The importance of effective special educational needs provision

Around two in five children will be recorded to have some kind of special need at some point between reception and Year 11 (Jo Hutchinson, 2021).

As of January 2024, 1.5 million pupils in England have a special educational need (Department for Education, 2023).

We know that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities have some of the largest attainment gaps. At age five, children receiving special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support are already one year behind their peers (EPI, 2023).

This growing need for specialist provision mean that leaders of SEND play a vital role in the success of schools. By championing inclusivity and implementing quality SEND provision in schools, leaders can ensure all pupils have equal opportunity to access education, ultimately improving pupil outcomes.

In recognition of the need to develop expertise around SEND provision, the government has introduced the NPQ for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators. 

The NPQ for SENCOs provides the opportunity for teachers and school leaders to:

• Influence whole-school teaching by supporting staff to develop adaptive expertise, allowing them to meet the needs of all pupils through high-quality teaching.
• Lead positive change by identifying current challenges in SEND provision and putting in place rigorous solutions to these challenges.
• Implement a whole school SEND strategy which is designed around the needs of every pupil, including those with SEND.
• Advocate for a school culture which values inclusivity and gives all pupils equal chance to engage with learning and achieve their potential. 

Find out more about this 18-month NPQ for SENCOs programme here with Ambition Institute here.