The NPQSENCO

NPQ Special Educational Needs Coordinator (NPQSENDCO) – this has been designed for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators, teachers interested in developing an expertise in SEND or school leaders. This NPQ is the mandatory qualification for SENCOs, this came into effect in September 2024.

The Redbridge Education Partnership (REP) is the local Delivery Partner for the UCL Institute of Education.  We are proud to have a long history of successfully delivering the programme to local teachers and look forward to welcoming new applicants for the Autumn 2026 cohort. 

Registration for Autumn 2026

The DfE registration portal is currently closed and will be available soon. If you would like to be informed of when the registration portal opens for the next cohort – please fill in our expression of interest form.

The new and reformed National Professional Qualifications are completely different to previous NPQs and our expert facilitators will help you apply your study to what you are doing right now:

  • Local training is facilitated and contextualised by highly effective local school leaders. They have a deep and rich understanding of our local context and will support and challenge you to apply your learning immediately to your current school context.
  • The Redbridge Education Partnership (REP) is a school-based organisation situated in Redbridge: we understand the challenges and joys of implementing change in London schools and we can support you through your NPQ study
  • All locally delivered sessions will take place in Redbridge locations.
  • A majority of our participants are from Redbridge schools (all phases and settings) so you’ll build strong and local professional networks that extend beyond your NPQ study
  • You will be encouraged to focus on how you can be the very best at your current job as well as being properly prepared for the next stage of your career
  • Blended flexible learning allows you to learn in a way that works best for you
  • Assessment has changed! You will complete a short open bookcase study assessment after you complete your NPQ. (No more paperwork heavy project to complete whilst on the course!)
  • NPQ content has been completely refreshed. The NPQ is underpinned by a new content framework. These frameworks set out what participants should know and be able to do and providers have used these to design their courses.

The Implementation Project

  • The course features an important implementation project that will support the delegate’s understanding of leading change in their school.
  • The project should be linked to a key strategic priority in the school, so the project will be central to school improvement.
  • Examples include making the school more welcoming to vulnerable pupils, engaging with parents of children with complex SEND needs, introducing a whole school approach to Makaton.
  • Benefits of the project include developing leadership skills and knowledge, improving school wide effectiveness and improving pupil outcomes.

We currently offer full scholarship funding for participation in this course, for eligible schools.

Autumn 2026 NPQSENCO

Registration will open on 23 June 2026, please follow the steps below to apply:

  1. Register through the DfE Portal here. This requires the following information:
  2. Teacher Registration Number (TRN)
  3. Name as recorded by the Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA)
  4. Choice of NPQ
  5. Choice of Lead Provider i.e. UCL IOE
  6. You will also learn whether you are eligible for funding

Once registration is complete the DFE will send the details to UCL IOE.

  • You will be sent an application from the lead provider (UCL) once your details have been sent through from the DfE registration.

*Check your spam and junk folders as these emails can sometimes end up there*

  • You need to identify your local delivery partner. Select Redbridge Education Partnership
  • The form requires the headteacher/principal to nominate your mentor.
  • UCL will confirm whether you have received a place on the course – this can take a month.
  • UCL will then send your details on to us, and we will contact you with session timings and dates prior to the start of the programme.  The course Induction meeting is likely to take place close to the October half term. 

The NPQ Mentor role

The UCL NPQ is designed to ensure that a participant’s learning has an immediate impact on their current school practice. For this to happen, the role of the participant’s NPQ Mentor is essential in ensuring the participant is supported in their learning and the application of their learning in school.

The relationship between participant and NPQ Mentor is very much a collaborative one and has been designed to align to the typical cycle of line manager activity within a school. In this respect the programme has been designed to add as little additional workload as possible onto colleagues whilst maintaining the high professional standards we work within.

NPQ Mentors need to be credible leaders of learning, modelling, monitoring and communicating with colleagues, building trust and responding to individual needs.

Expectations:

Leadership Programmes: Three meetings over four terms for colleagues on NPQSENCO

The UCL NPQ Handbook (which can be accessed on UCL Extend) outlines a suggested agenda for the meetings.

  • Contracting
  • Check-in
  • Reflection
  • Target setting
  • Some minor administration activity

In NPQ Mentor meetings:

Check that your NPQ participant is working on:

  • Implementation project*
  • Formative assessment tasks*
  • Filling in Personal Learning journals
  • Attending training – 90% to pass
  • Complete the line manager progress check-in form to confirm that you have met and discussed these things at three points during the programme duration.

*Please note: the implementation project and Formative Assessment Tasks are not submitted to UCL or East London TSH.  Instead, the implementation project is a vehicle for participants to apply their learning to their current school context by identifying an area for school improvement they can focus on. There is no requirement for additional paperwork to be produced.

The participant’s learning from formative assessments tasks (FATs) is discussed in NPQ Mentor meetings. This discussion is reflected in the progress review meeting form submitted at three points (see above) and the line manager/mentor is responsible for confirming that the participant has completed the FATs.

Watch a short film about the benefits of taking part in a NPQ programme.

For more details, please contact the programme director Bob Drew on [email protected] , or our Administrator, Bijal Pithia on [email protected]