Expert SENCo support. Flexible. Dependable. On-Demand.

Yes. Schools remain responsible for their statutory duties and SEND provision, but can use external specialist expertise to strengthen capacity, provide continuity or support their existing SENCo.

The exact arrangement should be agreed with the school's leadership and reflect the school's responsibilities and governance arrangements.

Rent-A-SENCo can support schools in a range of circumstances, including:

• Schools awaiting a permanent SENCo appointment
• SENCo absence or extended leave
• Schools with a new or inexperienced SENCo
• Existing SENCos carrying an unsustainable workload
• Schools experiencing a rise in SEND referrals or EHCP activity
• Schools that need additional specialist expertise without creating a full-time post
• Schools reviewing or rebuilding their SEND systems and provision
• Schools that need short-term or longer-term strategic SEND support

The service can also work alongside an existing SENCo to provide mentoring, professional challenge, case consultation and quality assurance. The aim is to strengthen the school's SEND leadership rather than duplicate it.

Support can include both operational SEND work and strategic development, for example:

• SEND casework and pupil reviews
• EHCP applications, annual review documentation and evidence
• Provision mapping
• SEND register review and maintenance
• Reviewing and developing SEND documentation
• Referral systems and processes
• Liaison drafting for families and external professionals
• Advice to teachers and support staff
• Reasonable adjustments and classroom provision
• Preparing for meetings and reviews
• Supporting statutory SEND processes
• SEND data and record keeping
• Reviewing the effectiveness of existing provision
• Strategic SEND planning and development

We can be flexible with the exact requirements of your setting. The scope of the role is agreed with the school rather than applying a one-size-fits-all list of tasks.

Support is provided by an experienced SENCo with specialist knowledge of SEND practice and inclusion across both UK education settings and international schools.

The role provides genuine professional expertise, rather than simply additional administrative capacity. Where appropriate, we can also provide professional challenge, mentoring and a second pair of eyes on complex SEND decisions and processes, drawing on wider specialist expertise including SMHL and Exam Access Arrangements (EAA) assessment.

We mutually agree the level of support at the outset based on your school's circumstances, priorities and existing SEND capacity.

Our packages provide a set number of hours each month, focused on the areas where they will have the greatest impact; from casework, documentation and EHCP work to provision development, staff consultation, systems and strategic advice.

Schools can use Rent-A-SENCo for a defined period, as an interim arrangement or as ongoing monthly support. There is no requirement to commit to a full academic year.

The arrangement can also adapt as your needs change. Available hours can be redirected towards emerging priorities, such as an EHCP deadline, increased referrals or staff absence, and where your requirements change significantly, we can discuss adjusting the level of support, subject to availability and the agreed package.

The service is primarily delivered remotely, because much of the work involved, documentation, provision mapping, casework, EHCP preparation, reviewing records and strategic planning, can be completed securely without needing to be physically on site. This also makes the service more flexible around the smaller, ad-hoc hours that many schools need.

Support is delivered through scheduled video meetings, secure document sharing, email consultation and agreed review points. We work within a clearly defined scope so that actions, recommendations and responsibilities remain clear and manageable for the school.

Where appropriate, support can include remote meetings with staff, leadership or families, document review, case consultation and scheduled strategic sessions.

In-person support can also be discussed where there is a clear benefit to being in school.

A named member of staff simply acts as our on-site link when needed. They hold the overall school responsibility for SEND, providing local information or helping with anything that requires someone physically in school.

Yes. We can support schools with the practical implementation of SEND processes and help ensure that documentation, evidence, provision and review processes are appropriately organised.

This can include EHCP processes, annual reviews, SEND records, provision mapping, referrals and other areas of SEND administration.

For schools in England, our work is informed by the SEND Code of Practice 0–25, alongside relevant statutory guidance and current expectations.

Importantly, Rent-A-SENCo provides professional support to the school; the school's governing body, trust or leadership remains responsible for its statutory duties and accountability.

Yes.

For international schools, the service focuses on specialist SEND and inclusion expertise that can be applied within the school's own context.

We can support areas such as identifying and documenting needs, developing provision, advising staff, reviewing SEND systems, supporting families and building sustainable inclusive practice.

Where a school's local statutory framework differs from the UK system, we would not assume that UK legislation or processes apply. Instead, we work within the school's local requirements while bringing our specialist SEND and inclusion expertise to the setting.

We do not expect schools to routinely send confidential pupil information to us by ordinary email.

Where access to pupil information or school systems is required, we can work with the school to establish an appropriate secure arrangement. This might include:

• A school-provided account with appropriate permissions
• Remote access to relevant school systems, where the school permits this
• Access to a designated SharePoint, OneDrive or Google Drive folder
• Access to relevant SEND documentation within the school's existing systems

The principle is that information remains within the school's approved systems wherever possible, rather than creating separate copies of sensitive pupil information.

The exact access arrangements are agreed with the school's leadership and data protection lead/DPO and should reflect the school's own policies, permissions and security requirements.

Confidentiality and appropriate data handling are fundamental to the service.

We work within the requirements of the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, using secure, school-approved systems and limiting access to information to what is necessary for the agreed work.

We would not routinely use ordinary email to exchange detailed sensitive pupil information where a secure school system or shared workspace is available.

Any data-sharing arrangement should be agreed with the school and should have an appropriate lawful basis, with suitable technical and organisational measures in place.

Safeguarding is treated with the same level of importance as it would be for a member of the school's own staff.

The SENCO providing the service is Level 3 DSL trained and holds the appropriate police/DBS checks for working with children. An International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) is also held and renewed annually where applicable.

We follow the school's safeguarding procedures and reporting routes when working within a setting. Any safeguarding concern identified through our work would be dealt with in accordance with the school's safeguarding arrangements and relevant statutory guidance.

Schools remain responsible for ensuring that their own safeguarding arrangements, policies and designated safeguarding leadership are in place.

The school’s statutory SEND responsibilities remain with the school and its leadership and governing body. Rent-A-SENCo can provide experienced interim support and help maintain continuity, but does not transfer those legal responsibilities away from the school.

Where needed, we can work alongside a designated member of the leadership team to ensure communication, safeguarding and day-to-day decisions remain appropriately connected to the school.

Absolutely.

Rent-A-SENCo isn't intended simply to keep the existing SEND paperwork moving.

We can help schools identify where systems are creating unnecessary workload and develop more efficient approaches to areas such as provision mapping, referrals, documentation, record keeping and SEND review processes.

The aim is to leave the school with clearer systems, better organised information and a more sustainable way of working, rather than creating long-term dependence on external support.

Where agreed as part of the school's support arrangement, and with parent consent, we can contribute to communication and meetings involving parents, carers and relevant professionals.

This might include helping prepare for meetings, reviewing evidence, contributing specialist SEND advice, supporting EHCP processes or helping the school clarify appropriate next steps.

The school remains the lead organisation and retains responsibility for its relationships and statutory duties.

This depends on availability and the level of support required, but we aim to work as quickly as possible.

We begin with an initial conversation to understand the school's circumstances, establish priorities and agree the appropriate level of support. We can then agree digital access arrangements, relevant documentation and a practical starting plan.

For schools dealing with an immediate vacancy or absence, we can discuss the quickest appropriate route to getting support in place.