Why us?
Choose our NPQ for SENCOs and you’ll be joining over 32,000 teachers and school leaders (as of December 2024), who have decided on an Ambition NPQ since they launched in 2021.
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
Join our charitable mission
We support teachers and school leaders at every stage of their careers, helping them to keep getting better. We are a charity providing training and professional development based on the most rigorous research and evidence about what really works.
Benefits for you
Excel as a SENCO
Learn how to become a strategic leader of SEND. You’ll discover what good SEND provision looks like and 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.
Develop a strategic SEND provision
Learn how to contribute to and implement a strong and robust SEND strategy 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.
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.
Learn at your pace
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.
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.
Create a ‘golden thread’
The NPQs are all aligned. 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.
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 school's needs.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the NPQ for SENCOs programme for?
The NPQ in SENCOs is designed for current or aspiring SENCOs, or school leaders such as senior leaders or headteachers.
The NPQ for SENCOs is also open to leaders in specialist or alternative provision.
How long does the NPQ for SENCOs programme last?
The NPQ for SENCOs is an 18-month programme, with a mixture of live, facilitated sessions and self-directed learning.
How does the NPQ for SENCOs programme accommodate busy schedules?
The NPQ for SENCOs is designed to fit around your schedule with a 'little and often' approach that aligns with insights from the science of learning.
Is the NPQ for SENCOs programme fully funded?
The NPQ for SENCOs is DfE-funded for teachers and school leaders, at eligible schools and organisations in England. Find out more about the eligibility criteria in the 'Funding' tab.
Are there any specific requirements to enrol on the NPQ for SENCOs programme?
To be eligible for the NPQ for SENCOs, you must be a serving teacher or leader in a school or eligible organisation in England.
What is the new SENCO qualification?
The new NPQ for SENCOs is a mandatory qualification for new SENCOs. SENCOs will need to complete this qualification within the first three years in the role. If you have already obtained the NASENCO qualification you do not need to complete the NPQ for SENCOs.
Is a SENCO qualification a Master's?
The NPQ for SENCOs is not a Master’s qualification. Ambition Institute does not have an arrangement with any Higher Education Institutions (HEI) to guarantee that completing one of our NPQs will count towards Master’s credits. However, your HEI may agree to recognise your NPQ if you enquire with them. So, we recommend directly contacting your place of study to ask.
What qualifications do you need to become a SENCO?
To become a SENCO, you will need a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which would make you suitable for the NPQSENCO course. You will also need a Teacher Reference Number (TRN) when you apply. You can contact the DfE if you don't have one.
Our NPQ won't explicitly ask you for evidence of your QTS, but we strongly recommend you have one as it is mandatory for SENCOs in state schools to have a qualified teacher in role.
Can a TA become a SENCO?
If you want to become a SENCO, you will need to have qualified teacher status (QTS).
Overview
This 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'll learn
Our NPQ for SENCOs is designed so you can engage in live, facilitated sessions alongside modules you can complete at any time.
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.
Locations
Join a local cohort with one of our regional partners and benefit from our expert curriculum design along with a tailored experience linked to your local context.
If you are unable to find a local cohort, you can join Ambition’s national cohort and gain a national network of peers. Either way, we work to give you the best possible experience.
What our partners can do for you
Ambition Institute provides high-quality content and materials, built on our experience in schools and other learning environments, and our deep knowledge of evidence and practice.
Our partner in your region will put this knowledge into context and manage your experience on the programme, from facilitation to day-to-day support.
The timings and methods of activity, sizes of cohorts and the cost of the programme may vary across delivery partners.
Assessment
Our NPQ courses no longer include a large project at the end. Instead, you’ll sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which you respond to a short case study.
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 complete the case study.
- There are two assessment windows every year, and participants can sit the assessment twice, if they need to.
- You need to pass the assessment and engage with 90% of the course to qualify for the NPQ accreditation.
- We will offer two webinars and a live clinic in advance of the assessment window to support you.
Testimonials
Cost
Limited DfE scholarship funding is available for spring 2025. Funding will target those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities.
For the NPQ for SENCOs, funded scholarships are available for those who meet the following criteria:
- a current or aspiring SENCO, or a school leader such as a senior leader or headteacher.
- work in a state funded school in England
School eligibility lists for the spring cohorts will be available from the DfE in early 2025. When the DfE update the list of schools, we will inform you if you are eligible for a funded place. If you are not eligible, we will offer alternative funding options.
The NPQSENCO is mandatory for current SENCOs in their first three years of the role. If you have previously completed the NASENCO, the NPQSENCO is not mandatory.
Applicants required to undertake a mandatory NPQSENCO will receive priority for fully-funded scholarship places.
Check if you’re eligible!
If you're unsure whether you will qualify for this 'pupil premium' based on funding, please use our online eligibility check tool.
*Currently nurseries are not available yet on the tool. If you work in a nursery, please contact us directly at [email protected]
Get in touch to find out more.
If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ for SENCOs costs £1,332 + VAT.
Self-funded payment options
If you are unable to access a DfE funded scholarship, you can pay for your NPQ.
We will invoice the school/trust contact you provide in your application directly. Depending on your school type, they maybe be able to reclaim VAT.
If you are unable to come to an arrangement with your school, we can invoice you directly, but you will not be able to reclaim VAT.
Unfortunately, we do not offer payment plans for our NPQ programmes.
The cost of your programme must be paid in full before the start of your programme. We are unable to offer refunds once you start the programme.
DfE funding restrictions
Due to DfE funding being limited, being eligible for an NPQ scholarship does not guarantee either suitability for the course or that a funded course place is available.
If funded places are not available, you can:
- approach a different NPQ provider to enquire about the availability of funded course places
- choose to join your chosen providers waiting list
- choose to pay for a course place
Eligibility
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 also open to leaders in specialist or alternative provision.
The NPQSENCO is mandatory for current SENCOs in their first three years of the role. If you have previously completed the NASENCO, the NPQSENCO is not mandatory.
Applicants required to undertake a mandatory NPQSENCO will receive priority for fully-funded scholarship places.
NPQs are not suitable for active Early Career Teachers.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.
Apply
Applications are now open for spring 2025 cohorts. Start your application here >>
Apply by 18 March 2025 to start in April 2025.
Enquire here to find out more about our NPQs.
The NPQ for SENCOs is mandatory for SENCOs. You will need to complete this qualification within the first three years in the role. If you have already obtained the NASENCO qualification you do not need to complete the NPQ for SENCOs. Applicants required to undertake a mandatory NPQSENCO will receive priority for fully-funded scholarship places.
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 also open to leaders in specialist or alternative provision.
NPQs are not suitable for active Early Career Teachers.
The first conference for the Ambition national NPQ SENCO programme will take place on Tuesday 15 October 2024 and will be held in the West Midlands at the University of Warwick. Partner cohort locations and dates may vary.
If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.