SENCO: interview questions

Download and adapt our interview record sheet to help you recruit your next SENCO - it's got pointers on what to look for in candidates' answers.

updated on 24 March 2023

School types: All · School phases: All

Ref: 1388

Contents

SENCO roles can vary widely from school to school, depending on factors like:

Your school's size and phase
The specific needs of your pupils
Whether the SENCO is also responsible for things like inclusion and safeguarding

Use our interactive tool to create a bespoke interview pack tailored to the specific requirements of the SENCO role in your school.

The tool allows you to choose questions and tasks tailored to the job description, and your pack would include guidance on:

Download and our pre-made interview sheet suitable for any SENCO post. You'll need to adapt it to suit the specific role and your school's context.

Use this template during the interview to record the candidates' responses and score evidence.

Read our other article to find examples of tasks you could use in an interview for a SENCO.

Lorraine Petersen is an education consultant. Previously the chief executive officer of Nasen and a primary school headteacher, she is also a chair of governors
Jenny Moss was the headteacher of a special school judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. She has worked in school leadership for almost 20 years
Trevor Bailey has extensive experience in school leadership and management, and was a secondary headteacher for 14 years