Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) works in partnership with a range of national and local organisations and accrediting bodies who share the same inclusive values, high standards and a passion for growing leadership skills within the education workforce.

We are proud to be working with the National Society for Education, Church of England & Church in Wales (NSE), a DfE approved Lead Provider of the full suite of NPQ Programmes including the NPQ for SENCOs. Please note Eastern Partnership UK (SEND), part of the HFL Education family, is not a faith-based organisation and in creating a partnership with NSE is open to NPQ applications from all schools and settings. Through this partnership with NSE we have been able to play an active role in developing the curriculum content for the NPQ for SENCOs and we now look forward to delivering this mandatory qualification.

NSE’s teaching cycle of Activate, Teach, Participate and Apply is a template for great learning. This unique blended pathway gives a range of dynamic study experiences and incorporates an important emphasis on coaching and application of learning.

NSE’s principles provide an inclusive approach for all schools, and it is important to note that Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) works with schools and settings across all phases of education and of all types whether faith or non-faith based. We also work with maintained and independent special schools, alternative provision, the post-16 sector and education staff in the wider education sector such as hospital schools and the youth justice system.

This course will:

• take between 18 and 22 months to complete (18 months taught and 3 to 4 months assessment window)

• involve an average of 1 to 2 hours of study each week

• be a mix of self-study, online group sessions and 1 face-to-face day for each of the 5 teaching cycles (see diagram)

• ensure participants receive 12 hours of coaching across the duration of the course which will be in groups of no more than 8 and will be held online, with the exception of the final unit, where the coaching group will engage in a local school visit followed up by the final 2 hour coaching session

To successfully gain your NPQ for SENCOs qualification, you will need to complete the course and pass one written assessment of between 1,500 and 2,500 words at the end of the course.

There are 2 cohorts a year starting in Autumn and Spring. For the Spring 2025 cohort places are available in the following groups:

• Bedford Borough, Central Beds and Luton

• Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

• Essex and Southend

• Herefordshire

• Hertfordshire

• Norfolk

• North / North East London

• Oxfordshire and Oxford Diocese schools

• Suffolk

If you are in a neighbouring area to any of those listed above, you are welcome to choose a group that is most convenient for the face-to-face days, of which there are 5 across the 18-month duration of the course.

This information will be confirmed once formal registration opens.

Successful completion of the NPQ for SENCOs ensures you can legally carry out the role of SENCO in a mainstream school (including academies and free schools) in England.

For those wishing to gain a further qualification, our NPQ for SENCOs provides a unique opportunity to progress to the Advanced SENCO Award and onwards to an MEd Professional Development in Education. For further details click here

Qualifications required to work as a SENCO in England. The SENCO:

• must be a qualified teacher or a headteacher / acting headteacher (or equivalent in the case of an academy school)

• must have satisfactorily completed the required induction period (Section 135A of the Education Act 2002)

• must be working as a teacher at the school

• must have completed the mandatory SENCO qualification within 3 years of coming into post i.e. the National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) or from Autumn 2024 NPQ for SENCOs

Please note:

a) SENCOs appointed before 1 September 2009 are not required to take the NPQ, but will be expected to ensure compliance with the regulations.

b) SENCOs who have already obtained the NASENCO do not need to complete the NPQ.

Entry requirements for the course take into consideration the current legislation for SENCOs outlined above, in addition the course may be suitable for SENCOs and aspiring SENCOs in a mainstream school or academy, independent school, special school, alternative provision setting or 16-19 organisation. This means it may be suitable for staff carrying out one or more of the following roles:

• Line managers of SENCOs or other senior leaders with responsibility for curriculum, behaviour, pastoral needs or managing provision

• Those who work outside of a school setting but work closely with SENCOs, e.g. in a local authority

• Staff who support the SENCO, either formally as a deputy SENCO or leading a particular area of SEND provision within the school

Please note you don’t have to have secured a SENCO post to undertake this course and some applicants may not have QTS. However it is important that you reflect on the NPQ for SENCOs Content Framework which sets out what participants should know and be able to do after completing the qualification.

• You will gain the knowledge and confidence to work with leaders across the school / setting to develop a culture in which pupils with SEND can participate meaningfully and achieve ambitious outcomes.

• You will gain an understanding of the skills of leadership, management and coordination which underpin the strategic and operational role of the SENCO.

• The blended delivery model should make your journey through the course manageable whilst providing different ways to interact with the course content. For example, online self-study can be organised to suit your professional and personal commitments. The synchronous webinars will give opportunity for real-time discussion with colleagues and the local face-to-face days of which there will be 5 (evenly spaced throughout the 18-month period) will be facilitated in a way to maximise discussion and build local networks.

• The coaching element of the course is designed to take into account practical application of knowledge within your own context.

For those wishing to gain a further qualification our NPQ for SENCOs provides a unique opportunity to progress to the Advanced SENCO Award and onwards to an MEd Professional Development in Education. For further details click here

• All new-to-role SENCOs must successfully complete the NPQ for SENCOs within three years of coming into post. Completion of this NPQ within the specified timeframe will ensure you are statutorily compliant.

• Many schools and settings support experienced teachers and leaders to complete the course as aspiring SENCOs, mindful of the importance of succession planning.

• A SENCO who has successfully completed the NPQ for SENCOs 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.

• Schools and settings will gain knowledge of national and local SEND policy and practice through your SENCO / aspiring SENCO accessing the course content and by regular networking opportunities provided through the local delivery mechanism

• Your SENCO / aspiring SENCO will have the opportunity to further develop their expertise in leadership of SEND by progressing to the Advanced SENCO Award (30 credits master’s level)

The DfE has allocated a limited number of fully funded places to this NPQ. There are funded places available for this NPQ for any state-funded school in England. Please see link to DfE here

When all of our funded places have been allocated we will need to charge schools for the NPQ for SENCOs.

How will I manage my time whilst studying for the NPQ for SENCOs?

The course starts with an initial introductory session of 90 minutes in length followed by a meet-your- group session led by the facilitator/s. You will then get into a pattern over the ensuing 18 months which will need to be timetabled into your diary. There will be five teaching cycles each comprising:

• Online webinar of 90 minutes

• Approximately 1-2 hours of self-study via the online platform each week

• Two hours of coaching within a small group of no more than 8

• One whole day face-to-face session with your group

What happens if I miss a webinar or a face-to-face session?

Course attendance is integral to gaining the qualification so if a sudden and unexpected reason means you are unable to attend, we ask you to contact the admin team who will arrange attendance at another group or talk to your facilitator about how to catch-up.

What happens if I get behind in the self-study aspect of my work?

We appreciate that studying for the NPQ for SENCOs qualification will take time and commitment. We trust that colleagues at your school or setting will give you the appropriate level of support during your 18 months of study. If you experience any difficulties managing the workload and wish to talk to us, please contact the programme lead via easternp.send@hfleducation.org

How practical is the course?

The course content addresses the NPQ for SENCOs framework and all eight standards are covered with the 18-month duration. The cycle of Activate, Teach, Practice and Apply is designed to give you the opportunity to gain and embed new knowledge in a way that can be contextualised to your current setting and make you aware of the practicalities of application in other settings or phases of education.

How might I progress my studies beyond the NPQ for SENCOs?

We are proud to be working with the University of Bolton to provide you with the option to take your NPQ for SENCOs qualification forward to join a masters pathway. The first step in the process is to complete an application to secure Recognition of Prior Certificated Learning (RPCL) which gives you 60 masters level credits towards your progression route. The next step is to apply either for the Advanced SENCO Award (30 masters credits) or the Leadership in SEND and Inclusion module (30 masters level credits) with the University of Bolton. To complete your masters journey you will study a 30 credits module known as (Research and Enquiry) which acts as a segue module in preparation for the final dissertation (60 credits). All courses are completed in a virtual classroom.

A flowchart showing the pathway and choices can be found here.

If you would like to know more, please contact the Programme Lead via easternp.send@hfleducation.org

We will be aiming to have groups in the locations indicated below:

• Bedford Borough Central Beds and Luton

• Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

• Essex and Southend

• Herefordshire

• Hertfordshire

• Norfolk

• Oxfordshire and Oxford Diocese Schools

• Suffolk