Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason her Department is proposing to replace the Level 7 NASENCo qualification with a new SENCo NPQ.

The department consulted on the proposal to introduce a new leadership National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) to replace the existing qualification through the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper. As set out in the SEND and AP Improvement Plan, published on 2 March 2023, the department will be proceeding with the proposal and the NPQ for SENCOs will become the mandatory qualification.

The introduction of the NPQ will play a key role in achieving our ambition to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND by ensuring SENCOs consistently receive high-quality, evidence-based training.

NPQs are designed to provide training and support for education professionals at all levels and deliver improved outcomes for children and young people. They are built with education professionals in mind, using the latest and best available evidence with content and delivery quality assured by Ofsted and the Education Endowment Foundation. A leadership NPQ will also empower SENCOs to take on leadership roles within their settings, providing the essential knowledge and skills needed to set the strategic direction of SEN policy in a school.