 Welcome to the June 2025 edition of the SENCO newsletter. This edition includes:
- Update from Helen Jackson-Brench, Area SENCO
- Training opportunities
- SENCO Induction
- Recent SENCO training session
- SEND top-up funding
- Panel representatives
Update from Helen Jackson-Brench, Area SENCO
Welcome to the final SENCO newsletter of this academic year. What a busy and productive year it has been. I hope that the rest of this half term goes smoothly for you all.
We are very much looking forward to hosting our final in-person SENCO network meeting of the year on Wednesday 25 June at 3.30pm. We will be launching our new Ordinarily Available Provision guidance and will be providing a hard copy to all attendees. Please do join us for this important and informative session.
As the end of the academic year approaches, our attention turns to September. If you have a new SENCO or a new member joining your SEND team, please let the Area SENCO team know, so that we can update our records.
Earlier in the year, you kindly completed a SENCO Survey sharing your views on the support you were accessing and offering suggestions for how the Area SENCO team could develop its role better to meet your needs. In the coming weeks, I will be sending out a follow-up survey to help evaluate what is working well and what could be improved. I would be very grateful if you could take the time to complete it.
I look forward to seeing you all on 25 June.
 Training opportunities
BeReady offer a range of fully funded career development pathways. This includes a SEND Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship, a Wellbeing Champion Apprenticeship and a Senior Leader Apprenticeship. You can find out more on the BeReady website.
Tellmi are offering a free webinar on Co-creating Mental Health Support with Autistic Young People on Thursday 12 June at 12pm. You can book tickets here.
Details of other courses available can be found on the events section of the Wokingham School's Hub.
SENCO Induction
Congratulations to the 16 SENCOs who completed their Wokingham SENCO Induction training just before half term. We had great engagement from them, and they were a pleasure to work with.
The course comprised of one full day and five half day sessions across the year covering topics such as annual reviews; writing EHC Needs Assessment requests; working with parents; supporting children with speech language and communication needs and supporting pupils through Quality First Teaching.
We would like to thank the guest speakers for giving their time to share their invaluable information and the schools who allowed us to use their spaces and provided us with tours of their SEND facilities.
The feedback we have received has been very positive:
“This course was perfect - exactly what I needed as a new SENDCO. Very useful and based on on-the-ground needs.”
“It covered everything I needed to know to get started in my role with a bit more confidence.”
100% of the participants said they would recommend the programme to other SENCOs who are new to the role.
The course will be running again next year so if you are interested in joining, or know someone who is new or recently new to the role please contact us for further information.
 Recent SENCO training session
On Wednesday 4 June, Soraya Khanna, one of our Educational Psychologists delivered an inspiring training session on Nurturing Children’s Social Preferences and Experiences. During the session, Soraya introduced the SPARK Framework designed to support children in building and maintaining social connections in a way that feels right for them.
The session encouraged us to think a little differently about how we support children in this area, with a strong emphasis on neuro-affirming approaches. It also offered a range of practical, easy-to-implement strategies that can be used in your settings.
A recording of the session, along with a copy of the presentation and the SPARK Framework, is available in the password-protected section of the SENCO Hub on the SENCO Training page. Soraya will also be sharing a PowerPoint with speaker notes soon, so you can cascade the training to staff within your schools.
SEND top-up funding
SEND top-up funding
In last month’s newsletter, we gave an overview of the new banding model for pupils with an EHCP. The SENCO Hub has now been updated with more detail including the implementation plan and the bandings and top-up funding rates for 2025-2026. You will find the information on the SEND top-up funding page.
Panel representatives
An email was sent out last week inviting all SENCOs and headteachers to participate in the SEND panels in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Previous panel members have reported that participation provided valuable insights into SEND processes, enhanced their professional knowledge, and contributed meaningfully to their continuing professional development (CPD). Many have described the experience as both rewarding and professionally enriching.
SEND panels are held weekly on Wednesdays at 10am, with each session lasting approximately two hours. Case papers will be distributed the preceding Friday to allow sufficient time for review ahead of the meeting.
The typical commitment is attendance once every six weeks, subject to the number of volunteers. A larger pool of participants will naturally reduce the frequency of individual attendance. While participation is voluntary, we fully understand that there may be occasions when attendees are unable to join due to other commitments.
We also warmly welcome the return of colleagues who have previously served on the panel and wish to continue their involvement in the coming academic year.
If you are willing and able to support the SEND panel in 2025–2026, please contact us senpanel@wokingham.gov.uk.
|
