National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination (SENCo)(National Award)

Duration: 6 to 12 months (part-time)|Hope Park|Start month: October / February / April
Accreditation

Overview

Curriculum

Entry Requirements

Teaching & Research

Careers

Finance

ABOUT THE COURSE

The National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination is a mandatory qualification for all Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) working in maintained mainstream, academy and free schools.

With opportunities to develop the skills to become a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) in your school, this course gives you the knowledge to help students with SEND explore and develop their potential.

Why do this course?

Mandatory qualification that all newly qualified SENCos must achieve within three years of appointment, when working in maintained mainstream, academy and free schools.

Meets the requirements of the SEN Code of Practice (2015 Section 6.86).

Provides up-to-date knowledge support for experienced SENCos, showing a commitment to Continuing Professional Development.

The two modules that make up the award each carry 30 Masters-level credits, which can be used towards a Masters in Education.

Read a NASENCo course case study to see how this course can help you in your career.

Tailored for you

Unlike some SENCo awards, the course is structured around face-to-face teaching and delivered via a choice of delivery patterns including Saturdays and weekdays, which provides a more personable style of teaching for those who work full-time.

ACCREDITATION

NASENCo accreditation small

Curriculum Overview

Module 1: Professional Knowledge and Understanding of the SENCo Role

Together we will explore the legislative context for SEN, and support you in developing a working-knowledge of it so you can be successful in your role as a SENCo. This will help develop your knowledge of effective leadership and practice theory, along with your understanding of, and an engagement with, current policy, legal and professional contexts. By the end of the module, you will have grown in your capacity to identify, assess and provide for children with special educational needs.

Module 2: Leading and Coordinating SEND Provision

This module focuses on how effective partnerships can be created to meet the needs of children and young people and their families. Topics covered will help you identify and use the knowledge, skills and values required to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders. You will explore the use of data, systems and external sources of support and their impact on your professional practice.

Assessment

The NASENCo is achieved through the completion of written assignments and an e-portfolio. The e-portfolio is achieved through reflection upon your existing professional practice, existing documents that would naturally occur within your setting and reflection upon your academic assignments.

Entry Requirements

- First Class or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a relevant discipline (applications from students who do not hold a 1st or 2:1 Honours Degree (or equivalent), but have appropriate professional experience may be considered).

- Open to both aspiring and experienced SENCos.

- Applicants must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status or be an Early Years Teacher Status SENCo responsible for ages 0-5 only, or equivalent.

- All participants must have completed an induction period (SEND Regs 2014, paragraph 49)

- All applicants need approval from their Head Teacher indicating their support.