How to Become a SENCO in 2024/2025

How do I qualify as a SENCO?

If you want to become a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), you will first need to have qualified teacher status as well as experience working with children with special educational needs.

You must also complete the mandatory SENCO training. From Autumn 2024, the DfE will be replacing the National Award in SEN Coordination (NASENCO) with the new NPQ SENCO qualification for all mainstream schools in England.

If you work in an independent school, things are a little different; you don’t necessarily need QTS to work as a SENCO, but it will likely count in your favour. 

As well as having QTS, to qualify as a SENCO you must;

• have completed the required induction period
• be currently working as a teacher, headteacher or acting headteacher in a school or college
• have completed the NPQ SENCO within three years of taking on the post (from September this year)

How much does the NPQ SENCO cost?

The Government is covering costs for a limited number of SENCOs in the first cohort. For more information, you can visit the DfE’s guidance on NPQ funding.

If your school or college is not prioritised or eligible for a funded place, they will need to cover the costs themselves. The below information was correct as of July 2024.

• Real Training in partnership with Teach First: £1,265
• The National Institute of Teaching: £1,250
• UCL: £1,265
• Best Practice Network £1,298 + VAT
• Church of England: £1,333
• Ambition Institute: £1,332 + VAT

SENCO training in international schools

If you are teaching in a British International School the NPQ SENCO qualification is not mandatory, although it would be required if you ever wanted to return to take up a SENCO position in the UK.

Many SENCOs working abroad find that undertaking a specifically tailored course such as the International Award for SEN Coordination (iSENCO) strengthens awareness of the context of inclusive education within which they are working. It can also help them to influence strategic vision and become a champion for change.

COURSE NOTES

Until 31 August 2024, Real Training is also offering a top-up course that will allow you to study iSENCO and then ‘top-up’ to the NASENCO. In order to do this, you must have QTS and have already booked and enrolled on our iSENCO course.

What experience should I gain?

Generally speaking, SENCOs have been teachers for quite a few years so early career teachers or those without QTS should factor this into their career plans.

If your long or medium-term goal is to become a SENCO and you aren’t currently in a leadership position then you will also need to evidence your leadership and management skills. You might consider shadowing a SENCO in another school, taking on more pastoral responsibilities or working towards a Head of Year/Subject role.

If you are just beginning your career, then you need to be prepared that it will likely be some time before you can step into the role. If you are in a teaching assistant, ELSA or LSA position, exploring further courses in SEND alongside working towards your QTS can help deepen your understanding and evidence your commitment.

Your school might also offer roles such as an assistant or deputy SENCO that give you the opportunity to get a better idea of what the position is like – (more on this at the bottom of this article).

Regardless of whether the SENCO role is a long-term goal or more immediate reality, it is useful to start building a network of other SEND specialists. There are various networking groups such as The SENCO Network Group and SENCO forum that are open to both SEN support professionals and SENCOs. If you start one of our courses or do your NPQ SENCO training with us, you will also gain access to an online community of current and aspiring SENCOs and other SEND professionals. 

COURSE NOTES

If you are a teaching assistant and are looking for a good starting point to improve your knowledge of SEND, take a look at the Level 3 Apprenticeship with Additional SEND Training, offered by our sister company, Educational and Sporting Futures.

Skills required

• Interpersonal skills. Empathy and emotional intelligence are so important. You need to be able to connect with vulnerable pupils and their parents (who are often worried or stressed by the time they reach you). You must coordinate and inspire colleagues and work well with a range of external agencies, typically working under their own set of pressures.
  
• Communication and attention to detail. The day-to-day job can be fairly heavy on paperwork. The ability to write clear and effective EHCP reviews, provision maps, and personal learning plans is essential.
  
• Leadership skills. You need to be able to motivate other teachers, model good practice and embed a whole school commitment to supporting pupils with SEND.
  
• Organisation and data interpretation skills. Having a basic understanding of how to interpret assessment data and select tests is a really useful skill as is the ability to monitor the effectiveness of interventions from both qualitative feedback and quantitative data.
  
• Adaptability. From dealing with legislation changes to trying new interventions for individual pupils, SENCOs need to be agile, able to handle pressure and embrace a growth mindset.

What is an Assistant SENCO?

The assistant SENCO role varies considerably from setting to setting. They will almost always help with the administrative workload and in some settings will also deputise for the SENCO. 

This might include helping them with Individual Education Plans, coordinating meetings with parents and maintaining provision maps. Some assistant SENCOs are also required to line-manage TAs and coordinate exam access arrangements. QTS is typically, but not always, required for this role.

Typical SENCO salary

The salary for a SENCO can vary depending on the school and location, ranging from £30,000 to £50,000 per year. According to data from Reed, in London the average SENCO salary is £47,500. SENCOs in larger schools or trusts may earn higher salaries. Check with individual schools or local authorities for specific salary information.

The assistant SENCO position is more recent role and so the salary is harder to benchmark. According to data from Glassdoor the average salary is between £21 – 34k.

What career pathways could a SENCO lead to?

Becoming a SENCO is a highly rewarding career choice that allows you to make a positive difference to the wellbeing and academic achievement of children with special educational needs. It provides the opportunity to engage with the wider senior leadership team and to help shape the culture and inclusive ethos of your setting.

For this reason, it is also a perfect step into senior roles such as the Deputy Head or Headteacher or broader positions within multi-academy trusts, for example, Inclusion Leads. Some SENCOs also go on to take up educational consultancy roles or other positions working for their local authority.

Helpful resources for aspiring SENCOs

• Whole School SEND has excellent resources including webinars and free CPD 
• The SENDcast is a helpful podcast covering all kinds of SEN topics 
• The SEND Network offers a vibrant online community of SEND professionals
• Twinkl has a number of resources for SEN teachers at various stages, including these SEN observation sheets
• The SEND Policy Forum has useful research, commentary and events discussing all things to do with policy
• The TES has a number of resources for SEND  professionals
• The SENCO forum and The SENCO Network Group are highly active forums open to aspiring SENCOs

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