Level 3 Award for Special Education Needs Coordinators in Early Years Settings

The Early Years Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) qualification is for a Level 3 practitioner in a private, voluntary or independent setting. All early years providers are required to have arrangements in place to identify and support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and to promote equality of opportunity for children in their care. This is an important role to ensure the best possible educational outcomes are achieved for children with SEND.

The qualification is designed for those already working in a SENCo role as part of their early years practitioner role, or those who are interested in doing so.

This qualification is also appropriate for childminders.

This qualification aims to:

• explore the role and responsibilities of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator in an early years setting
• understand the strategies and techniques for supporting children and their families
• increase knowledge of SEND codes of practice.

The objectives of this qualification are to help learners to:

• progress to further and higher education
• develop new practical skills in health and social care.

Entry requirements
Learners must be at least 16 years old. We do not set any other entry requirements but centres may have their own guidelines.

Progression
Upon achievement of this qualification, learners will be able to progress to higher learning in Special Education Needs and other relevant sectors.