NPQ for SENCOs (NPQSENCO)

Our National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) is designed for experienced teachers and leaders who are seeking to develop their expertise in leading special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision in their school, or to become a SENCO.

NPQs at the National Institute of Teaching are school-led: our organisation was founded by four leading Multi-Academy Trusts, and our programmes are designed and delivered with a focus on the realities of schools. Because teachers’ time is precious, our programmes are respectful of your time, and designed to have immediate impact on the pupils and colleagues in your school, as well as the colleagues and children you will work with in the future.

Overview

In too many settings, pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) do not progress in line with their peers without SEND. The work of a great SENCO can support these pupils who most require support to flourish socially and academically. SENCOs perform a critical role in every school in the UK, both in the bespoke support for some pupils with SEND and in their promotion of teaching, curriculum and behaviour approaches that work for all pupils, including those with SEND.

The NPQ for SENCOs will ensure you are ready to take on this vital, statutory role in any school setting. You will understand and be able to undertake all statutory aspects of the role, as well as to lead practices across the whole school that benefit all pupils, including those with SEND, such as embedding instructional practices that lead to the greatest pupil progress. Throughout the qualification, you will be led by expert, experienced SENCOs to help you secure the practices and approaches for you to lead this area across a school. By working to improve the practice of all school colleagues, you will have a dramatic impact on the potential outcomes and opportunities open to young people with SEND needs.

Why study at the NIoT?

The National Institute of Teaching was founded by four leading multi-academy trusts. Our programmes are underpinned by leading research and driven by what we have found works best in schools. Through our programmes, we aim to ensure participants develop their leadership to ensure their hard work and dedication has the maximum impact on pupils.

Our programmes are school-led: they are delivered by individuals who work in schools, right now. That means they have the in-depth, domain-specific knowledge to help you grapple with content at the right level, and to support you to problem-solve and apply learning to your own context.

Our programmes are centred on impact: our aim is for your practice to improve and develop in your current context, and for you to be ready and to take the next step in your career as a result of learning with us. We have designed our programmes carefully, and work closely with school leaders through our regional structures, as well as working with participants, to ensure our programmes are impactful in your context.

Our programmes are respectful of your time: we know you spend most of your time doing the most important job there is – serving the children in your community. That’s why our programmes are designed to be flexible, to deliver exactly what you need in the most time-efficient manner possible, and to have impact.

Our programmes are rooted in research: every aspect of what you learn is based on the best available research as well as what we have seen and experienced to work best in our founding multi-academy trusts and associate colleges.

Our programmes allow you to build a community: our in-person local seminars are focused on peer learning and problem solving together. As well as applying your learning to your own context, you will have the opportunity to build your network and support one another’s development beyond your time learning with the NIoT.

Curriculum

What you'll learn

How you'll learn

Time commitment

There are three or four scheduled events every half term, some online and some in-person. There are also around six hours of self study.

Assessment

In order to receive NPQSENCO accreditation, participants will need to complete the programme and achieve a pass mark in a written, ‘open book’ style, structured assessment of up to 2,000 words.

We will support participants with writing clinics before they embark on gaining their accreditation.

The assessment itself takes place over an eight-day window. There are two assessment windows per year and participants have two opportunities to take part.

How to apply

Applications are not yet open for this programme. Please register your interest here to be the first to know when applications open.