PGCert SENCO
Postgraduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs Coordination
(The National Award for SEN Co-ordination)
This course is education programme at Masters level, is currently fully funded by the TDA and leads to The National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination. The aim of this programme is to provide professional development for teachers who are new to the role of working as Special Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) in schools. It is expected that all newly appointed SENCOs or existing teachers who are new to the SENCO role from 2010 will need to gain this National Award.
At Leeds Metropolitan University, we have developed the Postgraduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs Coordination to meet the requirements of the National Award in collaboration with the Special Educational Needs teams of three local authorities, two special educational needs school and a mainstream secondary school.
Our aim has been to offer a programme that:
· Is flexible - SENCOs will be able to choose how they meet the required learning outcomes for the Award. Participants in this programme will be encouraged to base their study and the work they present for assessment around exploring and learning from their own particular setting, responding to the opportunities, needs and priorities that they face in their day to day working lives.
· Builds on previous experience - the programme for each participating SENCO will begin with a needs audit to identify the fit between the requirements of the Award and their previous experience and study. The individual learning pathway that each participant follows then be shaped accordingly.
· Is centred on practice - this course has been designed to support SENCOs in learning from the expertise of colleagues in schools and other institutions working in similar circumstances and facing similar opportunities and challenges.
On completion of their programme, SENCOs will be able to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in the following areas: the professional context of the SENCO role; the strategic development of SEN policy and procedures; co-ordinating SEN provision; leading, developing and supporting colleagues and working in partnership with pupils, families and other professionals.
This course will be assessed through the completion of a portfolio in which SENCOs will present evidence that they have met the required learning outcomes for the Award. Participants will be able to tailor the contents of this portfolio to their individual practice and experience. The Postgraduate Certificate in SEN Co-ordination will carry with it 60 M level credits.
Participants on this course will be offered ten half days of face to face teaching which would usually take place in schools or Local Authority venues although there will also be conferences and seminars arranged at the University. SENCOs would also negotiate five full days of individualised learning throughout the course which might involve: visits to observe practice in other settings, being observed by colleagues or self study. These activities would be complemented by access to the University's Virtual Learning Environment where material such as further reading and practical exercises will complement, extend and consolidate participants' learning.
Each participant will have the support of a personal tutor who will carry out the initial needs audit, facilitate SENCO's opportunities for learning and oversee their progress throughout the course.
If you require any further details then please contact Nick Mitchell at n.n.mitchell@leedsmet.ac.uk
