National Award Special Educational Needs Coordination

Study a range of issues related to special educational needs and inclusion, engaging with a broad conceptual base of current SENCo practice and enabling you to better support pupils or learners with SEN(D).

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    Overview

    Course Length: 1 Year Part-Time
    Start Dates: September 2020, February 2021, September 2021, January 2022
    Subjects: Education and Teaching
    Location: Venues Nationwide

    As a serving SENCo, this National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination has been developed to provide you with a rich, critical and broad-based understanding of the theories and concepts surrounding inter-professional working with children and young people experiencing barriers to learning. It will help you further develop your practice as a committed, responsible and creative professional, capable of critical thinking and practical action and support you in enhancing whole-school provision for pupils who have Special Educational Needs or disabilities. SENCos who are newly appointed must achieve the award within three years of taking up the role. Over 2,000 SENCOs nationally have benefited from the expertise of the Edge Hill SEN team.

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    In Depth

    What will I study?

    The taught element of the course will comprise two Level 7 modules, one per semester, which provide elements applicable to Special Educational Needs, inclusion, understanding barriers to learning, leadership, and collaborative working.

    How will I study?

    You will study online and will be required to attend four face-to-face sessions during the programme.

    The face-to-face sessions will be held in central locations such as Edge Hill University, London, Birmingham and Gateshead (subject to numbers).

    How will I be assessed?

    The programme will be assessed via two reflective portfolios (one in each module). These will include practice-based assessment tasks and a critical reflection of 2,500 words. You will also be required to collate a portfolio of evidence in relation to the 49 SENCo Standards.

    Who will be teaching me?

    You will be taught by well qualified and experienced tutors with expertise in the field of special needs, together with potential input from the Local Authority.

    Modules

    Expand All

    PBM4015Excellent Teaching and Learning in Inclusive Learning Environments (30 credits)

    Excellent Teaching and Learning in Inclusive Learning Environments provides knowledge and understanding of the range of specific issues related to Special Educational Needs and Inclusion and will provide a broad conceptual base from which to develop outstanding practice as a SENCo. You will investigate, evaluate and reflect upon current educational attitudes and policies that will support efforts to develop highly effective practice in inclusive education.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    PBM4016Developing Excellent Consultative and Collaborative Working Practices (30 credits)

    Developing Excellent Consultative and Collaborative Working Practices emphasises the centrality of human relationships to developing highly effective professional interaction. The module encourages you to take responsibility for your own learning and follow a systematic and supported route of inquiry and further independent study that will help you to develop your own professional practice. The module enables you to analyse collaborative processes and examines how to develop these to foster effective inclusive practices.


    Assessment: Coursework: 100%.

    Timetables

    You can expect to receive your timetable at enrolment. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day or evening of the week.

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information, however our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.

    Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

    Entry Criteria

    Entry Requirements

    You must have a degree (or equivalent). No specific subjects are required. You must also hold either Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status or Early Years Teacher Status, or equivalent, and be employed in the post of Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) within a school or setting. Eligible schools and settings include maintained schools (including special schools), non-maintained special schools, city technology colleges, academies, free schools and pupil referral units.

    If you wish to study on modules where distance learning is required, you must have access to a PC with a suitable broadband connection which provides good internet access; you must also have a secure postal address. All participants joining the programme will be required to meet the Disclosure and Barring Service’s (DBS) mandatory criteria of ‘Clearance to Work with Children and/or Vulnerable Adults’.

    Recognition of Prior Learning

    Edge Hill University recognises learning gained elsewhere, whether through academic credit and qualifications acquired from other relevant courses of study or through recognition of an individual’s professional and employment experience (also referred to as ‘experiential learning’). This may include credit or learning undertaken at another university.

    Previous learning that is recognised in this way may be used towards meeting the entry requirements for a programme and/or for exemption from part of a programme. It is your responsibility to make a claim for recognition of prior learning. For guidance, please consult the University’s academic regulations (sections C7 and F3.1) or contact the faculty in which you are interested in studying.

    Career Prospects

    What are my career prospects?

    This award has been described as ‘mandatory’ by the Department for Education for new SENCos working in the mainstream sector. It is also considered as a ‘strongly advised’ qualification by the Department for Education for experienced SENCos in the same sector. The qualification is therefore central to career progression for all serving SEN Coordinators in schools.

    Finance

    Tuition Fees

    Tuition fees for studying on this National Award are £2,040 for the entire programme for UK and EU students enrolling in academic years 2020/21 or 2021/22.

    The University may administer a small inflationary rise in part-time postgraduate tuition fees in subsequent academic years as you progress through the course.

    Financial Support

    For comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK and EU students joining postgraduate courses at Edge Hill University in academic year 2020/21, together with details of how to apply for potential funding, please view our Money Matters 2020/21 guide at www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgradfinance2020.

    Apply

    How to Apply

    There is an online application process for this programme.

    Please choose the application form for your preferred intake date and mode of study.

    Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/applydirect for more information about the application process.

    Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.

    Get in Touch

    If you have any questions about this programme, please contact:

    If you would like to talk to the programme leader about the course in more detail, please contact:

    Course Changes

    Expand All This page outlines any material changes to course content, programme structure, assessment methods, entry criteria, and modes of study or delivery, implemented in the past two years.

    31st January 2020 - Change to Fee Structure

    While the overall cost of studying this programme has not changed, tuition fees will now be charged on a full programme basis (i.e. £2,040) rather than on a per credit basis (£34 per credit for 60 credits).