TTS Talking Early Years Episode 19 | The role of SENCOs and Support Staff with Michael Surr
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Jun 5, 2025 
Michael Surr, Head of Education at NASEN, shares insights from his extensive background in primary teaching. He discusses the essential planning role of Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) and stresses the importance of collaboration among educators in supporting all students. The conversation highlights the critical contributions of teaching assistants and their need for effective communication with teachers. Michael also addresses the challenges faced in deploying support staff and suggests strategies for enhancing their impact in the classroom.
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SENCO Role Is Strategic
- SENCOs are primarily strategic leaders who coordinate SEND provision rather than deliver it themselves.
- Their role includes overseeing needs identification, provision planning, and liaising with parents and external agencies.
Shared Responsibility for SEND
- Every teacher and every leader in a school shares responsibility for SEND.
- Effective SEND provision requires collaboration among staff, parents, and the students themselves.
Effective Teaching Assistant Deployment
- Avoid relying solely on one-to-one teaching assistant support, as it can hinder progress and independence.
- Use teaching assistants strategically by upskilling and deploying them to support whole-class learning and specialist areas.