NASENCo

The National Award for SEN Co-ordination (NASENCo) has been a statutory award for newly appointed SENCos (since 2008) in maintained schools. nasen is committed to supporting quality NASENCo training and preserving the integrity of the award. As a result, we have a preferred organisation to quality assure NASENCo courses - the Leading Learning for SEND Community Interest Company (LLSENDCiC). For more information about the NASENCo training please visit the LLSENDCIC website or email the organisation at nasencogroup@gmail.com

NASENCo Logo

The NASENCO Award is not owned by nasen, however we recognise the quality of this Masters level award and the depth of knowledge and understanding that it delivers.

Two children with SEND playing a board game in school

Background

Until September 2014, the DfE accredited 24 providers to deliver the NASENCo Award, who are all listed on the DfE website.

The accreditation of providers and funding for schools ceased in 2014 and in order to preserve the high standard and quality of NASENCo training the previously accredited NASENCo providers formed themselves into a provider group network. Since September 2014, head teachers and SENCos can choose to engage with any provider delivering NASENCo training, previously accredited DfE providers or new training providers, in an open market.

The previously accredited providers felt they needed to safeguard the quality of the award and be able to assure those purchasing NASENCo training that they were engaging with providers offering quality training.

The SEND and AP Improvement Plan (March 2023) removes the statutory nature of the NASENCo and introduces a National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for SEND, which will be mandatory. nasen continues to support the NASENCO as a respected and important Level 7  qualification for SENCOs wishing to study SEND and inclusion at a higher level.

Key worker with a young boy that has Downs Syndrome

Introduction

The NASENCo Provider Group was formed in September 2014 with the support of nasen. The providers meet on a voluntary basis twice a year, with a commitment to continue working together to preserve the quality of NASENCo training offered to SENCos in a free market.

In March 2018 the providers applied to Companies House to form a Community Interest Group: Leading Learning for Special Educational Needs Community Interest Group.

The Group was endorsed by Companies House in July 2018. It is a non-profit organisation charging a small yearly fee to member providers to support costs and future development.

The NASENCo Quality Standard

These NASENCo providers have together developed a Quality Standards Framework; a self-evaluation assessment framework to be completed and submitted every three years by current providers and during the first year for a new provider. All assessment for the Quality Standard is undertaken by current providers, who have themselves been successfully assessed, on a rota basis.

The Provider Group welcomes new NASENCo providers to join the provider group and to submit an application for the Quality Standard.

Image with "quality" spelt out using different options, Q is on a laptop U is a cut out piece of paper, A is on a post-it note L is a cut out piece of paper, I is a pair of glasses T is a post-it note and Y is a flower
male teacher with children around table in class

Register of Quality Providers: NASENCo training

For a list of approved courses which are on the LLSENDCiC Register of Quality Providers, as part of the Provider Partnership, having successfully met the requirements of the Quality Standard.

See the list of providers

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