This programme is DfE funded* for the Autumn 2026 intake. Information about eligibility for funded places in Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Post 16 or AP can be found via the NSE website.

Any specific questions about funding can be directed to:

Angela.scottassociates@gmail.com or npq@nse.org.uk.

If you or your school are not eligible for funding, or funded places in your geographical location have already been allocated, you can still apply to complete your NPQ this year at a cost to you or your organisation of £1333.

This 18-month course will help you gain confidence and develop skills in:

• co-ordinating special educational needs (SEN) provision throughout your school

• working alongside other leaders to build a school culture in which pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can:

  • participate meaningfully in the full life of the school

  • achieve ambitious outcomes

  • transition successfully to the next phase of education, training or employment

This course covers the following topics:

• School culture

• Statutory framework

• Identification of need

• Teaching

• Behaviour

• Leading and managing provision

• Professional development

• Implementation

Approximately 18 months, with ‘meet and greets’ opening up in early November each year and the summative assessment taking place in Spring, 18 months later.

You will learn across five teaching cycles, each one comprising:

• a national real-time webinar to ‘warm the text’ for the upcoming unit theme

• online self-study activities which can be worked-on flexibly within a specific window to suit your commitments

• small group coaching to contextualise learning – normally held online to reduce travel requirements

• either a whole day or two half day face-to face training sessions held locally. These are designed to further develop the knowledge application aspect of the programme. Note: If you choose an online group or are in a setting/school outside of the UK the face-to-face sessions will be held online in real-time

• an online expert-led SEND conference

Note: Time commitments for the course can be found on the NSE website.

All coaches and facilitators are experts in the field and together have a significant track record of SEND and Inclusion leadership in schools and educational organisations across the phases at regional, national and international level.

You must have a course engagement level of 90% to be eligible to access the assessment at the end.

As with all NPQs the focus of assessment is to address a prescribed set of ‘Learn That’ and Learn How To’ statements relating to a specific case study. The written response requires an open book approach drawing on the course content which is underpinned by relevant research.

Our decision to partner with the National Society of Education (NSE) was taken having carefully reviewed all six DfE lead providers.

Consideration was given to the methodology for delivery, the manageability of the programme for participants, the opportunity to contribute to the content creation and the shared values of professionalism, innovation and care for participants and partners. Having worked in partnership with NSE since autumn 2024, we can say wholeheartedly that our decision has been validated – this is an organisation able to create exceptional learning experiences for all!

Ofsted 2024: ‘The professional development and training provided is exceptional’

We also work in association with Aquinas Education Trust whose vision is one of Life-Transforming Learning.

The programme aims to:

• Build knowledge and confidence in leadership of SEND and Inclusion as its national importance builds pace.

• Give access to relevant research to help inform perspectives, grow confident practice and bring about change.

• Develop the skills of SEND leadership across all phases of education and within different contexts. This includes early years, primary, secondary, post 16 mainstream special and alternative provision.

• Develop professional networks that will endure beyond the course.

• Deliver the mandatory qualification for special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs) who need to successfully complete the programme within three years of coming into post.

The programme aims to:

• Ensure statutory compliance to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations outlined in part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

• Build SEND and Inclusion confidence and capacity.

• Give access to research focused on building inclusive cultures within educational organisations.

• Develop collaborative and coherent practice that is resilient to change.

• Drive leaders’ preparation and / or response to Ofsted’s focus on inclusion.

• Provide a strong and relevant research basis for change.