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The New SENCO's First 100 Days

Nobody hands you a map for this job. Here's a rough one, four phases from your first week to your hundredth day, built from what actually matters early on rather than everything you could theoretically do.

Week One: Get Your Bearings

Days 1–5

Get the full SEND register: names, needs, plan type, review datesIdentify who's overdue for review right now, that's your first fireMeet your TAs, they know the students better than any file doesFind out who your external contacts are (EP, SALT, OT, LA caseworker)Locate the SEND policy and check when it was last actually reviewed

Month One: Understand the System

Weeks 2–4

Sit in on at least 3 different interventions to see what's actually happeningMap how a concern currently travels from teacher to support, in practice, not on paperIdentify your highest-risk EHCP reviews for this termIntroduce yourself to parents of students with EHCPs, a short email is enoughFind out what SLT actually wants reported, and how oftenCheck the SEND budget: what's allocated, what's committed, what's free

First Term: Start Shaping It

Weeks 5–12

Fix the one process that's clearly broken, don't try to fix everythingBuild or update one-page profiles for your highest-need studentsSet a realistic weekly rhythm: when you review flags, when you do adminDeliver one piece of staff CPD, even 15 minutes, on something practicalStart a simple provision map if one doesn't already existHave an honest first conversation with SLT about workload and capacity

By Day 100: Take Stock

Around week 14

Review what's improved since day one, and say so out loud to SLTIdentify your top 3 priorities for the rest of the yearAsk for what you actually need: time, budget, training, support staffFind one other SENCO to talk to regularly, this job is lonelier than it should be

This isn't a checklist for perfection, it's permission to not do everything at once. If you want a clearer picture of where your systems stand right now, the SEND Admin Health Check takes 15 minutes.

Take the Health Check →