Assistant SENCO Programme
Funded by the Apprenticeship Levy

• Enhanced inclusion, SEND support and outcomes: With a skilled member of the team supporting the SENCO, your school can provide more comprehensive and effective inclusion services and SEND support, ultimately leading to enhanced learning and wellbeing for all students with special educational needs.
• Greater efficiency and support for the SENCO: By developing strong organisational, administrative and team leadership skills, Assistant SENCOs can streamline processes and take responsibility for key activities, freeing up the SENCO’s time for strategic leadership and complex case management.
  
• Improved collaboration: Create stronger teamwork within your SEND department, across the school, and with external partners and parents through enhanced communication and collaborative practices. This will ensure a unified and comprehensive approach to student needs.
• Positive school culture: Embed a more inclusive school culture where every student feels valued and supported. The Assistant SENCO will support teaching and support staff, and promote inclusive practice, implement accurate record keeping, improve communication and collaboration – ultimately, contribute to improved outcomes and progress for students with SEND.
• Future-ready workforce: Investing in staff development demonstrates your school’s commitment to excellence and helps to attract and retain talented individuals.

This programme is ideal for:

New or experienced Assistant SENCOs: Individuals currently in the role who want to further develop their skills and knowledge.

Aspiring Assistant SENCOs: Those who are passionate about supporting students with special educational needs and aspire to a career in this field, including experienced Teaching Assistants, HLTAs and other school support staff.

If you are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of students with SEN, this programme will provide you with the expertise and support you need to succeed.

To be eligible, you will need to:

• Have experience working with SEN in a school, care and/or educational setting. This could be as a Teaching Assistant, HLTA, Learning Support Assistant (LSA) or equivalent role for at least a year (full-time equivalent).
• You must have lived in England for the last three years and have the right to work in the UK.
• You must be employed at least 16 hours a week and spend at least 50% of your working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship.
• You will need to declare you have achieved a minimum of GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4 (Grade C) or above, or hold an equivalent Level 2 Functional Skills qualification.

This level of English proficiency is required as the apprenticeship is equivalent in academic standard to a foundation degree.

Please note: This programme is open to delegates in England only.

The programme runs for 15 months during which you will participate in a variety of activities:

• Asynchronous Online learning – study flexibly at a time and place that suits you
• Self-directed project work – apply new knowledge and skills through practical projects and research in your setting. Build a portfolio of evidence that will help embed your learning and allow you to have a positive impact from the very start
• Live online workshops – mandatory monthly workshops led by SEND experts, plus follow-up discussions and opportunities to share good practice
• Progress reviews – one 60-minute review per term with your apprenticeship coach and your mentor

You’ll also receive exclusive invitations to our series of SEND Masterclasses.

You will have termly progress reviews in which you’ll celebrate your growth and successes and discuss challenges you have been facing. These will be scheduled with your Mentor and Apprenticeship tutor at a time that is convenient for you.

The final progress review is combined with a Gateway Review. Once you have completed this, you’ll then undertake the End-Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA for this programme involves:

• Written project report (4,000 words)
• Presentation with questions and answers (60 minutes). The presentation should cover an analysis of the internal and external factors that impacted the choice of project, a critical evaluation of the project and detail of the impact the project has had since it was completed

You will need to pass both components. The results from these assessments are then combined to form your overall apprenticeship grade (fail, pass, merit or distinction).

You will also compile a portfolio during your apprenticeship containing evidence of how you have met the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the apprenticeship. These will be developed throughout your time on the programme.

The funding band for this programme is £9,000. The cost will be able to be fully funded using the Apprenticeship Levy.

If your employer (school, nursery, MAT, or local authority) is an apprenticeship-levy paying employer (i.e. they have a wage bill in excess of £3m) then 100% of the apprenticeship is paid for from the employer’s levy pot. You will need to gain approval to access your employer’s levy and we advise that you discuss details with your business manager / financial director prior to registration.

If your employer does not pay the Apprenticeship Levy then the Government will fund 95% of the apprenticeship and your employer will need to commit to paying 5% of the fee, which is £450. ESF should be able to support your school or nursery to reclaim this £450 via a process known as Levy Transfer.

• Please complete our short application form
• You will then receive an email with your login details for ESF Learn, where you will continue your application. Please note, you will need to work with your Manager / school to complete some sections of the application
• If you have any questions prior to applying, please contact us.

• The next cohort starts 11 June 2025. Please apply as soon as possible if you are looking to join this cohort.
• Following June, we will be running a cohort in October 2025.

• If you hold QTS, you might like to work towards being the named SENCO in your setting. To achieve this, you would need to study the NPQ SENCO within your first 3 years in the role.
• You might like to further enhance your skills and knowledge by studying courses that will help you develop specialist skills.
  • Interested in Educational Testing? You might like to consider our Assistant Test User course (ATU) or Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET).
  • Working in a Secondary setting and interested in Access Arrangements? You could go on to study our Access Arrangements Coordination course (AACoord), or if eligible, our Certificate of Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A)
• Looking to develop your knowledge of specific areas within SEND? Browse the full range of modules on our postgraduate programmes, covering topics such as Autism, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs plus many more!