Special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs) lead and co-ordinate a schools provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
The National award for special educational needs co-ordination document explains the qualification that every new SENCO in a mainstream school must currently gain within 3 years of taking up their post. This was published in 2014.
A national professional qualification (NPQ) for SENCOs is replacing the existing qualification, as announced in the SEND and alternative provision improvement plan. Teaching of the NPQ will begin in autumn 2024.
The Transition to national professional qualification document has more information about this new qualification and the requirements that SENCOs must meet.
Published 5 July 2023 Last updated 2 February 2024 +show all updates
Updated 'Transition to national professional qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators' to reflect the fact that further details of the NPQ for SENCOs are available.
Updated 'Transition to national professional qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators': changed a subheading from 'Appropriate qualifications for a SENCO' to 'Requirements for SENCOs', and segmented paragraphs to clarify who the information is aimed at. Moved information about updating the page and Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 to the top of the page.
Clarified information about which qualification SENCOs starting in post in academic year 2023 to 2024 must take to meet the mandatory requirements for the role.
Added information about NASENCO for the 2023 to 2024 academic year and NPQ for SENCOs for the 2024 to 2025 academic year.
