SENDCO on maternity leave

[bugbabe]

Hi

Was just wondering if anyone had encountered this problem. Our SENDCO has just told us she is pregnant and will be taking time off, approximately 8 months. She will be available for advice etc, but do we need to employ a SENDCO or train someone else in the interim to cover maternity leave?

Many thanks for your help

[blondie]

i would have said yes ,

[caffinefreak]

The statutory requirement changed in September to: “Maintained nursery schools must identify a member of staff to act as SENCO and other providers (in group provision) are expected to identify a SENCO 3.67 However as a SENCO myself, I know how important it is to have one person who knows exactly what is happening with all our children with SEN and as I am Lead Professional for several of our children, it is vital that we as a setting have a named SENCO so I would say 100% yes, train someone else up. It will also help in the longer term as you would then have 2 SENCO's and with the heavy workload that this role crries, that will never be a bad thing!!

[lashes2508]

Agree with caffeine freak , we have 2 senco myself and deputy and have 2 designated safeguarding person for the same reason too.

It's good practice as well as a requirement and I also encourage all staff to gain a better understanding of code of practice and changes as it should not always been down to the one person.

[Fredbear]

Two Senco's here too. So my answer would be yes to train someone else up.

Also if they decide not to return at the end of their maternity leave you already have someone.

[LKeyteach]

I agree 2 SENCO's can make a difference.

[Stargrower]

We have a SENCo and a deputy.

[Mouseketeer]

sencos, training them and keeping them has been one of the biggest hassles ever as a manager, one trained ...changed their mind , another 2 supporting children in setting as soon as school needed senco for same children moving into school they took mine, already trained, fantastic at their roles ( not that I'm bitter or anything) one adamant was returning from mat leave not to give her role to anyone else...didn't return to work, now another trained and on paper we do have another person ( the first one) who has done all the training and I do agree 2 is useful, but we'd be lucky to find training offered close enough before the 8 months is up, and senco training is a big commitment, can you have a member of staff out and not struggle with ratios ? Apart from the cost of training someone else and the extra pay if out of normal work time or paying someone else if you need cover, and are you then going to pay 2 senco increments ?

[Foreveryoung]

I went on training myself, however I have always been deputy SENCo I did this for above reasons as mousekeeper says. This way we will always have someone trained but if and when it happened that SENCo lead left I oversaw it but delegated what needed to happen while someone else trained up. I do have a good team though and the key workers undertake a lot of sen work with the children as required.

[lashes2508]

Remember it is everybodies responsibility not just the Senco

[thumperrabbit]

We don't even have training for Senco - not had it for quite a number of years now. Our Senco has been with us 9 years so used to have training but all our knowledge now comes from here / internet :-(

[bugbabe]

Thank you everyone. Two of us did do SENCO training in 2006 and we do keep upto date with changes and new legislation, often telling our named SENDCO about changes.

I agree with Mouseketeer about the cost element of training someone new. Obviously we have to pay the lady on maternity leave and pay the member of staff who is covering her maternity leave.