Next Start Date

Autumn 2026

Duration

18 months

Designed for

SENCOs, teachers and school leaders

The NPQ registration portal will open on 26th June 2026. You will be able to register for your place here 

The DfE have announced that the registration portal will open at 10am on Tuesday 23rd June 2026 for the Autumn 2026 cohort. Please register with the DfE NPQ Registration Service portal and choose UCL IOE as your Lead Provider to complete the course in Birmingham.

The National Professional Qualification for SENCOs is the mandatory qualification for SENCOs. Scholarship funding is available for teachers and leaders in publicly funded schools (including maintained nursery schools) and 16 to 19 educational settings in England for the NPQ SENCO. 

Birmingham City Council deliver the programme in partnership with University College London (UCL), through a blend of online self-study, face to face events and in person peer coaching sessions.

See more information below or click here to download the flier

If you have any specific questions about the NPQSENCO course being delivered in Birmingham, please email NPQSENCO@birmingham.gov.uk

What are the benefits?

This NPQ became the mandatory qualification for SENCOs in September 2024. The NPQ for SENCOs programme aims to develop participants’ professional knowledge and critical understanding of key concepts and debates addressed in the academic and professional literature, in order to lead and co-ordinate special educational needs and disability (SEN and D) provision across an educational setting.

Who is this course designed for?

  • Special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs)
  • Teachers interested in developing expertise in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or undertaking a SENCO role in future
  • School leaders

All mainstream schools (including academies and free schools) must have a SENCO. The SENCO must be a qualified teacher, or the headteacher, working at the school.

This NPQ will became the mandatory qualification for SENCOs from September 2024. The 3-year window to complete the mandatory qualification on taking up a SENCO post remains a requirement following the introduction of the NPQ for SENCOs.

What will this course cover?

Designed in collaboration with leading experts and system leaders and informed by the latest evidence, the NPQ for SENCOs curriculum covers areas including:

  • Establishing an inclusive school culture in which all pupils can flourish.
  • Developing an expert knowledge of the statutory framework and identification of need.
  • The strategic leadership and management of provision.
  • Enhancing curriculum implementation, teaching and inclusive pedagogy.
  • Supporting the professional development of colleagues through clear theories of change.

The programme is delivered, in partnership with UCLs national delivery partners, through a blend of online self-study, face to face events and peer coaching sessions. The programme lasts 18 months and to get your NPQ accreditation, you will need to complete the course and pass a written assessment (between 1,500 and 2,500 words).

When will it start and how much will it cost?

The next cohort will start in November 2026. There will be a national induction conference taking place in December 2026.

Scholarships may be available for this programme.

The programme fee is £1,265 for schools and participants in England required to pay for the programme. The same fee applies to independent schools in England.

 

How to apply

When the portal opens, please register with the DfE and choose the UCL IOE as your Lead Provider.

This is done through the DfE NPQ Registration Service platform and requires the following information:

  • Teacher Registration Number (TRN) if applicable. If you do not have a TRN you can apply for one at this stage.
  • Name as recorded by the Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA)
  • Choice of NPQ
  • Choice of Lead Provider i.e. UCL IOE

The registration service will confirm if you are entitled to a scholarship based on your school details. Entitlement to a scholarship does not guarantee a funded programme place.

If you are not entitled to a scholarship place, you may decide to pay (or your school may pay on your behalf). There is a schedule of fees here.

Once registration is complete, the DFE will confirm the details with UCL IOE, usually within three days although this can take longer if you are waiting for a TRN.


You can also register your interest today by completing the expression of interest form