Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators in Early Years Settings – Level 3

Required qualifications

A prior Level 2 qualification can be helpful, and we expect applicants to already be in an Early Years role or placement. Work/industry placement experience is preferred.

What skills will I develop?

You will:

• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the Early Years SENCO, including leading inclusive practice and ensuring staff understand their responsibilities to children with SEND.
• Apply strategies and techniques to support children and families, with strong partnership working and timely referrals to external professionals.
• Build on the Early Years Educator occupational standard—developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected in high-quality provision (e.g., child development, equality, diversity and inclusion, and purposeful supervision to support colleagues).
• Produce a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates practical competence aligned to minimum requirements for practice in the SENCO role.

Careers

Progression to (or consolidation of) the Early Years SENCO role.

The Award also supports progression into broader areas such as special educational needs, early years education, and teaching and learning, and can strengthen applications for further or higher education in related fields.

As the qualification is recognised on the national framework and approved for funding (subject to eligibility), it offers a credible, portable milestone on your professional pathway.

Work experience

Industry experience in an Early Years setting is preferred to complete this qualification. Being in practice will help you gather rich evidence for your portfolio and immediately apply strategies with children, families and colleagues.

English and maths

Strong English and maths underpin effective SENCO practice, whether you’re interpreting assessment information, writing support plans, or communicating clearly with parents, colleagues and external agencies, and therefore we require a good level of maths and English.

If you don’t yet hold English and/or maths at the level you need, we can enrol you on to Functional Skills alongside this Award to support your confidence with report writing, data analysis and professional communication.

Other important information

Grading: Achieved/Not Yet Achieved

Assessment: Internally assessed, portfolio of evidence