FULLY FUNDED (see Cost tab)
We’re pleased to announce that we are partnering with education charity Ambition Institute to deliver the new NPQ for SENCOs.
This is a new course designed for SENCOs. It began in autumn 2024 and replaces the NASENCO qualification.
Become an expert leader of special educational needs and learn how you can build an inclusive culture in your school where all pupils can succeed.
- A new 18-month leadership qualification
- Build on your existing SEND expertise
- Flexible learning to suit your timetable
Why this programme?
Choose our NPQ for SENCOs and you’ll be joining over 37,000 teachers and school leaders who’ve selected one of the new and reformed Ambition Institute NPQs as of July 2025.
Evidence informed curriculum
Our carefully sequenced and evidence informed NPQ is designed around the key problems you face. You’ll learn to implement tailored SEND strategies related to your school’s context.
Access the latest SEND research
This includes core school leadership domains like teaching, behaviour and culture, alongside specialist SEND knowledge on topics like identifying need, running effective intervention and working within the law.
Train to your timetable
Our ‘little and often’ approach means you can engage with our NPQs around your busy timetable, with minimal time needed out of school.
No large project
Plus, on our NPQs there’s no large project at the end. Instead, you’ll sit an ‘open book’ assessment with support via two on-demand webinars and a dedicated, live assessment preparation clinic to help you get the most from your NPQ.
Accredited NPQ Provider
Benefits for you
Excel as a SENCO
Learn how to become a strategic leader of SEND in your school. You’ll discover what good SEND provision looks like and be able to work with other staff to support your school to meet the needs of all pupils, whilst working confidently within statutory guidance.
Establish a positive culture
You’ll lead on establishing and sustaining a positive, safe and supportive culture across your school for all pupils. This includes modelling and promoting inclusive and ambitious attitudes and supporting staff to be able to adapt teaching for all pupils.
Develop a strategic SEND provision
Learn how to contribute to and implement a strong and robust SEND strategy. You’ll be able to lead on an efficient SEND identification process and support the delivery of effective provision, working with other agencies and specialists for pupils with SEND, and their families.
Designed by SEND experts
Benefit from a programme which is designed and delivered by SEND specialists including current SENCOs and experts from across the sector.
Build on your existing SEND expertise
This new NPQ will support you to develop your understanding and knowledge of SEND. You’ll also develop the core leadership domains including teaching, culture and behaviour so that you can effectively lead on SEND provision across your school.
Invest in your future
Ongoing professional development helps you to grow and thrive as a SENCO. You will follow an evidence-informed framework and gain a professional accreditation at the end of the programme.
Train to your timetable
This programme is designed to fit around your leadership role and much of the work can be completed in bite-size chunks around your existing work timetable.
Connect with your peers
You will train alongside other SENCOs from similar school contexts. You can share your experiences and build a strong support network.
Benefits for your school
Develop your school’s SEND provision
Your SENCOs will learn strategies and solutions to implement a strong SEND provision across your school. This includes creating an effective school-wide culture and supporting the development of a positive, safe and supportive school environment where all pupils can thrive.
Create a ‘golden thread’
The NPQs are all aligned with each other and with the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Frameworks. So, no matter what career stage your teachers are at, by joining this programme, they will benefit from an evidence-based framework. They will also share a common language with other NPQ participants that they can pass on to colleagues.
Access the latest SEND learning
Teachers and leaders will bring more evidence-based teaching and learning into your classrooms, meaning high quality teaching and improved outcomes for all pupils, including those with SEND.
Identify future leaders
Competent and confident leaders who excel in their roles will be more likely to apply for senior positions in your school when they arise.
Retain your teaching talent
By allowing teachers to develop and nurture their talents in specialist areas such as SEND, you are investing in their future. This will boost their confidence, making them feel supported and less likely to apply for jobs elsewhere.
Tap into a network
Your teachers will train alongside peers from other schools with similar contexts, supported by facilitators that fully understand your needs.
What you will learn
The programme follows the Department for Education’s National Professional Qualification (NPQ): SENCO framework.
On this programme, you will learn how to:
- Contribute to establishing and sustaining a positive and supportive culture across the school for all pupils.
- Support senior leaders to ensure staff and governors enact statutory guidance.
- Support teachers and support staff to understand the importance of expert teaching for all pupils and to implement a graduated approach in the classroom, subject or domain effectively.
- Support the delivery of effective provision for pupils with SEND and their families, and be able to review, monitor, evaluate and improve the impact of SEND provision.
- Work with staff, specialists and other agencies to assist the school in meeting the needs of all pupils.
- Implement an efficient SEND identification process across the school which ensures that barriers to learning are identified and addressed at the earliest opportunity.
- Work with and equip fellow leaders with the skills to establish and sustain effective curriculum planning that enable teachers to plan, adapt and teach effectively for all pupils.
- Support the development of a positive, safe and supportive environment for pupils across the whole school.
- Ensure all pupils feel motivated in school with a supportive setting to enable them to reach their aspirations and potential.
Note: programme content is subject to change.
How you will learn
Our NPQ for SENCOs is designed so you can engage in live, facilitated sessions alongside modules you can complete at any time.
The first cohort will start in October 2024. Partner cohort locations and dates may vary.
Over 18 months, our NPQ for SENCOs includes:
- Two full day conferences (6hrs each).
- Nine courses (each course lasts six weeks and loosely aligned to a school half term).
- Each course includes six modules.
- Seven two-hour clinics (facilitated sessions).
- One two-hour assessment clinic.
- Five communities (1hr 15mins group sessions).
The content is delivered through blended learning. This includes a mix of real-time, interactive online sessions and self-guided modules you complete in your own time.
The programme includes facilitator-led sessions with your peer group that focus on decision making. The programme starts with a one-day live conference.
Note: programme content is subject to change.
The assessment window starts at the end of the 18-month programme and runs for three months. During this time, you’ll be given an eight-day window to sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which you respond to a short case study.
You have two submission attempts. If you fail on the first submission, you will have one further opportunity to resit the assessment. You will submit the assessment at the next available assessment window.
You need to complete 90% of the programme and pass the assessment to gain the qualification.
Webinars and live clinics are offered in advance of the assessment window to support participants.
Scholarship funding for Autumn 2026
Scholarship funding is available for teachers who are a current or aspiring SENCO, or a school leader such as a senior leader or headteacher, in publicly-funded schools (including maintained nursery schools) and 16 to 19 educational settings in England.
Funding for this course is also available to:
- hospital schools
- young offender institutions
- local authority virtual school headteachers, staff in a defined deputy headteacher role and staff in direct teaching roles
- other local authority staff in direct teaching roles – for example, local authority supply or peripatetic teachers
If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ for SENCOs costs £1,332 plus VAT.
Apply
To apply for the NPQ for SENCOs, you must be a current or aspiring SENCO, or a school leader such as a senior leader or headteacher.
The NPQ for SENCOs is mandatory for SENCOs. You will need to complete this qualification within your first three years in the role. If you have already obtained the NASENCO qualification you do not need to complete the NPQ for SENCOs.
| Accreditation | NPQSENCOs |
| Course length | 18 months |
| Application deadline | TBC |
| Programme start | November 2026 |
