Welcome to Group 152, so named because SENCOs and aspiring SENCOs from any of the 152 local authorities in England can join this virtual classroom route to enjoy a real-time interactive experience and develop networking opportunities with others across the country.

SENCOs who choose Group 152 become part of the real-time training experience with others from across the country. This provides a really exciting opportunity to broaden experiences and think at a national level whilst learning more about local practice. Those on this route will receive the same high quality, dynamic, practically-based training for which Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) is famed. Access to podcasts, video resources, themed reading, supervision and study cluster activities will be enhanced by links with relevant local networks and information updates from SEND leads from each area represented.

Successful completion awards 60 Masters Level credits through the University of Hertfordshire’s School of Education. You then have the option to use these credits for further study, taking you to an MA.

Prior to the first teaching day you will be signposted to some ‘book-case’ reading which will prepare the way for future teaching themes. Each participant is then encouraged to engage in a small number of pre-course tasks which focus on preparation for engaging in reading and recording ideas ready for discussion. An orientation session is provided for each group a few days prior to the day 1 teaching session. This is an opportunity to focus on administrative issues relating to the course, meet your tutor/s and begin to get to know other members of your group with whom you will be travelling for the year.
In addition to attending the 7 training days which will include study cluster activities, participants are provided with 1:1 supervision to support task completion and write-ups. Assessment for the National Award for SEN Coordination qualification includes:

1) Completion of three separate school/setting-based tasks focusing on:
• an aspect of current provision for children and young people with SEND,
• CPD through the use of coaching using the platform of Lesson Study,
• a pupil-based case-study to show how dynamic person-centred assessment informs the assess, plan, do, review cycle of SEN support.

This leads to the identification of themes that might be common across the three separate tasks and thus the creation of a succinct, well-focused ‘next-steps’ action plan. The write-up of this task includes form-based frameworks, the completion of a small set of power-point slides and approximately 2800 words written to level 7 standard.

2) The second half of the course provides an opportunity for strengthening an area of SEND practice by engaging in a small-scale action research project. This will result in an assignment write-up of approximately 4200 words, through which you will showcase the creative and positive changes that have taken place in your school/setting.

3) The SENCO professional development framework known as the Self Evaluation Tool is central to helping track the journey of progress against the nationally prescribed learning outcomes. It is also a valuable document through which SENCOs can further develop their journey beyond successful completion of the course.

4) Each SENCO in training is provided with a super-supportive Reflective Learning Journal through which to record new ideas, different perspectives and overall gains in knowledge. It is framed to reflect key teaching themes and the nationally prescribed learning outcomes and forms part of the evidence showing that learning outcomes have been met.

You must have QTS, QTLS or EYTS* to be eligible to register for the course. If you are an aspiring SENCO you will need to talk to the Programme Leader to discuss how you will carry out the practical tasks required to meet the nationally prescribed learning outcomes and the 60 credit Masters level requirements.

It is important also that you have the full support of the head teacher/principal of the school or setting in which you intend to do the work. This will ensure you can successfully complete the full range of tasks required to achieve the Award.

* Successful completion of the course for those with EYTS allows for the National Award to be validated in the Early Years sector and phase only.

• You will achieve 60 Masters level credits through the University of Hertfordshire School of Education – these can be used to further your study, taking you through the Advanced SENCO and SENCOs as Leaders Awards and onwards to an MA.

• In addition you will achieve knowledge, skills and a high level of confidence in each of the nationally prescribed learning outcomes which are essential to achieving the National Award for SEN Coordination qualification.

• You will benefit from being able to access a national course whilst learning about local policy and practice relevant to you. The teaching, discussion and practical activities will be supplemented by a flexi-learning approach using podcasts, video recordings, themed reading and regular updates via the Information Centre emails. Through this medium, you will gain access to national and local information about the wider educational context and special educational needs policy, research and practice in particular. You will be provided with a paper-based resource pack at the beginning of the course containing a range of essential documents explanation of which will be shared at the orientation session prior to the start of the course.
  

• For those taking the journey through Group 152, the commitment to enable you to access a national course whilst learning about local practice will happen in a variety of ways, and your tutor will explain how this will be achieved. The same flexi-learning approach using podcasts, video recordings, themed reading and regular Information Centre updates will be available. The added benefit of Group 152 is the opportunity to network with new-to-role and aspiring SENCOs from across the country and beyond!

• You will be able to impact strategically on systems and practices across the school/setting as part of the practical tasks during the course.

• You will gain in-depth knowledge and skills to enable you to lead on the development of policy and practice for children and young people with special educational needs in your school or educational setting.
  

• Ensures you are statutorily compliant.

• A SENCO who has successfully completed the National Award for SEN Coordination with the Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) will provide strong leadership and a strategic approach to developing policy and practice aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

• Your knowledge about local SEND networks gained from the course will contribute to the advice and guidance you are able to give to your colleagues at both the strategic and operational levels.

• During the course, you will be carrying out a range of practical activities which will have a positive impact on your role as a SENCO but also on the policy and practice for SEND within the school/setting.
  

The cost of the 2023-24 National Award for SEN Coordination is £1989+VAT.

How many teaching days are there?

There are seven teaching days delivered through our real-time virtual classroom. For Group 152 all teaching days are delivered via our real-time virtual classroom. For the large local groups there is the opportunity to blend teaching in-situ with real time face2face virtual classroom sessions. Details are outlined in the section showing the choice of groups available for 2023-24. Teaching for all groups follows a flexi-learning approach using our dedicated podcasts, video recordings and themed reading to support your practice-based tasks and write-ups.


What happens if I can’t attend one of the training days?

It is important that you attend all of the training days, but if a sudden, unexpected reason means you are unable to attend, we ask you to contact the administrative team who will help you arrange attendance at a teaching day in one of the other groups. You will also be able to access the follow-up podcasts relevant to your local area.


How practical is this programme?

You will be expected to show how you are putting your new learning into practice. To help you meet the National Award for SEN Coordination learning outcomes and achieve the 60 Masters level credits, focused practical tasks will be required of you following each of the teaching days. The detail about each of the tasks is outlined in the ‘Assessment’ section above.

You will be able to access relevant and up-to-date reading from a dedicated Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) resource bank and the regular Information Centre updates. You will also have access to the University of Hertfordshire library either virtually through the Studynet site or by visiting the library if you live nearby.


The programme runs for one academic year, when will I be expected to write assignments?

The first three tasks and their associated write-ups detailed in the ‘Assessment’ section above are set between day 1 of the course in September/October through to the mid-point of the programme with submission being timed for mid-January.

The school/setting-based action research project detailed in the ‘Assessment’ section above begins in January and is timed to be completed in June/July. Its associated write-up is submitted no later than mid-August.


How much does the training cost?

The cost of the 2032-24 National Award for SEN Coordination is £1989+VAT.

Phased payments can be applied for by self-funders. Please email .easternp.send@hfleducation.org for discussion.

The cost is the same for all groups and is inclusive of University accreditation, pre-course reading and activities, an orientation session, teaching and supervision, the SENCO Self-Evaluation/Journey Planner, Reflective Learning Journal, podcasts, video recordings, themed reading and resources, remote access to the University of Hertfordshire library and regular updates from the Information Centre.

Each participant will be sent an initial physical resource pack incorporated in a course folder.


Are there any terms and conditions that I need to be aware of?

Yes, please view the terms and conditions here.


Will there be supervision for my assignment work?

The team of tutors who lead the training along with a number of practicing qualified SENCOs/SEND leads who have masters level experience and qualifications will provide supervision for the work you undertake for your assignments. Academic writing frameworks and supporting videos are provided as part of supervision support.


Should I study the National Award for SEN Coordination as this is a transition year to the new NPQSENCO next autumn?

The following is an extract from the DfE’s guidance on transition arrangements from the National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) to the NPQSENCO which will not begin until the autumn term 2024. The full text is available from the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mandatory-qualification-for-sencos/transition-to-national-professional-qualification-for-special-educational-needs-co-ordinators

Appropriate qualification for a new SENCO

The existing NASENCO will remain the mandatory qualification until autumn 2024. SENCOs should continue to sign up for the NASENCO qualification until the end of the 2023 to 2024 academic year.

SENCOs that enrol on a NASENCO course commencing in the 2023 to 2024 academic year will be recognised as fulfilling the mandatory training requirement so long as this is completed within 3 years after starting a SENCO post.

The national professional qualification for SENCOs will be available from autumn 2024. From September 2024, SENCOs wishing to meet the mandatory training requirement will need to complete the national professional qualification for SENCOs.

The requirement to complete training within 3 years of appointment will continue to apply. Schools and SENCOs need to ensure that, where necessary, they are enrolled on training that will allow them to meet this requirement.

SENCOs who have successfully completed the NASENCO will not be required to complete the new national professional qualification.

We will update this page as further detail on the transition from the NASENCO to the national professional qualification for SENCOs becomes available. We will also update the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 before September 2024 to reflect the change to the mandatory qualification.

Please note the ongoing status of the NASENCO and the DfE’s encouragement to sign up for the autumn term. Please note also that the NASENCO with the Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) is a 1-year programme. The NPQSENCO will be an 18-month programme.

If you would like to speak to somebody before making your decision to sign up for the NASENCO, please contact us on easternp.send@hfleducation.org

There are 12 groups to choose from. 2023-24 dates are listed below on the right.

Location: Group 152 (see above)

Dates: Face-to-face virtual classroom

Orientation: Thursday 25th January 2024

(4.30-6.00pm)

Day 1: Thursday 1st February 2024

Day 2: Wednesday 13th March 2024

Day 3: Wednesday 24th April 2024

Day 4: Friday 7th June 2024

Day 5: Thursday 27th June 2024

Day 6: Thursday 11th July 2024

Day 7: Thursday 12th September 2024

The registration link is situated below on the left of your screen.