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After completing the SEN Coordinator Skills Bootcamp (SENCO), Marlene Kadri has gained valuable insight and confidence in their role supporting children with special needs. While every session provided useful knowledge, there was one in particular that had a lasting impact.
Marlene explained, “The coaching and mentoring session truly opened my eyes to the key differences between the two, which I hadn’t fully grasped before.”
Finding support through shared responsibility
The training helped her to reflect on the importance of collaboration and teamwork are when supporting children, families and colleagues.
Marlene addressed the issue head on, “I’ve often felt quite isolated in my SENCO role at our nursery, managing things on my own. However, the session highlighted the importance of seeking support and sharing responsibilities with our nursery team.”
This shift in perspective has helped her recognise that building a supportive environment benefited everyone in the setting.
Using coaching and mentoring to support others
One of the biggest takeaways from the course was understanding how coaching and mentoring can strengthen the whole team. Marlene now plans to use these skills to help colleagues who may be struggling in their day-to-day activities with children or communicating with parents.
She adds, “I don’t want anyone else to feel as I have, so I genuinely appreciate the importance of coaching and mentoring. I plan to apply this newfound understanding when I notice my staff struggling in their daily routines with the children or when engaging with parents. Providing them with training and support will not only assist them but also allow me to delegate some of my tasks.”
A renewed sense of confidence
The SENCO Skills Bootcamp helped Marlene recognise the knowledge and experience they already bring to the role.
“Doing the course and talking with other SENCOs has helped me realise that I do know what I am doing and it was wonderful to be able to share my knowledge, experiences with the other ladies and gaining an insight how other setting SENCO’s work. This has made me realise that I want to further explore more training and in becoming a SALT.
Inspired to keep learning and growing
One of the most powerful outcomes of the course has been Marlene’s renewed motivation to keep developing her skills. This experience showed her that professional growth doesn’t happen alone, in fact, collaboration can make the journey stronger and more rewarding.
This course has encouraged Marlene to continue expanding her knowledge and explore further training opportunities like SALT (Speech and Language Therapy). Most importantly it reinforced the idea that when professionals support and learn from one another, everyone benefits, especially the children they work with every day.
She adds, “Overall, I found the course content and the sessions led by my trainer to be incredibly engaging. They helped me realise that I can thrive in my role and deepened my understanding of what it means to be a SENCO. It’s been a rewarding experience, and I’m feeling much more confident moving forward.”
Ready to start your SENCO journey?
Explore our SEN Coordinator Skills Bootcamp (SENCO) and discover how supportive learning can help you grow with confidence.