Guidance

Transition to national professional qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators

Updated 24 April 2024

Applies to England

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

Mandatory qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs)

In September 2009, it became law for every new SENCO in a mainstream school to gain the national award for special educational needs co-ordinator (NASENCO) within 3 years of starting the job.

The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision improvement plan announced that a leadership-level national professional qualification (NPQ) will become the mandatory qualification for SENCOs from September 2024. This will replace the NASENCO qualification.

We have updated the SEND Regulations 2014. They will come into effect from 1 September 2024, ahead of first teaching in autumn 2024. Following the introduction of the NPQ for SENCOs, the 3-year window to complete the mandatory qualification after taking up a SENCO post will remain.

From 1 September 2024, the SEND Regulations 2024 will supersede the SEND Code of Practice. It is the responsibility of schools to ensure compliance with the SEND Regulations 2024, and SENCOs should enrol on the relevant qualification that enables them to do so.

National professional qualifications

NPQs are designed to:

  • support teachers and leaders to develop expertise in specialist areas of teaching practice and school leadership
  • deliver improved outcomes for schools and young people

They are designed using the latest evidence. They can be completed around professionals’ existing commitments.

The NPQ for SENCOs content framework sets out what participants should know and be able to do after completing the qualification.

Leadership NPQ courses last between 18 and 22 months, including the time to undertake assessment and receive results. Approved NPQ providers will determine the course structure, content and method of delivery.

The guidance on the national professional qualification provides further information about the delivery model, providers and the start date. You can also find out more about:

Requirements for SENCOs

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

From September 2024, all SENCOs and aspiring SENCOs will need to:

  • take the NPQ if they have not completed or started the NASENCO
  • complete training within 3 years of appointment - schools and SENCOs must make sure they enrol on training that will meet this requirement

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

SENCOs enrolled on NASENCO courses

For those needing to complete a qualification before the introduction of the NPQ, SENCOs can continue to sign up for the NASENCO qualification until the end of the 2023 to 2024 academic year. This is to enable SENCOs to meet the 3-year requirement to complete the mandatory training for the role.

SENCOs enrolled on a NASENCO course starting in the 2023 to 2024 academic year will be considered to have fulfilled the mandatory training as long as they complete it within 3 years of their appointment and by 31 August 2027.

SENCOs starting in role during the 2023 to 2024 academic year

To meet the statutory requirements for the role, SENCOs starting in post during the 2023 to 2024 academic year should do one of the following:

  • start the NASENCO before September 2024
  • enrol on an NPQ course starting no later than spring 2025

Aspiring SENCOs

Aspiring SENCOs wishing to complete the NASENCO must begin the course before September 2024 to meet the statutory requirements.

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