The Influences on the English mainstream primary school Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) in a quasi-market led national educational system.

This paper reflects on the role of the English primary school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) through a political perspective which explores how SENCOs function in their schools within an increasingly market-led Education system with its high-stakes national assessment regime and the growth of Academies and Free Schools which sit outside of Local Authority responsibility and influence. The concepts of ‘performativity’, ‘control’ and the SENCO as ‘leader’ are discussed.