NPQ in SEND (NPQ SENCO)

Lead inclusive practice and help every pupil thrive

The National Professional Qualification for SENCOs (NPQSENCO) equips current and aspiring Special Educational Needs Coordinators with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead high-quality SEND provision across their schools.

Designed for teachers and leaders working in international schools, this Department for Education accredited qualification combines expert-led training, flexible online learning, practical school based development and leadership performance coaching.

Educational Success Partners delivers NPQSENCO in partnership with Best Practice Network, a Department for Education-licensed NPQ provider with extensive experience of supporting thousands of teachers and school leaders.

Delivered remotely over 18 months, the programme enables educators around the world to gain a highly regarded professional qualification while continuing in their current role.

Strengthen inclusive practice. Develop colleagues. Improve outcomes for pupils with SEND.

NPQ SENCO at a glance

  • 18-month, part-time programme

  • Four virtual face-to-face events

  • Flexible online study

  • Six hours of leadership performance coaching

  • 90 total learning hours

  • Department for Education-accredited qualification

  • Final assessment through a case-study scenario

  • 60 Master’s credits on successful completion

  • Remote worldwide delivery for international schools

Who is NPQ SENCO for?

NPQSENCO is designed for teachers and school leaders who are, or are aspiring to become, Special Educational Needs Coordinators.

It is particularly suitable for:

  • Current SENCOs seeking to strengthen their leadership practice

  • Teachers preparing to take on a SENCO role

  • Inclusion leaders

  • SEND and additional needs coordinators

  • Senior leaders responsible for SEND provision

  • Teachers leading whole-school inclusive practice

Applicants must have at least two years of teaching experience and opportunities to apply their learning within their school.

Applications must also be endorsed by the applicant’s headteacher through a signed headteacher declaration uploaded as part of the application process.

Become an expert leader of SEND provision

SENCOs are strategic leaders who play a pivotal role in shaping teaching, inclusion and pupil support across their schools.

Effective SENCOs require a comprehensive understanding of SEND frameworks, legislation and professional responsibilities. They must be able to identify pupils’ needs, lead and manage provision, develop colleagues and establish effective partnerships with families and external agencies.

They also need to ensure that evidence-informed teaching and a positive school culture enable pupils with SEND to participate, learn and thrive.

Through NPQ SENCO, participants develop the specialist knowledge needed to:

  • Understand current SEND frameworks, legislation and responsibilities

  • Identify and assess pupils’ needs effectively

  • Lead and manage high-quality SEND provision

  • Support evidence-informed and inclusive classroom teaching

  • Improve outcomes for pupils with SEND

  • Work effectively with parents and carers

  • Build strong partnerships with staff and external agencies

  • Lead professional development for colleagues

  • Support staff to use effective teaching strategies

  • Establish positive, predictable and safe environments

  • Promote high expectations for pupils with SEND

  • Make informed, evidence-based leadership decisions

  • Review and evaluate the impact of provision

  • Build an inclusive whole-school culture and ethos

A practical programme designed around the SENCO role

NPQ SENCO brings together expert-led training, online study, practical activities, formative assessment and leadership performance coaching.

The programme gives participants regular opportunities to apply their learning within their own school, reflect on its impact and develop approaches suited to their pupils, leadership role and educational context.

Learning explores:

  • Effective implementation

  • Statutory SEND frameworks

  • Identification of need

  • Evidence-informed teaching

  • Leading and managing SEND provision

  • Professional development

  • School culture

  • Behaviour and inclusion

Participants also have access to expert talks from respected education and industry leaders.

Flexible remote delivery for international educators

The programme can be completed fully online, making it accessible to teachers and school leaders worldwide.

Virtual face-to-face events provide structured opportunities for expert input, practical activities, professional dialogue and collaboration with educators from different international contexts. Online learning is completed flexibly around participants’ professional commitments.

Participants also benefit from:

  • Expert-led training

  • Access to high-quality, evidence-informed resources

  • Global professional networking

  • Practical activities rooted in their current school role

  • Group and one-to-one coaching

  • A structured Leadership Development Record

  • Expert talks from education and industry leaders

  • Opportunities to reflect on and demonstrate professional impact

The NPQ certificate awarded to international participants is identical to the certificate received by participants completing the qualification in England.

Leadership performance coaching

Participants complete six hours of leadership performance coaching during the programme.

This includes a combination of group coaching and personalised one-to-one support. Coaching helps participants connect their learning to their responsibilities and apply evidence-informed approaches to SEND priorities within their school.

The final coaching activity is an impact review completed before the summative assessment.

This support enables participants to reflect on their leadership practice, evaluate their progress and identify how their work is strengthening SEND provision and inclusive practice.

Assessment

Participants complete formative, practice-led assessment activities throughout the programme. These activities allow them to apply their learning, receive feedback and demonstrate its impact within their school.

The final summative assessment is based on a case-study scenario. Participants are given an eight-day assessment window in which to prepare and submit a written response of between 1,500 and 2,500 words.

To pass the qualification, participants must:

  • Engage with at least 90% of the required programme elements

  • Complete the required Leadership Development Record reviews

  • Participate in the virtual face-to-face events

  • Complete the required online practice activities

  • Undertake the formative assessment tasks

  • Engage in leadership performance coaching

  • Submit and pass the final case-study assessment

Benefits for participants

Completing NPQ SENCO will help participants to:

  • Build the confidence and expertise to lead SEND provision

  • Understand SEND frameworks, legislation and responsibilities

  • Strengthen the identification of and response to pupils’ needs

  • Develop evidence-informed approaches to inclusive teaching

  • Support colleagues to improve classroom practice

  • Build effective partnerships with families and external agencies

  • Lead sustainable whole-school improvement

  • Review and evaluate SEND provision more effectively

  • Develop a strong international professional network

  • Gain a portable qualification valued by schools in England and internationally

  • Earn 60 Master’s credits that may support progression to further postgraduate study

Successful participants will be equipped to apply for SENCO and wider inclusion leadership roles. Those preparing for headship may also choose to progress to the National Professional Qualification in Headship.

Benefits for schools

Supporting a teacher or leader to complete NPQ SENCO can help a school to:

  • Develop and retain specialist SEND leadership

  • Strengthen whole-school inclusive practice

  • Improve the identification of and response to pupils’ needs

  • Equip staff with evidence-informed teaching strategies

  • Improve teaching and support for pupils with SEND

  • Build effective partnerships with parents and external agencies

  • Create positive, predictable and safe learning environments

  • Embed evidence-informed strategic decision-making

  • Strengthen the review and evaluation of SEND provision

  • Create sustainable improvements for pupils and staff

Delivery partnership

Educational Success Partners works in partnership with Best Practice Network, a Department for Education-licensed NPQ provider, to make nationally recognised professional qualifications accessible to teachers and leaders in British and international schools worldwide.

Best Practice Network has extensive experience of delivering NPQs and supporting thousands of educators. Together, ESP and Best Practice Network combine high-quality, evidence-informed professional development with flexible remote delivery and a practical understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by international schools.

Programme fee

The programme fee is £1,705, which includes admission, tuition, assessment and the final award of the NPQ SENCO upon successful completion.

 Self-funding candidates will be subject to 20% UK VAT.

Apply for the autumn 2026/27 cohort

Applications for the autumn 2026/27 cohort must be received by 23:59 UK time on 25 October 2026.

Prospective participants should discuss the programme with their Headteacher, Principal or professional development lead before applying.

Consider your professional goals, the responsibilities you would like to develop and how your participation will benefit your school and its pupils.

For more information about NPQ SENCO or to apply email Mark Bignell on mark@espeducation.co.uk.