Introduction
Achieve the highly-regarded National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) alongside the Senior Leader Apprenticeship. This combined programme allows you to develop your knowledge and skills in two crucial areas; Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and strategic leadership.
Upon completion, you’ll receive both a Level 7 Senior Leader qualification and the NASENCO, equipping you to make a significant impact in your setting. This programme can be fully funded using the Apprenticeship Levy.
Ofsted Outstanding apprenticeship provider Educational and Sporting Futures deliver this Apprenticeship. Educational & Sporting Futures is part of Real Group.
Why choose the Senior Leader with NASENCO programme?
This programme provides a comprehensive and flexible learning experience that caters to your individual needs. You’ll engage in a blend of independent study modules, interactive workshops facilitated by experienced SEND and leadership experts, informative webinars that offer the latest insights, and practical projects designed to solidify your learning and prepare you for real-world application. One of your key projects will be the creation of a strategic SEND development plan for your setting.
You’ll be supported by your coach at every step as you study the core NASENCO curriculum and build your leadership knowledge, skills and behaviours.
How will you benefit?
- Boost your knowledge and skills in two important areas – SEND and Leadership – and receive the qualifications to recognise your expertise
- Develop your proficiency through independent study, workshops, webinars and practical projects such as writing a strategic SEND development plan, which will help you maximise your impact
- Benefit from having the support of your coach at every step, as well as a dedicated leadership coach who will provide individual coaching and guidance to help you build upon 360 feedback from your colleagues
- Gain 60 Masters level credits that can be put towards further studies
- Leverage the extensive experience of Real Training, SEND experts since 2004, and Educational and Sporting Futures – an Ofsted-Outstanding apprenticeship provider
Apprenticeship delivered by
Funded using the Apprenticeship Levy
+44 (0)1273 35 80 80
Where this course fits in
Content overview
NASENCO Curriculum:
Strand one: The context for inclusive education
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the background legislation, policies, and evidence that inform inclusion and SEN provision including the DfE’s 2023 Improvement Plans.
- Also, learn to appreciate how high-incidence disabilities affect your pupils’ learning and development.
- Activity-wise: you will analyse SEND/inclusion policies within your school and look at their background – and how they relate to the current legislative climate.
Strand two: Developing strategy and policies for inclusive education
- Draw on a broad range of evidence, policy and resources, to work with others to positively influence the delivery of inclusive education – particularly in relation to strategic vision and commitment.
- Activity-wise: you will compare and contrast elements of SEND practice currently under review in your school through a visit to a local school to compare SEND practice in an alternative setting.
Strand three: The development, planning, and application of inclusive practice
- Analyse the intervention choices offered in your setting and evaluate the outcomes of one intervention in detail.
- Draw on the theory, evidence, local practice and external sources of support to design, implement and evaluate a local intervention that will enhance the outcomes of one or more SEND pupils in your school.
- Activity-wise: you will analyse the implementation and monitoring of interventions and practice for children with SEND. You will evaluate your existing systems for SEND data management.
Strand four: Working with others
- Enhance collaborative, leadership and staff management skills, by fostering an understanding of the key roles and relationships that SENCOs have with multiple stakeholders.
- Focus on the essential nature of interpersonal relationships for the effective planning and delivery of interventions.
- Activity-wise: you will reflect on the impact of the course on your development and leadership skills.
Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship Curriculum:
Knowledge
- Leadership Theories, Models, Attributes and your Setting
- The Context of Inclusive Education
- Understanding the landscape and building positive whole school ethos and reputation
- Financial Strategies
Professional behaviours
- Working collaboratively enabling empowerment and delegation
- Value difference and champion diversity
Skills
- Applying leadership theory and driving positive change
- Risk Management
- Continuous Professional Development for self and others
Course details
How is the course delivered?
The programme runs for 16 months, during which you’ll complete your National Award for SEN Coordination coursework on Campus Online, our provision for online learning, which enables you to fit your studies in around work and personal commitments. You’ll also receive x3 one-to-one leadership coaching sessions with your dedicated coach. In these sessions you’ll use our 360 degree leadership skills tool and analyse and plan your response to your feedback from colleagues.
There will also be mandatory bi-weekly webinars which will occur on Wednesday afternoons during term time and termly progress reviews in which you’ll celebrate your growth and successes and discuss challenges you have been facing. These will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for you.
Your final progress review is known as the Gateway Review. Once you have completed this, you’ll then undertake the End-Point Assessment. This involves developing a Strategic SEND Development plan over a 6 – 8 week period and writing a Strategic Business Proposal. You’ll then meet your independent End-Point Assessor to deliver your Presentation and have a Professional Discussion.
Who is the Senior Leader with NASENCO designed for?
The opportunity to undertake this course is open to employed SENCOs and qualified teachers who are aspiring SENCOs. It may also be of interest to current and/or aspiring senior leaders who are looking to gain a good understanding of SEND and create a more inclusive learning environment for all students.
Are you eligible?
- You must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS).
- You must have the right to work and be employed at least 16 hours a week and have lived in England for the last three years.
- You will need to provide evidence of having achieved GCSE Level 4 or equivalent for English and Maths.
- You must not have already completed the Senior Leadership Level 7 apprenticeship.
- Your employer must agree to appoint a workplace mentor to attend the termly progress reviews.
- Your employer would need to agree and enrol you as an apprentice. We can support you with this.
Please note: This programme is open to delegates in England only.
How much does this programme cost?
This programme can be fully funded using the Apprenticeship Levy.
If your employer (school, 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. Your Finance Director / Business Manager will know about it. Usually there is money left in this levy pot but you do need to check with your employer.
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 £700 and would cover the cost of both courses. ESF should be able to support your school to reclaim this £700 via a process known as Levy Transfer. If you successfully enrol on the Apprenticeship then your school will not need to pay Real Training the NASENCO course fee. If they have already paid this, it will be refunded. Please note that one twelfth of the NASENCO fee will be paid to Real Training by Educational and Sporting Futures each month. This means that if you later withdraw from the apprenticeship, the balance of the fee would be owed to Real Training by your school. This forms part of the Terms and Conditions of enrolling onto this combined Apprenticeship and NASENCO option.
What happens if I plan to self-fund the NASENCO?
If you plan to pay the cost of the NASENCO yourself, you will need to talk with your employer about whether they are supportive of you undertaking the apprenticeship alongside NASENCO. This is because it is only possible to enter onto an apprenticeship via your Employer.
How do I apply?
To register for the Senior Leader with NASENCO course, please:
- Complete the apprentice application form and work with your Manager to complete the Employer registration form. Please return both to information@esfapprenticeships.co.uk. Educational and Sporting Futures will then contact you to arrange your enrolment onto the apprenticeship.
- You will also need to register for the 31 August 2024 cohort of the National Award for SEN Coordination which you can do via our online booking form.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is Friday 23 August 2024.
It is possible to study the NASENCO course on its own, without the Senior Leader qualification. For further information about the NASENCO programme, please see our dedicated NASENCO webpage.
About Educational and Sporting Futures (ESF)
Educational and Sporting Futures are an Ofsted Outstanding and Award Winning Apprenticeship Provider that is part of Real Group. ESF is led by Teachers and Educational Psychologists and they focus on designing and delivering apprenticeships that work for teachers, teaching assistants, sports coaches and schools. Recently Real Training has been working more closely with ESF so that we can also incorporate our SEND courses into high quality apprenticeships.
ESF delivers apprenticeships through Sporting Futures (UK) Training Ltd (this is the company on the apprenticeship register and also part of Real Group Ltd).
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