Award in SEN Coordination.
- Ongoing professional development – Training is essential to keep pace with new approaches, research, and resources.
Catherine Jewkes, TTS Expert added: “Professional development for SENCOs is not just about compliance; it’s about empowerment. At TTS, we’ve seen how new ideas and fresh resources can reignite teachers’ confidence in supporting diverse learners.”
Importance of SENCOs in Learning Support
SENCOs have a huge impact on student success. They ensure children with SEND can access the curriculum, feel supported, and make progress.
A strong SENCO can transform outcomes. With the right blend of expertise, empathy, and resources, they make inclusion not just possible, but powerful.
Collaboration with Parents and Guardians
SENCOs are most effective when they work closely with parents, valuing their insights and making sure families feel supported.
Final Thoughts from Catherine Jewkes, TTS Expert: “Parents know their child best. It is most powerful when you combine parents/carers insights alongside professional expertise to create a partnership that truly benefits the child. A SENCO’s role is about far more than administration; it’s about vision, compassion, and action. When SENCOs, teachers, and parents work together, children with SEND don’t just receive ‘help’ – they thrive.”
