National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) PgCert

Overview

It is statutory for all new SENCos working in maintained, mainstream schools (including Academies) to attend and complete the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination within three years of taking up their post. This course addresses the specific development needs of staff who are working as a SENCo within that three year window, or who are experience teachers who aspire to that role. Participants come from a range of settings including primary, special and secondary schools. Graduates of the PgCert SENCO can progress on to the MA in Education (Special Education Needs and Disability). The course enables you to demonstrate the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to meet National College for Teaching and Leadership's (NCTL) learning outcomes for the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination. The NCTL stipulate particular outcomes in terms of: Professional skills, knowledge and understanding: including an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the legislative context for SEN and theoretical concepts that underpin effective leadership and practice. To be informed by current practice, scholarship and research, and a critical awareness of current issues and developments in the subject and the profession; Professional development: including the expertise and capabilities that SENCOs need to lead and coordinate provision effectively. Professional values: including the personal and professional qualities that SENCOs need to make a positive impact on the ethos and culture in schools and other settings. And, you'll you'll also be expected to engage critically and reflectively with the research and theory in the area of inclusion and SEND.

Professional links

The course enables you to demonstrate the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to meet National College for Teaching and Leadership's (NCTL) learning outcomes for the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination. Sessions on the module will be taken by teachers and senior leaders in outstanding partnership SEND schools. Students will already be working in schools. However, there may be the possibility of visits to SEND schools.

Teaching and learning

This course is taught through a combination of lecture sessions and workshops. You'll be supervised through a tutorial system and online materials with be available through Moodle (the University's Virtual Learning Environment). The positive thing about this course is that it's taught during the School term so ensures teachers do not need to do anything extra during holidays, and it's also offered in the evening, so provides further flexibility for people already in work.