SENCO CV Guide

What to include in a SENCO CV

You may have seen various types of CVs and noticed they vary in design, structure and content. However, one thing that many people’s CVs have in common is the main sections, such as contact information, professional summary, education, work experience, skills, achievements and references. You will want to ensure your CV contains these sections to provide a framework to work to and to make it easier for those reading your CV to pick out pertinent details.

While other candidates’ CVs will have similar sections, what will set yours apart is tailoring each of these sections to the specific SENCO position, including relevant information and highlighting your passion for supporting students with special educational needs. You will also need to ensure your CV is an overview rather than trying to cram it with every detail. Think of it as giving prospective employers an introduction rather than telling them your entire academic and professional history.

Before putting pen to paper or typing your CV, thoroughly review the job description to identify the school’s requirements and identify how you align with their needs. You can make notes or do a mind map to help you decide what to include. Once you are ready to add your information, break down each section into manageable chunks and tackle them one at a time. Let us look at how you can do this and what information you may want to consider including.

Contact information

The first and probably easiest section of your CV is your contact information. Here, you should provide accurate details to make it as easy as possible for recruiters to contact you, such as:

• Your full name – display your name prominently at the top of the CV in a larger, bold font to make it stand out. For example, “Joe Taylor”. Do not worry about including any middle names; your first and last are sufficient.
• Your professional job title (optional) – some choose to include their previous or current job title, e.g. “SENCO”.
• Location – include your town/city and/or county (e.g. “Birmingham, West Midlands”). You do not need to provide your full home address unless specifically requested by the employer.
• Phone number – use a reliable and active phone number. If you have a voicemail, ensure it sounds professional.
• Professional email address – use a formal email address (e.g. joe.taylor@example.com) that avoids nicknames or unprofessional phrases.
• LinkedIn profile (optional) – include the link if you have a well-maintained LinkedIn profile. Ensure your profile aligns with the content of your CV and highlights relevant experience for the SENCO role.
• Professional website or portfolio (optional) – if applicable, you can include links to a portfolio or professional website showcasing relevant projects or credentials.

Your contact information should be at the top of your CV, either in the centre of the document or to the side. Keep it concise, well-organised and professional.

It is important to exclude some information from your CV because of security and privacy risks and potential bias and discrimination, e.g. a photo, date of birth, age, marital status, religion, personal social media page and national insurance number.

Professional summary (career objective statement)

A professional summary is also called a personal statement, professional profile or executive summary, which typically goes below your contact information. It briefly highlights your relevant qualifications, skills, experience, achievements and career goals. Think of it as a short, catchy introduction that tells someone who you are and what you are good at.

Crafting a well-written professional summary sets the tone for the rest of your CV and encourages the reader to continue reading. It is your opportunity to make a strong first impression and showcase why you are a fantastic fit for the role.

So, how do you write your professional summary, and what should you include? Here are some pointers to help you craft an impressive summary:

• Keep your summary concise and clear – ideally, stick to a paragraph between three and five lines.
• Start with a strong opening statement – begin the paragraph with a compelling sentence that captures your current role and years of experience, e.g. “Dedicated SENCO with over 7 years of experience in inclusive education and supporting students with diverse learning needs”.
• Mention any relevant certifications, training and education – for example, Master’s degree in special needs education, certified training in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), behaviour management, the National Award for SEN Coordination, etc.
• Highlight key skills – mention your core skills and areas of expertise relevant to the SENCO role, such as knowledge of SEN legislation and statutory frameworks, curriculum adaptation, individualised education plans (IEPs) and support for students with diverse needs.
• Emphasise your notable achievements – highlight specific accomplishments and contributions in previous roles. For example, “Proven track record of raising achievement levels for SEN pupils through tailored interventions and collaborative team leadership”.
• Demonstrate your passion and goals – include a personal touch that reflects your dedication to supporting students with special educational needs. For example, “Passionate about empowering children with additional needs to reach their full potential in education and beyond”.

Here is an example of what a professional summary for a SENCO might look like:

“Dedicated and experienced SENCO with 7 years of expertise in supporting students with diverse needs. Skilled in fostering inclusive learning environments, managing EHC plans, and collaborating with stakeholders to deliver tailored interventions. Holds a PGCE and the National Award for SEN Coordination, strongly committed to promoting equal opportunitis and helping every child thrive academically and personally.”

Keep your tone professional but approachable. Tailor it to reflect your unique experience and skills and the specific role you are applying for.

Education

As SENCOs need specific qualifications, include your relevant academic background in your CV to demonstrate your expertise and suitability for the role. It helps prospective employers to confirm that you have the necessary education, certifications, training, and knowledge to help students with special educational needs. It also shows you are always trying to learn and improve, which is a good quality for a SENCO.

The education section of your CV can be under your professional summary or after your work experience. If you are applying for your first SENCO job, you may want to focus on your academic background and add your education first. It is entirely your choice.

When you write the education section of your CV, you should add your qualifications in reverse chronological order (most recent first). You should also focus on those relevant to teaching and special educational needs. Here is an example of what to include:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees – start with your most recent degree and work backwards. Include the following information:
  • Degree title, e.g. Bachelor of Education (BEd) or Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
  • Institution name and location.
  • Graduation date or the period of attendance.
  • Grades awarded or anticipated (if applicable).
  • Relevant coursework (optional).
• Include relevant training and certifications – mention certifications typically mandatory for SENCOs, such as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a National Award for SEN Coordination, and ensure they are prominent in your CV. Detail any additional certifications or training specifically related to special education, such as courses on autism, dyslexia, behaviour management or inclusive teaching practices.
• Highlight Academic Achievements – if you graduated with honours or received any academic awards, include those details to emphasise your academic excellence, e.g.”Graduated with Distinction”.
• General education – add lower qualifications, such as GCSEs/A levels, but only if you have sufficient space on your CV, the job posting asks for them and/or they add value to your CV.

Here is an example of how you might want to add your education:

Education

• National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO), [Institution Name and Location], [Year].
• PGCE in Primary Education with QTS, [Institution Name and Location], [Year].
• BA in Psychology, [Institution Name and Location], [Year].
• CPD: Understanding Autism, Dyslexia Awareness, Behaviour Management Strategies, [Year(s)].

Work experience/employment history

Work experience, or your employment history, can go before or after your education section. In this section, you will provide information about your previous and current roles, detailing the responsibilities, achievements and skills you have gained in your career.

When you add your work experience to your CV, you provide a snapshot of your professional journey and show potential employers how your experience aligns with the role you are applying for. It is important, as it highlights your suitability for the role, demonstrates your skills in real-world settings, builds credibility and helps differentiate you from other candidates.

For a SENCO, focus on roles where you have worked in SEN, education or leadership and include prior teaching or related positions that build your SENCO story. Be concise, detail the most relevant aspects, and add your roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Here are some pointers on what to include in this section:

• Heading: Include a heading, “Work Experience” or “Employment History”.
• Job title: Clearly state your job title for each of your previous roles, e.g. “Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)”.
• Employer/organisation name: Include the name of the school or other organisation you worked for.
• Location: Add where you worked, i.e. town, city or county.
• Dates of employment: Mention the month and year you started and ended each role. If you are still currently employed, add “present” instead.
• Key duties – highlight your key responsibilities in bullet point form. Keep it brief and aim for three to five bullet points. You can also add your notable achievements and skills here or include them in a separate section.

Here is an example of how you can add your work experience:

Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). Greenwood Primary School, Manchester. Sept 2018 – Present

• Designed and implemented school-wide SEN strategies, ensuring compliance with statutory frameworks.
• Coordinated over 30 EHC plans and facilitated regular reviews with parents and local authorities.
• Mentored staff in adapting teaching approaches, resulting in a 15% rise in SEN pupil outcomes.
• Established partnerships with local authorities and therapy services to enhance support for students with complex needs.

Key skills and achievements

Key skills are the abilities and expertise you develop through learning, practice and experience. When you include your skills for a SENCO position, you highlight your ability to support students with additional needs, collaborate with stakeholders and lead inclusive practices.

There are two main types of skills, hard and soft, which you will want to blend into your CV to stand out to potential employers.

• Hard skills – are technical, job-specific skills often measurable and learned through training, education, or practice. They tend to be more tangible and easier to quantify. Some hard skills for a SENCO include knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice, EHC plan management, data analysis, budget management, inclusive practices, differentiated teaching strategies, assistive technology, education management systems, safeguarding, etc.
• Soft skills – are personal traits and interpersonal abilities that influence how you interact with others and handle situations. They are more about behaviour and character, often less tangible but equally important in the workplace. Some soft skills for a SENCO include empathy, patience, communication, problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, team management, collaboration, conflict resolution, etc.

You can include your key skills in your work experience with your previous responsibilities or in a separate section. Before adding them, look at the job posting to see if the school have asked for specific skills and include those most relevant to the SENCO position. They may use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for particular words in CVs, so using similar language can increase your chances of passing through these filters and getting an interview.

You can also add your achievements alongside your key skills, demonstrating your skills in action and tangible impact. We will look at how to focus on your achievements later.

Other information

Once you have completed the sections we have already covered, you may find you have other valuable pieces of information that you want to include in your CV. If you have plenty of space and think it will increase your chances of getting that all-important interview invite, you can add additional sections to the document. Here are some examples:

• Training and certifications – if you have relevant certifications that may get lost in the education section, you could add a separate section.
• Professional development – you may want to highlight any continuous professional development (CPD) you have undertaken, such as workshops, seminars, online courses, and conferences to improve your SEN or teaching skills.
• Professional memberships – if you are a member of any professional bodies and associations related to SEN, you could add them to your CV, e.g. Membership of NASEN (National Association for Special Educational Needs).
• Volunteering or extracurricular activities – if you have undertaken activities that showcase your passion for supporting children with special needs, you could include these, e.g. Volunteering with a local SEN charity or mentoring newly qualified teachers in SEN.
• Additional languages – if you speak other languages, mention them, as they can be helpful in diverse school settings.
• Hobbies and interests – you can have a separate section for hobbies and interests to showcase your personality, passion and transferable skills, e.g. Learning sign language or Makaton, inclusive sports coaching, community activities, fundraising, advocacy, writing or blogging on SEN topics, etc.
• DBS – you can also add details of a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check to your CV and the type, e.g. Basic, Standard or Enhanced.

While adding additional sections and information to your CV can be beneficial, be careful not to add too many, as it can make the document look cluttered. Only include information related to the SENCO job you are applying for.

References

The last section of your CV is usually the reference section. It is where you provide details of two or more people (referees) who can vouch for your professional skills, experience and character. Choose professional referees who can provide relevant and positive references, such as supervisors, line managers, senior colleagues or professional mentors.

When you complete your reference section, look at the job description to see if it asks for specific details of your referees at this stage. If it does not, you can include a simple statement under the heading: “References available upon request”. It is useful if you have limited space in your CV.

If you need to add details of your referees, you should include the following information for each one:

• Full name – including their title, e.g. Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc.
• Job title and relationship – mention their role and relationship to you (e.g. Headteacher, Line Manager).
• Organisation – the name of the school or organisation they represent.
• Contact details – provide their email address and phone number, for example:
  • Dr. Jane Smith. Headteacher, Line Manager. Greenwood Primary School. Email: j.smith@greenwoodschool.co.uk. Phone: 01234 567890.

Always ask your referees for permission before adding their details to your CV to ensure they are prepared and happy to help. Give them information on the role you are applying for so they can tailor the reference accordingly. Also, keep their information up-to-date and professional.