Plymouth Institute of Education

PgCert The National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination

This successful one year training programme is designed to support the professional development of special educational needs coordinators (SENCOS). Gain 60 credits at masters level and join the hundreds of SENCOs in the South West Consortium who have already gained the award.

SENCOs play a very important role in leading the co-ordination of provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in schools. In September 2009 it became law for every new SENCO in a mainstream school to gain the Master’s level National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator within 3 years of taking up the post. This National Award meets that requirement.

Careers with this subject

The programme prepares qualified teachers for SEN leadership within schools and other settings, and provides enhanced teaching and learning understandings, research based approaches to operational management, and strategic leadership understanding within educational settings. For SENCOs new to the role in mainstream schools it is mandatory to achieve the award within three years of appointment.

Key features

  • Take the opportunity to undertake this Department for Education (DfE) approved post-graduate qualification which must be achieved by teachers new to the role of SENCO. If you are an experienced SENCO or working in a related professional role you can also apply. To achieve the National Award you must have QTS/QTLS/EYTS. School staff in the role of SENCo will have completed an induction period. If you do not meet these conditions it may be possible for you to achieve the PgCert Inclusive Education (60 masters level credits).
  • Benefit from an award offered through the South West Consortium consisting of the University of Plymouth and the University of Exeter, working in partnership with the local authorities of BCP, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Plymouth, and Somerset.
  • Take part in a structured programme which adopts a blended learning approach through six taught days across the year supported by a wealth of online learning materials. The local tutors are mainly Special Educational Needs (SEN) advisory teachers and experienced SENCOs, working in conjunction with university tutors.
  • Achieve 60 masters-level credits which can be used towards your masters degree (for example MA Education Special Educational Needs)
  • Gain experience working with a tutor allocated to you, offering extensive expertise, knowledge and experience and high quality local personal tuition.
  • Draw on support from a professional learning community through face-to-face and virtual learning support and resources. Access valuable university facilities and online resources.

Course details

  • Programme overview

  • You'll complete two modules (each worth 30 masters-level credits) including a total of six days' attendance at taught sessions in your local authority location and four recommended study days. The modules are designed to explicitly relate to the SENCO National Learning Outcomes that are evidenced in your professional portfolio. An agreement with your school or education provider ensures that you are able to be released from teaching duties to attend the programme.

    Optional modules

    • National Award for SEN Coordination Learning Outcomes (PGSEN703CW)

      This is a non-credit bearing module and forms part of the National Award for SEN Coordination. This module directly connects to the nationally mandated SENCO Learning Outcomes. Over the course of the programme, you build up knowledge and skills and reflect on these and your own experience to support the meeting of each SENCO Learning Outcome. Modules PGSEN704 Organisational Contexts and PGSEN705 Leading on Teaching and Learning are co-requisites. Successful completion of all three modules leads to the National Award for SEN Coordination. This module forms the underpinning, or overarching framework for the National Award. If it is not completed/passed the award cannot be achieved

    • National Award for SEN Coordination Learning Outcomes (PGSEN703DV)

      This is a non-credit bearing module and forms part of the National Award for SEN Coordination. This module directly connects to the nationally mandated SENCO Learning Outcomes. Over the course of the programme, you build up knowledge and skills and reflect on these and your own experience to support the meeting of each SENCO Learning Outcome. Modules PGSEN704 Organisational Contexts and PGSEN705 Leading on Teaching and Learning are co-requisites. Successful completion of all three modules leads to the National Award for SEN Coordination. This module forms the underpinning, or overarching framework for the National Award. If it is not completed/passed the award cannot be achieved

    • National Award for SEN Coordination Learning Outcomes (PGSEN703PL)

      This is a non-credit bearing module and forms part of the National Award for SEN Coordination. This module directly connects to the nationally mandated SENCO Learning Outcomes. Over the course of the programme, you build up knowledge and skills and reflect on these and your own experience to support the meeting of each SENCO Learning Outcome. Modules PGSEN704 Organisational Contexts and PGSEN705 Leading on Teaching and Learning are co-requisites. Successful completion of all three modules leads to the National Award for SEN Coordination. This module forms the underpinning, or overarching framework for the National Award. If it is not completed/passed the award cannot be achieved

    • National Award for SEN Coordination Learning Outcomes (PGSEN703SS)

      This is a non-credit bearing module and forms part of the National Award for SEN Coordination. This module directly connects to the nationally mandated SENCO Learning Outcomes. Over the course of the programme, you build up knowledge and skills and reflect on these and your own experience to support the meeting of each SENCO Learning Outcome. Modules PGSEN704 Organisational Contexts and PGSEN705 Leading on Teaching and Learning are co-requisites. Successful completion of all three modules leads to the National Award for SEN Coordination. This module forms the underpinning, or overarching framework for the National Award. If it is not completed/passed the award cannot be achieved

    • SEN: Organisational Contexts (PGSEN704CW)

      This is the first of two linked modules concerned with special educational needs co-ordination in schools. The general aim of this module and the second module PGSEN705: leading on Teaching and Learning is to equip SEN co-ordinators to have the knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out this role effectively. Successful completion of both module PGSEN704 and PGSEN705 alongside meeting the SENCO National Learning Outcomes leads to the National Award for SEN Coordinators. This module focuses on the organisational context for SEN in schools and other educational organisations ( FE, special schools, PRUs) for example, legislation, funding systems, national, local and institutional level policy. Module PGSEN705: Leading on Teaching and Learning is a co-requisite.

    • SEN: Organisational Contexts (PGSEN704DV)

      This is the first of two linked modules concerned with special educational needs co-ordination in schools. The general aim of this module and the second module PGSEN705: leading on Teaching and Learning is to equip SEN co-ordinators to have the knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out this role effectively. Successful completion of both module PGSEN704 and PGSEN705 alongside meeting the SENCO National Learning Outcomes leads to the National Award for SEN Coordinators. This module focuses on the organisational context for SEN in schools and other educational organisations ( FE, special schools, PRUs) for example, legislation, funding systems, national, local and institutional level policy. Module PGSEN705: Leading on Teaching and Learning is a co-requisite.

    • SEN: Organisational Contexts (PGSEN704PL)

      This is the first of two linked modules concerned with special educational needs co-ordination in schools. The general aim of this module and the second module PGSEN705: leading on Teaching and Learning is to equip SEN co-ordinators to have the knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out this role effectively. Successful completion of both module PGSEN704 and PGSEN705 alongside meeting the SENCO National Learning Outcomes leads to the National Award for SEN Coordinators. This module focuses on the organisational context for SEN in schools and other educational organisations ( FE, special schools, PRUs) for example, legislation, funding systems, national, local and institutional level policy. Module PGSEN705: Leading on Teaching and Learning is a co-requisite.

    • SEN: Organisational Contexts (PGSEN704SS)

      This is the first of two linked modules concerned with special educational needs co-ordination in schools. The general aim of this module and the second module PGSEN705: leading on Teaching and Learning is to equip SEN co-ordinators to have the knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out this role effectively. Successful completion of both module PGSEN704 and PGSEN705 alongside meeting the SENCO National Learning Outcomes leads to the National Award for SEN Coordinators. This module focuses on the organisational context for SEN in schools and other educational organisations ( FE, special schools, PRUs) for example, legislation, funding systems, national, local and institutional level policy. Module PGSEN705: Leading on Teaching and Learning is a co-requisite.

    • SEN: Leading on Teaching and Learning (PGSEN705CW)

      This is the second of two linked modules concerned with special educational needs co-ordination in schools. The general aim of this module and the first module PGSEN704 SEN: Organisational Contexts - is equip the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), to have the knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out this role effectively. Successful completion of PGSEN704 and PGSEN705, alongside meeting the SENCO National Learning Outcomes through PGSEN703, leads to the National Award for SEN Coordination. Module PGSEN704 Organisational contexts is a co-requisite.

    • SEN: Leading on Teaching and Learning (PGSEN705DV)

      This is the second of two linked modules concerned with special educational needs co-ordination in schools. The general aim of this module and the first module PGSEN704 SEN: Organisational Contexts - is equip the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), to have the knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out this role effectively. Successful completion of PGSEN704 and PGSEN705, alongside meeting the SENCO National Learning Outcomes through PGSEN703, leads to the National Award for SEN Coordination. Module PGSEN704 Organisational contexts is a co-requisite.

    • SEN: Leading on Teaching and Learning (PGSEN705PL)

      This is the second of two linked modules concerned with special educational needs co-ordination in schools. The general aim of this module and the first module PGSEN704 SEN: Organisational Contexts - is equip the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), to have the knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out this role effectively. Successful completion of PGSEN704 and PGSEN705, alongside meeting the SENCO National Learning Outcomes through PGSEN703, leads to the National Award for SEN Coordination. Module PGSEN704 Organisational contexts is a co-requisite.

    • SEN: Leading on Teaching and Learning (PGSEN705SS)

      This is the second of two linked modules concerned with special educational needs co-ordination in schools. The general aim of this module and the first module PGSEN704 SEN: Organisational Contexts - is equip the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), to have the knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out this role effectively. Successful completion of PGSEN704 and PGSEN705, alongside meeting the SENCO National Learning Outcomes through PGSEN703, leads to the National Award for SEN Coordination. Module PGSEN704 Organisational contexts is a co-requisite.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

The National Award for SEN Coordination Programme Specification 2021 22 4162

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.
Entry requirements

To achieve the National Award you must have QTS/QTLS/EYTS and are likely to be working as a SENCo or deputy SENCo.  School staff in the role of SENCo will have completed an induction period (please note that those with EYTS will become qualified as a SENCo to work only in the early years). If you do not meet these conditions it may be possible for you to achieve the PgCert Inclusive Education instead (60 masters level credits). For SENCos new to the role, it is mandatory to achieve the award within three years of appointment.

For further information please contact the Programme Lead, Vicky Bamsey.

If you are applying with overseas qualifications please can you check their compatibility with the UK equivalent through UK ECCTIS, who provide an advisory service.

English language requirements

The minimum IELTS score for acceptable English proficiency for entry is 6.5 overall (with 5.5 in each element), or equivalent.

English language requirements.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

Fees, costs and funding
Student 2022-2023 2023-2024
Home N/A N/A
International N/A N/A
Part time (Home) £2,650 £2,700
Full and part time fees shown are per annum. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.
How to apply
Applications for the 2023-24 cohort will be accepted until 8 September 2023. Apply now to secure your place.
To apply for the programme please review the 'application check list' and 'how to evidence your teacher status' document, then complete the application form and email it to victoria.bamsey@plymouth.ac.uk together with a copy of the certificate for your highest level qualification, QTS/QTLS/EYTS certificate, evidence of any name change if appropriate, and evidence of completing your induction period. 

Applying for postgraduate study

The University aims to make the application procedure as simple and efficient as possible. Our Admissions and Course Information team are on hand to offer help and can put you in touch with the appropriate faculty if you wish to discuss any programme in detail. The Doctoral College are also available to answer any queries on our postgraduate research degrees.
Applications for the 2023-24 cohort will be accepted until 8 September 2023. Apply now to secure your place.
SENCO Application Form – please read the how to apply section above as it provides details on the extra information you need to submit along with your application form.
If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by Plymouth University, please visit our Disability Services website. Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office.
If you would like to speak to one of our course information advisors, please contact us:

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