New to school/role?
New to school or new to the SENDCO role?
Taking on the SENDCO role brings significant statutory responsibility and accountability, particularly in relation to Ofsted inspection and the quality of SEND provision across the school. SENDCO Services provides experienced, structured support to help you establish effective systems, evidence impact and meet expectations with confidence. We work alongside you to ensure SEND practice is compliant, inclusive and inspection-ready, while remaining realistic and manageable within the day-to-day demands of school life.
Our support can include:
- Clarifying statutory duties in line with the SEND Code of Practice and current Ofsted inspection frameworks
- Reviewing SEND systems, documentation and provision to ensure they are robust, compliant and evidence-based
- Supporting you to demonstrate impact for pupils with SEND, not just paperwork
- Helping you prepare confidently for Ofsted inspection, SEND reviews or local authority scrutiny
- Prioritising actions through a clear SEND development plan aligned to whole-school improvement
- Acting as a trusted professional sounding board as you settle into your role
paperwork overload
Drowning in paperwork?
SEND paperwork can quickly become unmanageable, pulling SENDCOs away from strategic leadership and meaningful work with pupils, families and staff. SENDCO Services helps you regain control by streamlining systems, prioritising what really matters and ensuring documentation is purposeful, compliant and inspection-ready. Our focus is on reducing unnecessary burden while strengthening the evidence Ofsted expects to see around impact, quality of provision and inclusive practice.
Our support can include:
- Reviewing existing paperwork to identify what is statutory, useful and excessive
- Streamlining processes for IEPs, provision maps, annual reviews and EHCP evidence
- Ensuring documentation clearly demonstrates impact and progress, not just activity
- Aligning SEND records with Ofsted expectations around intent, implementation and impact
- Creating simple, sustainable systems that work in real school contexts
- Supporting you to feel confident that your paperwork is fit for purpose and defensible
Access Arrangements
Are your students getting the exam support they’re entitled to?
Ensuring fair access to assessments is essential for student success. Our Access Arrangements service helps schools meet JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) requirements with confidence and compliance.
- Student Assessments – Identifying eligible students through specialist assessment and screening.
- On-the-Job Training – Practical training for SENDCOs and staff to manage access arrangements effectively.
- JCQ Folder Compilation & Quality Assurance – Support in preparing, reviewing, and maintaining accurate access arrangements files.
- Evidence Gathering & Documentation – Assistance in collecting and organising required evidence to meet JCQ guidelines.
- Staff Training – CPD sessions on best practices, legal requirements, and effective implementation of access arrangements.
We help you streamline the process, ensuring your students receive the support they need while keeping your school fully compliant.
parental complaints
Managing parental concerns or complaints?
Parental concerns can be complex, emotive and time-consuming, particularly where trust has broken down or expectations feel misaligned. SENDCO Services supports SENDCOs to navigate these situations with confidence, clarity and consistency, ensuring responses are compliant, child-centred and aligned with statutory guidance. We help you put clear processes in place so concerns are addressed early, professionally and in a way that stands up to scrutiny.
Our support can include:
- Advising on appropriate responses in line with the SEND Code of Practice, school policies and local authority procedures
- Supporting clear, evidence-based communication with parents and carers
- Reviewing documentation to ensure decisions are transparent, defensible and child-focused
- Helping prevent escalation by strengthening early intervention and record-keeping
- Preparing for or supporting meetings where relationships are strained
- Acting as a professional sounding board during particularly challenging cases
Need Support?
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you manage parental complaints.
TA Training
Strengthening Teaching Assistant practice
Teaching Assistants play a vital role in the quality of provision and outcomes for pupils with SEND. SENDCO Services supports SENDCOs to develop confident, skilled TAs whose work has clear purpose and measurable impact. Our training focuses on effective deployment, inclusive strategies and ensuring support promotes independence rather than dependency — a key area of focus for Ofsted.
Our support can include:
- Training TAs in evidence-based strategies that support learning, communication and behaviour
- Supporting effective TA deployment in line with Ofsted expectations
- Developing clarity around roles, responsibilities and impact
- Ensuring interventions are purposeful, monitored and reviewed
- Supporting SENDCOs to evidence the impact of TA support on pupil progress
- Aligning TA practice with whole-school inclusive teaching approaches
understanding the sendco role
Understanding the Responsibilities as SENDCO
The SENDCO role is both strategic and operational, with significant responsibility for compliance, quality of provision and outcomes for pupils with SEND. SENDCO Services supports SENDCOs to develop a clear understanding of their role, helping them balance statutory duties with whole-school leadership expectations. We work with you to build confidence, clarity and a sustainable approach that meets Ofsted expectations without becoming unmanageable.
Our support can include:
- Clarifying the SENDCO’s statutory responsibilities under the SEND Code of Practice
- Supporting the transition from operational tasks to strategic SEND leadership
- Aligning SEND priorities with whole-school improvement planning
- Strengthening oversight of provision, impact and quality assurance
- Supporting SENDCOs to confidently articulate their role to senior leaders, governors and inspectors
- Acting as a trusted partner as you grow into the role