National Award for SEN Coordinators

Entry requirements

All applicants are required to provide evidence of the following:

1. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), or Qualified Teacher Learning Status (QTLS), or Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS - appropriate for ages 0-5 only)
2. Approval from their current Head Teacher or Head of Service that they are teaching in a UK setting.
3. A DFE registered Teacher number
4. School staff in the role of SENCo will have completed an induction period (SEND Regs 2014, paragraph 49) The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)

Months of entry

September

Course content

The course meets the learning outcomes agreed nationally by the DFE and the SENCO Award providers' group for the NASENCO qualification. The course content is informed by current SEN and disability legislation and underpinned by current theory and research led practice pertaining to Special and Inclusive Education.

Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) play a vital role in leading the coordination of provision for children and young people with SEN and/or disabilities in schools. In September 2009 it became law for every new SENCO in a mainstream school to gain the Masters-level National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination within 3 years of taking up the post.

Note: The accreditation of prior learning is not permitted as part of the assessment for this programme.