National Professional Qualification for SENCOs

Choose our NPQ for SENCOs and you’ll be joining over 35,000 teachers and school leaders (as of May 2025), who have decided on an Ambition NPQ since they launched in 2021.

Evidence informed curriculum
Our carefully sequenced and evidence informed NPQ is designed around the key problems you face. You'll learn to implement tailored SEND strategies related to your school’s context.

Access the latest SEND research
This includes core school leadership domains like teaching, behaviour and culture, alongside specialist SEND knowledge on topics like identifying need, running effective intervention and working within the law.

Train to your timetable
Our ‘little and often’ approach means you can engage with our NPQs around your busy timetable, with minimal time needed out of school.

No large project
Plus, on our NPQs there’s no large project at the end. Instead, you’ll sit an ‘open book’ assessment with support via two on-demand webinars and a dedicated, live assessment preparation clinic to help you get the most from your NPQ

Join our charitable mission
We support teachers and school leaders at every stage of their careers, helping them to keep getting better. We are a charity providing training and professional development based on the most rigorous research and evidence about what really works.

For the autumn 2025, the NPQ for SENCOs is fully funded for state schools in England.

There are a limited number of funded places, which are available to those who:

• A current or aspiring SENCO, or a school leader such as a senior leader or headteacher.
• Work in a state funded school in England

The NPQSENCO is mandatory for current SENCOs in their first three years of the role. If you have previously completed the NASENCO, the NPQSENCO is not mandatory.
Those required to undertake a mandatory NPQSENCO will receive priority for fully funded scholarship places.

RISE intervention schools
You may be eligible for funding if you work in a school that is eligible for targeted regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) intervention.

Check if you’re eligible! If you're unsure whether you will qualify please use our eligibility checker tool.

If you do not work in an eligible school, the NPQ for SENCOs costs £1,332 plus VAT.

*Currently nurseries are not available yet on the tool. If you work in a nursery, please contact us directly at [email protected]

Self-funded payment options
If you are unable to access a DfE funded scholarship, you can pay for your NPQ.

We will invoice the school/trust contact you provide in your registration directly. Depending on your school type, they maybe be able to reclaim VAT.

If you are unable to come to an arrangement with your school, we can invoice you directly, but you will not be able to reclaim VAT.

Unfortunately, we do not offer payment plans for our NPQ programmes.

The cost of your programme must be paid in full before the start of your programme. We are unable to offer refunds once you start the programme.

DfE funding restrictions
Due to DfE funding being limited, being eligible for an NPQ scholarship does not guarantee either suitability for the course or that a funded course place is available.

If funded places are not available, you can:

• Approach a different NPQ provider to enquire about the availability of funded course places
• Choose to join your chosen providers waiting list
• Choose to pay for a course place

To register for the NPQ for SENCOs, you must be a current or aspiring SENCO, or a school leader such as a senior leader or headteacher.

The NPQ for SENCOs is also open to leaders in specialist or alternative provision.

The NPQSENCO is mandatory for current SENCOs in their first three years of the role. If you have previously completed the NASENCO, the NPQSENCO is not mandatory.

Those required to undertake a mandatory NPQSENCO will receive priority for fully-funded scholarship places.

NPQs are not suitable for active Early Career Teachers.

If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

This programme follows the Department for Education’s National Professional Qualification (NPQ): SENCO framework.

On this programme, you will learn how to:

• Contribute to establishing and sustaining a positive and supportive culture across the school for all pupils.
• Support senior leaders to ensure staff and governors enact statutory guidance.
• Support teachers and support staff to understand the importance of expert teaching for all pupils and to implement a graduated approach in the classroom, subject or domain effectively.
• Support the delivery of effective provision for pupils with SEND and their families, and be able to review, monitor, evaluate and improve the impact of SEND provision.
• Work with staff, specialists and other agencies to assist the school in meeting the needs of all pupils.
• Implement an efficient SEND identification process across the school which ensures that barriers to learning are identified and addressed at the earliest opportunity.
• Work with and equip fellow leaders with the skills to establish and sustain effective curriculum planning that enable teachers to plan, adapt and teach effectively for all pupils.
• Support the development of a positive, safe and supportive environment for pupils across the whole school.
• Ensure all pupils feel motivated in school with a supportive setting to enable them to reach their aspirations and potential.

Note: programme content is subject to change.

Our NPQ courses no longer include a large project at the end. Instead, you’ll sit an ‘open book’ style assessment in which you respond to a short case study.

The assessment window starts at the end of the 18-month programme and runs for up to four months (subject to change by the DfE).

During this time:

• You’ll be given an eight-day window to complete the case study.
• Participants can sit the assessment twice, if they need to.
• You need to pass the assessment and engage with 90% of the course to qualify for the NPQ accreditation.
• We will offer two webinars and a live clinic in advance of the assessment window to support you.

Join a local cohort with one of our regional partners and benefit from our expert curriculum design along with a tailored experience linked to your local context.

If you are unable to find a local cohort, you can join Ambition’s national cohort and gain a national network of peers. Either way, we work to give you the best possible experience.

Registrations are now open for November 2025 cohorts. Start your registration here >>

Don’t wait! Due to a change in DfE guidance, there’s no spring 2026 cohort across all NPQ providers. So, there’s only one chance to start this academic year!

The NPQ for SENCOs is mandatory for SENCOs. You will need to complete this qualification within the first three years in the role. If you have already obtained the NASENCO qualification you do not need to complete the NPQ for SENCOs. Those required to undertake a mandatory NPQSENCO will receive priority for fully-funded scholarship places.

To register for the NPQ for SENCOs, you must be a current or aspiring SENCO, or a school leader such as a senior leader or headteacher.

The NPQ for SENCOs is also open to leaders in specialist or alternative provision.

NPQs are not suitable for active Early Career Teachers.

Until you've completed the DfE registration, available from 8 September 2025, your registration and funding will not be confirmed.

If you have any questions, email [email protected] and a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

Who is the NPQ for SENCOs programme for?
The NPQ in SENCOs is designed for current or aspiring SENCOs, or school leaders such as senior leaders or headteachers.
The NPQ for SENCOs is also open to leaders in specialist or alternative provision.

How long does the NPQ for SENCOs programme last?
The NPQ for SENCOs is an 18-month programme, with a mixture of live, facilitated sessions and self-directed learning.

How does the NPQ for SENCOs programme accommodate busy schedules?
The NPQ for SENCOs is designed to fit around your schedule with a 'little and often' approach that aligns with insights from the science of learning.

Are there any specific requirements to enrol on the NPQ for SENCOs programme?
To be eligible for the NPQ for SENCOs, you must be a serving teacher or leader in a school or eligible organisation in England.

What is the new SENCO qualification?
The new NPQ for SENCOs is a mandatory qualification for new SENCOs. SENCOs will need to complete this qualification within the first three years in the role. If you have already obtained the NASENCO qualification you do not need to complete the NPQ for SENCOs.

Is a SENCO qualification a Master's?
The NPQ for SENCOs is not a Master’s qualification. Ambition Institute does not have an arrangement with any Higher Education Institutions (HEI) to guarantee that completing one of our NPQs will count towards Master’s credits. However, your HEI may agree to recognise your NPQ if you enquire with them. So, we recommend directly contacting your place of study to ask.

What qualifications do you need to become a SENCO?
To become a SENCO, you will need a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which would make you suitable for the NPQSENCO course. You will also need a Teacher Reference Number (TRN) when you register. You can contact the DfE if you don't have one.

Our NPQ won't explicitly ask you for evidence of your QTS, but we strongly recommend you have one as it is mandatory for SENCOs in state schools to have a qualified teacher in role.

Can a TA become a SENCO?
If you want to become a SENCO, you will need to have qualified teacher status (QTS).