NPQ SENCO

The NPQ for Special Educational Needs & Disability (NPQ SENCO) replaced the previous NASENCO qualification.

Important Information - NPQ for SENCOs

All mainstream schools (including Academies and Free Schools) must have a qualified teacher, or head teacher, designated as the SENCO.
There is a three-year window to complete this mandatory qualification upon taking up a SENCO post. Schools and SENCOs will need to ensure that, where necessary, they are enrolled on training that will allow them to meet this requirement.
SENCOs who have already gained the NASENCo award do not need to complete the NPQ for SENCOs.
The NPQ for SENCOs is not limited to solely SENCO roles. This is a Leadership NPQ which is open to any senior leader to promote the need for ‘distributed leadership’ as part of a school’s responsibility to support children with SEN.

The NPQ is underpinned by a new content framework which sets out what SENCOs need to know and be able to do to fulfil their role successfully and confidently. The full NPQ for SENCOs framework can found here: National professional qualifications frameworks - GOV.UK

NPQ scholarship funding may be available to support participants undertaking the new mandatory NPQ for SENCOs.
Astra TSH will be delivering the NPQ SEN in partnership with Best Practice Network.

The application window is currently closed. The DfE confirmed that there is only one cohort for the 2025/26 academic year. Once we have information for the next academic year we will update the NPQ pages. In the meantime if you or a member of staff is interested, please complete this short google form to register your interest and we will contact you directly once we have further information from the DfE.