NPQSENCO

The National Professional Qualification for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (NPQSENCO) is a leadership qualification for teachers who are, or are preparing to be, Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs).

 

Delivered by the University of Worcester in partnership with the National Society for Education and the Church of England Diocese of Worcester, this programme provides evidence-informed professional development aligned with the Department for Education’s NPQ framework.

The NPQSENCO supports participants to develop the knowledge and leadership expertise required to lead effective SEND provision. It focuses on improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities through high-quality teaching, effective identification of need, and strategic leadership across a setting.

This qualification replaces the NASENCO and reflects current national expectations for inclusive practice and school leadership.

 

Course content

The programme is structured around the NPQSENCO framework and focuses on the core aspects of effective SEND leadership.

Participants will develop knowledge and understanding in areas including:

  • Leading and managing SEND provision across a setting
  • Identification, assessment and monitoring of need
  • Supporting high-quality, inclusive teaching
  • The use and evaluation of targeted interventions
  • Working with families, colleagues and external agencies
  • Leading change and embedding sustainable improvements

Learning is delivered through a combination of:

  • Self-directed online study
  • Facilitated sessions
  • Structured application of learning within participants’ own settings

Key details

  • Duration: Typically, 18 months encompassing five teaching cycles.
  • Delivery model: Blended learning (online and facilitated sessions). Each teaching cycle phase includes Prepare (pre-reading), Activate (on-line seminars), Teach (asynchronous self-study), Practice (on-line small group coaching facilitated by University of Worcester experts), Apply (face to face teaching at Worcester University Campus).
  • Assessment: Case study-based assessment of SEND leadership practice
  • Start date: November 2026

The programme is designed to be manageable alongside professional responsibilities while maintaining a strong focus on impact in practice.

Benefits of studying at Worcester

The University of Worcester has a strong track record in teacher education having received an OFSTED Outstanding grade for Primary & Secondary teacher training. We also pride ourselves on our dedication to inclusive practice, having taught the NPQSENCO predecessor course NASCO Award (PG Cert SENCO) for over 15 years.

With this in mind, in undertaking your NPQSENCO with Worcester, you will benefit from:

  • A programme that combines national expertise with local, contextualised delivery
  • Partnership working with the Diocese of Worcester and National Society for Education
  • Facilitation by experienced practitioners with expertise in SEND and school leadership
  • Opportunities to engage with a professional network of colleagues across the region
  • A clear focus on applying learning to your own setting to support improvement

This approach ensures that the programme is both rigorous and directly relevant to your professional context.

The University is also pleased to offer you 60 masters level credits on completion of your NPQSENCO to use for further study on the MA in Education. 

How to apply

The NPQSENCO is funded by the Department for Education for eligible participants.

You may be eligible if you:

  • Work in a state-funded school or educational setting in England
  • Are a practising SENCO or are preparing to take on the role
  • Are within the first five years of taking up a SENCO post (in line with programme expectations)

Following completion of the register of interest form on the National Society for Education webpages, you will receive further information about eligibility and next steps

 

Meet the team

Marie Stephenson

Dr Marie Stephenson is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Worcester, with expertise in educational and ethical leadership. She has extensive experience supporting learners across a range of programmes. Her work focuses on developing leadership capacity and supporting professionals to apply research-informed approaches in practice. She is particularly committed to enabling individuals to build independence, confidence and impact within their professional roles.

Stephanie Withington

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Contact us

For further information about the NPQSENCO, please contact:

Alternatively, you can submit an enquiry via the application link above and a member of the team will be in touch.