Journeying to the Heart of SENCO Wellbeing A Guide to Enable and Empower SEND Leaders

SENCO wellbeing matters, and this accessible book is written by experienced SENCOs for SENCOs to offer crucial support and guidance on important aspects of what can be a challenging and complex role. Divided into three parts – people, purpose and place – it explores essential themes to support SENCO wellbeing, from building a team and finding joy in the job, to managing conflict and balancing time and workload. Through seven engaging characters, inhabitants of the town ‘Inclusion Ville’, the book also shines a light on empowerment, agency and being a changemaker, with a focus on how SENCOs can drive whole school change. Each chapter includes mindful moments, allowing the reader to consider reflective questions and calls to action, as well as case studies and activities, to consolidate learning and help SENCOs to develop their own bespoke wellbeing toolkit. SENCOs need to intentionally invest in themselves and their wellbeing in order to be effective SEND leaders. This valuable book is key reading for all SENCOs, both new to the job and experienced, as well as senior leadership teams.

Introduction: Poem ‘I am a SENCO’ Nice to meet you The hero of this book Why Wellbeing? People Chapter 1-Identity Chapter 2-Working With Others Well Chapter 3-Building Teams and Community Purpose Chapter 4-Joy in the Job Chapter 5-Be a Changemaker Chapter 6-Wielding Influence for Impact Place Chapter 7-Managing Conflict Without the Baggage Chapter 8-Time and Workload-Finding Harmony Chapter 9-From Oasis to Community A final word on Legacy

Dr Anita Devi is a former SENCO, Senior Leader, School Improvement Advisor and local authority SEND Advisory Teacher and Healthwatch Trustee. Her teaching career spans early years to postgrad in the UK and overseas, and in 2017 she was awarded the prestigious international Influential Educational Leaders Award for her SEND Pipeline strategy. Anita is the author of the first SEND book for Early Career Teachers and is currently a Changemaker Education Consultant and Founding CEO of #TeamADL as well as project lead for #365send. She submitted her PhD thesis on SEND Leadership in December 2021, and qualified in 2022. Jenny Bowers has worked in different primary school contexts for 21 years and has extensive experience as a SENCO, designated safeguarding lead and senior leader, including as a head. She is currently the founding director of Purplemoon Supervision and Coaching Ltd, an associate for Education Support, the DEO of #TeamADL and a delivery partner for #365send. Jenny is also on the board of Huddersfield Giants Community Trust and is a non-executive director of Glint, a social enterprise which delivers horse-assisted development to vulnerable children and adults.