SENCo

Oakfield Park School, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF7 7DT

27 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  1 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  5 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher or lecturer
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £31,698.00 Annually (Actual) The listed starting salary is pro rata and dependent on experience. The salary range is L1 to L3, pro rata for 3 days (16.5 hours) per week.

SENCo job summary

Are you an experienced and passionate SEND leader ready to make a lasting difference?

Oakfield Park School is a dynamic, multi-site specialist provision for pupils aged 11-19 with a wide range of complex learning needs. Every student has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), and our vision is simple yet ambitious: to secure the very best outcomes for every child, equipping them with the skills, confidence and resilience they need to thrive in adulthood.

We are seeking an exceptional Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to join our dedicated leadership team. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled professional to play a pivotal role in shaping and developing outstanding inclusive practice across our school community.

As SENCO, you will provide strategic leadership for SEND provision, working closely with senior leaders, teaching staff, families, and external agencies to ensure that every student receives the support they need to achieve their full potential. You will champion inclusion, drive continuous improvement, and help embed high-quality SEND practice across all aspects of school life.

As part of the role you would be the named Designated Teacher for Looked after Children in school (CIC). In this role you would create Personal Education Plans (PEPs) and attend PEP meetings.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has Qualified Teacher Status (QTS);
• NPQ for SENCO or NASENCO prior to September 2024;
• Has substantial experience supporting children and young people with SEND;
• Possesses a thorough understanding of current SEND legislation, policy and best practice;
• Knowledge of the EHCP process;
• Has a proven track record of improving outcomes for pupils with additional needs;
• Can inspire, influence, and support colleagues to deliver excellent inclusive practice;
• Demonstrates outstanding leadership, communication, and partnership-working skills;
• Is passionate about ensuring that every child belongs, succeeds, and flourishes;
• Has or is willing to undertake the Designated Teacher training.

In this role, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of SEND provision;
• Monitor, evaluate, and develop the effectiveness of interventions and support programmes;
• Work collaboratively with staff, families, and external professionals to meet students' needs;
• Ensure compliance with statutory SEND requirements and maintain high-quality provision/
• Support the effective deployment of resources to maximise outcomes for learners;
• Lead and contribute to professional development, building staff confidence and expertise in SEND.

Why join Oakfield Park School?

At Oakfield Park School, you will become part of a committed and talented team whose shared purpose is to transform lives through education. We offer a supportive, forward-thinking environment where innovation is encouraged, professional growth is valued, and leaders are empowered to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and their families.

If you share our commitment to inclusion, have a passion for SEND leadership, and are excited by the opportunity to help shape exceptional provision for young people with complex needs, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help every child achieve their potential.

For further information or to visit school, please contact the school recruitment@oakfieldpark.wakefield.sch.uk

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Oakfield Park is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Governing Body has a duty of care to students and all members of the school community. There is a comprehensive Safeguarding policy in place which, along with a policy for Health and Safety, is regularly reviewed by the Governing Body.

Our Safeguarding policy can be found on the school website under the Policies section and is also available upon request from the school office.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Oakfield Park School

• Organisation type: Special school, ages 11 to 19
• Size: 176 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Oakfield Park School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/oakfield-park-school

Oakfield Park School is a Local Authority maintained school situated in the pleasant village of Ackworth, near Pontefract. We provide a high level of specialised education for young people aged 11 to 19 years who have severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Many of our pupils have additional complex needs including ASDs, sensory impairment, challenging behaviour and physical difficulties. We provide high-quality specialist resources across the school, including a hydrotherapy pool, a sensory room, activity and soft play area, a food tech room, and a variety of outdoor resources.

We aim for all our students to develop a ‘voice’, to be as independent, social, and healthy as possible, enabling them to become citizens who engage positively with society while leading happy and fulfilled lives.

In October 2019 we received our second consecutive Ofsted judgement of “Outstanding”. The inspectors found that:

• The quality of education at Oakfield Park is outstanding.
• Oakfield Park is a remarkably friendly and welcoming school.
• Pupils work hard and achieve highly at Oakfield Park.
• Pupils say they love coming to school
• They (pupils) feel happy and safe because they know that adults care about them.
• By the time students leave school, they are exceedingly well prepared for adult life.
• Sixth form students get precisely the right support to help them to get ready for when they leave school.
• [There are] exceptionally strong relationships between pupils and staff

Pupils attend from across the Wakefield Metropolitan District. The school is well equipped providing excellent accommodation for pupils with disabilities including those with physical and complex needs. It is a single-storey construction allowing access for wheelchairs. We have:

- A heated hydrotherapy pool which is used by school pupils and hired out for community use.
- Activity soft play room
- Sensory Room
- ICT Suite
- Specialist Food Technology Room
- Independent Living flat
- Adventure playground
- Horticulture area including a large poly-tunnel
- Sensory garden
- Large wildlife area
- Spacious playing fields
- Well resourced specialist classrooms
- 3 adapted minibuses and a people carrier

Our Aims

We are a school which provides a centre of excellence through:

• Working in partnership with parents, families, staff, governors and other professionals to ensure the right of every person who has special educational needs to access the quality of education to which they are entitled.
• A shared commitment to building on knowledge and skills to develop independence in preparation for lifelong learning.
• Having high expectations of pupil standards, achievements and behaviour.
• Ensuring the care, safety and welfare of all of its pupils.
• Valuing every member of the school community.
• Providing a highly trained, professional staff team who are committed to delivering quality learning experiences that are challenging and rewarding.
• Celebrating progress, success and achievement through building on ability rather than disability.
• Being inclusive and promoting equal opportunity for all.

“All Different, All Valued, All Equal”

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