NPQ for SENCOs

NPQSENCO is delivered with a blend of online studies, webinars, coaching and face to face events and divided into ‘cycles’ to support your learning.

Best Practice Network will allocate a leadership mentor to each programme member, who will be the main point of contact during the NPQ. Your leadership mentor will provide personalised support throughout, help to manage workload and provide feedback on all submitted tasks.

Applicants must have full support from their school/organisation. A head teacher, member of the SLT or line manager must confirm their support, and that all information submitted is true and correct. To apply for the NPQSENCO, applicants must have the following:

• Teacher Reference Number (TRN)

• 2 years’ experience as a teacher

• Opportunity to apply learning

SENCOs who have already obtained the NASENCO will not need to complete the new NPQ. From September 2024, all SENCOs will:

• Need to take the NPQ if they have not completed or started the NASENCO

• Still need to complete training within 3 years of appointment – schools and SENCOs must ensure they enrol on training that will meet this requirement

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

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• Online learning 38 hours

• Coaching 6 hours

• Face to Face Events 4 (totalling 32 hours)

• Total Learning Hours 94 hours

Following successful completion of NPQ training, you will undertake an assessment to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding.

Your assessment will consist of reading a short case study and answering key questions. They are ‘open book’ assessments which means you will have access to all content and materials to support you with your answer. You will have eight days to complete your assessment, this is designed to provide flexibility to complete it around personal and professional commitments.

Your assessment will be marked using a comparative judgement and will be reviewed by a number of assessors, before being verified by an external moderator. The Department for Education (DfE) will award you your qualification directly. You will receive your result around three months after completing the assessment.

To apply for this NPQ, applicants must complete the application form on the BPN Portal (link https://ccms.bpnsystems.net/applications/index.php) Applications from schools within our hub region of Halton, Warrington and Wigan will automatically be allocated to us.

As part of the process, you will be required to complete your registration on the DfE portal (link https://register-national-professional-qualifications.education.gov.uk/)