Senco - Full-time - Special Needs Position

Whitfield Aspen School, Dover

• Ref:KCC886-2471-192L
• Posted:26/02/2026
• Pay:UPS plus TLR
• Start Date:1st September 2026
• App Close Date:18/03/2026 at 23:45
• Interviews:Wednesday 25th March 2026

Advert

Are you an ambitious, compassionate and resilient leader who believes that every child deserves to flourish? We are seeking the right person to join our inclusive school, where our children are at the heart of every decision we make.

At Whitfield Aspen Primary School, with an SRP with over 200 children and a 3-form entry mainstream, inclusion is a whole school commitment. We are proud of our diverse community and our strong culture of belonging and we are looking for a SENCO or aspiring SENCO who will champion this vision.

About the Role

Following the retirement of one of our SENCOs, we are looking for someone who will lead alongside our other SENCO to:

• Provide leadership in SEND across the school, driving high standards of provision and outcomes.
• Work as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to whole school and decision making.
• Lead and empower staff so they can deliver high quality, inclusive teaching for all children.
• Build excellent relationships with children, families, staff and external partners.
• Ensure compliance with statutory SEND responsibilities while maintaining a warm, supportive and solution focused approach.
• Use data, professional expertise and research to shape the school’s inclusive practice.
• Champion the voice of children with SEND and ensure their needs are met with high expectations.

About You

We are looking for a SENCO who:

• Has a deep understanding of inclusive practice and a commitment to ensuring every child thrives.
• Holds (or is willing to work towards) the SENCO qualification.
• Has strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, influence and bring people together.
• Is highly organised, proactive, and able to lead on whole school systems for SEND.
• Communicates effectively.
• Is reflective, research informed and committed to ongoing professional learning.

We Offer

• A warm, kind and caring ethos where staff matter.
• A school where inclusion is embedded.
• A skilled, dedicated staff team who share the belief that every child can achieve.
• Admin Support shared with the other SENCO.
• A supportive Senior Leadership Team who value SEND.
• A well-resourced environment with the chance to work with Specialist Teachers, a range of Therapists and NHS Nurses.
• A High-quality CPD and opportunities for leadership development.
• Free before and after school childcare.

Join Us

If you are forward-thinking and want to lead change, influence whole school practice, and be part of a child centred team, we would love to hear from you.

For more information, please contact Gemma.Kingsland-Roberts@whitfield.kent.sch.uk or call us on 01304 821526.

Candidates must be able to provide original examination certificates prior to the interview.

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed.

CV’s will not be accepted.

Applications: 18^th March 2026, 23:45 PM

Interviews: 25^th March 2026

Please note that as part of Keeping Children Safe in Education, all references are required to be obtained prior to interview. Shortlisted/successful candidates will be screened online for social media checks.

Contracts will be subject to satisfactory references, Section 128 and qualification checks and pre-employment health screening. Our school and its personnel are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children.  This post is subject to an Enhanced Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Information about the school

Whitfield Aspen School is unusual in a national context.  It is a combination of a mainstream primary and a Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) for primary age pupils with profound, severe and complex learning needs (PSCN). In September 2022, we developed the Engagement Model as an approach across the whole school to support children with complex social emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), who are disengaged with their learning. In addition, there is a Specialist Intervention Nursery team who support interventions and next steps for identified children in local mainstream Nurseries. We also offer on-site provision for Specialist Intervention, for Nursery age children who are not able to access a mainstream setting, due to their complex needs.   

Whitfield Aspen School works collaboratively with a group of 11 other local mainstream schools, the Samphire Learning Hub. We are a group of schools that work collaboratively to improve outcomes for children. We also are part of Kent Special Educational Needs Trust which contains all the Special Schools within Kent. We work closely with them to ensure the staff within the SRP are as competent as those teachers working within Special Schools.

At Whitfield Aspen school the proportion of pupils with profound, severe and complex learning needs far exceeds the national average for a mainstream school.    In September 2021, the school split over 2 sites. The Richmond site opened for Yr. 4, Yr. 5, Yr. 6 and KS2 (Key Stage 2) pupils on the SRP roll. The lower school for EY, Yr.1, Yr.2 and Yr.3 and KS1 (Key Stage 1) pupils on the SRP roll, continues to be based on Mayfield Road. We are maintaining the fully inclusive model over both sites. 

An additional block was added to the Richmond site during 2025. This has created the capacity for an additional 4 classrooms. We currently have 660 students across two sites and in excess of 230 staff. Our Governors play an active role in school life and support our school aims fully.

In January 2025 we went through a Graded Inspection and maintained our Good status.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Gemma Kingsland-Roberts
• Address:Mayfield Road, Whitfield, Dover, Kent, CT16 3LJ
• Telephone: 01304 821526
• Email: gemma.kingsland-roberts@whitfield.kent.sch.uk

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Job Description