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Master in Special Educational Needs Coordination

The Special Educational Needs Coordination course from University of Birmingham is designed to support a SENCo’s professional development, giving them an opportunity to reflect upon and improve their practice whilst learning more about the coordination of special educational needs, leadership and management, policy and supporting the individual needs of children and young people.

Quick Facts

  
Part-Time Duration: 1 year
Starting in: January, September
Tuition Fee: £7,050 per full
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom

The University of Birmingham has been running accredited (Masters level) professional development programmes for special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCos) for over 15 years. Over a thousand SENCos have successfully completed their training over this period and given excellent course feedback!

The University runs partnership versions of the National Award for SEN Co-ordination course with the following Local Authority partners: Birmingham; Dudley, Sandwell & Wolverhampton (combined cohort); Staffordshire (Entrust). Within these Local Authority areas teachers wishing to apply for a place on the course work in a range of maintained mainstream schools, maintained nursery schools, academy and free schools, and pupil referral units (PRUs). SENCos working in other neighbouring Local Authority areas may also be able to join one of the partnership courses (in 2014-2015 for example, SENCos from Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Solihull, Telford and Wrekin and Warwickshire were participating in versions of the course).

The National Award covers:

  • the role of the SENCo & the statutory framework for SEND (including relevant policy requirements)
  • effective approaches to identification, assessment and intervention (principles and practice; differentiation – quality first teaching, waves of intervention, individualised education planning)
  • responding to diversity (areas of need) – cognition and learning; communication & interaction; social, emotional and mental health, sensory and/or physical needs
  • pupil participation, parent partnership & inter-service collaboration
  • inclusive provision management (effective use of human resources and interventions, and evidence based practice)
  • developing and sustaining effective SEND leadership (preparation for inspection; whole-school initiatives such as Achievement for All)
  • Professional development to improve practice.

“The transition from undergrad to postgrad can be a big step up in terms of workload and what is expected of you, but there is so much support available to you as a postgrad student, from academic writing support (if you’ve been out of education for a few years or just want a bit of extra help) to mental health and wellbeing services. The careers support is fantastic – the uni puts on employer fairs throughout the year and you have access to one on one support from the Careers Network team, who can help you develop your skills ready for your next step!”

Emma Sutton // PhD Psychology

Careers

This Special Educational Needs Coordination course at University of Birmingham will:

  • Enhance your knowledge and skills to effectively support the development of children and young people between 0-25 and their families
  • Create career prospects for practitioners looking to work in leadership positions in organisations which promote and develop inclusion
  • Pave the way to progression to EdD or PhD study for those who wish to pursue higher study

Requirements

  • Applicants should be SENCos or aspirant SENCos. For SENCOs new to the role it is mandatory to achieve the award within three years of appointment.
  • All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Children and Families Act (2014) and associated regulations. That is, they need to have:
  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS),
  • OR Qualified Teacher Learning Status (QTLS),
  • OR Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS – appropriate for ages 0-5 only)
  • In addition, the applicant needs to have completed their induction period.
  • As this course has been designed to enable participants to fulfil this strategic role, all applicants must have full support of their school leadership team and be employed in and have access to both an appropriate setting and relevant school based experiences.

Learn more