National Professional Qualification for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (NPQSENCO)
For: Special Educational Needs Coordinators, aspiring Special Educational Needs Coordinators, those with responsibility for line managing a Special Educational Needs Coordinator or other senior leaders with responsibility for curriculum, behaviour, pastoral needs or managing provision.
Course length: 18 months
Accreditation: NPQSENCO
Programme start date: Autumn
Cost: £1,332 + VAT
NPQSENCO scholarship funding information for April 2025
We are pleased to announce that from Autumn 2024 we will be partnering with Ambition Institute to deliver the new NPQ for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (NPQSENCO).
The NPQ for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (NPQSENCOs) is our newest NPQ. This new 18-month NPQ is designed for leaders who will gain the expertise to lead on SEN provision and learn how to implement strategies and solutions related to their school’s context.
Those doing the training will learn:
- How to become excellent leaders of SEN provision.
- How to implement strategies for your school's context.
- How to build an inclusive culture for all pupils.
Benefits to your school:
- One of a series of leadership NPQs.
- Access to the latest strategies to develop a safe and supportive environment across the whole school.
- Retain your leadership talent.
Curriculum & Framework
This publication provides guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). It sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours that will be developed by school leaders when they participate in the National Professional Qualification for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (NPQSENCo).
Suitability (please review before applying)
Suitable roles:
- Assistant headteacher/Associate assistant headteacher
- Deputy headteacher/Vice principal
- Head of faculty/ department/subject
- Head of year
- Head of key stage/early years
- Headteacher/ Principal
- SENCOs
Not suitable for:
- ECT
- Unqualified teachers
- Teaching assistants
- Higher level teaching assistant
Assessment
The assessment window starts at the end of the 18-month programme and runs for three months. During this time, participants will be given an eight-day window to sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which they respond to a short case study.
There are two assessment windows every year, and participants can sit the assessment two times, if they need to.
You need to complete the course to qualify for the NPQ accreditation.
Ambition Institute will offer a webinar and live clinic in advance of the assessment window to support participants.