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Career in Health & Social Care

Supporting Children with Special Needs in Early Years - Level 4

Summary

This qualification is designed for students already working as an Early Years Practitioner in a lead Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) related role and who wish to progress to leadership and management roles and responsibilities, leading best practice for their setting, or those who can access relevant evidence in another role.

This qualification offers Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and is aimed at Level 3 Early Years Practitioners in a private, voluntary or independent setting progressing from the Level 3 Award for Special Educational Needs Coordinators in Early Years Settings. It can also support those working in schools and other care settings.

Students will gain knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to:

  • Leadership and management within early years SENCO and SEND related roles
  • Leading effective practice in a SENCO role
  • Evaluating SEND provision for effective practice
  • Leading change to improve SEND provision
  • Undertaking practitioner-led enquiry

In order to meet the learning outcomes and assessment criteria, students should be working as an Early Years Practitioner in a lead Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) related role or be in a position where they are able to evidence achievement of specific knowledge and skills required of a lead role and who wish to progress to leadership and management roles and responsibilities, leading best practice for their setting.

They must have access to children covered by the Early Years Foundation Stage. It would also be useful for both volunteers and those who are employed through the Play Inclusion Project or Portage.

It may also be useful to students/ employees in the following sectors/areas, as long as they have access to children aged 0-5:

  • Early Years
  • Primary Teaching
  • Childhood Studies
  • Community and Families
  • Nursing
  • Course code SC1FE451
  • Duration 13 Weeks
  • Day/s of week Tuesday
  • Time 18:00 - 21:00

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
Sep/Oct 2024
Bispham Campus
13 Weeks
17 Sep 2025
Bispham Campus
13 Weeks
  • £18,000 Average annual salary in this sector
  • Industry expert tutors
  • 3,000 Annual job openings in the North West

What Uni Reviews

I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and tutors have been amazing. I would recommend this to anyone. *****
Hayley Butterworth
Enjoyable learning things and issues such as the world around us, being able to find information easily, getting not only learning support but general support such as mental health, e.g really supportive teachers. *****
Anonymous
Good mentors. ****
Kyle Cameron

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

Students will be prepared for leadership and management in the SENCO role.

Key information

Entry Requirements

Prospective students must hold a relevant level 3 qualification in childcare e.g. Early Years or Teaching Assistants or Education. They must also be in a role where they have an opportunity to work with children under 5.

Qualification obtained

Award in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Leadership and Management in the Early Years

Fees and funding

Please visit our Financial Support page for more information on tuition fees and available financial support.

Extra costs and equipment

There are no other costs or equipment needed.

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institute: N/A

Awarding Body: NCFE

Regulatory Body: Office for Students (OfS)

Terms and conditions

Read our full Terms and Conditions for more information.

What will I learn?

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

Students must be working with children under 5.

Study Support - at a glance

  • Higher Education Learning Mentors (HELMs)
  • One-to-one and group study support sessions
  • Pre-degree preparation workshops
  • IT Support
Careers in Learning Support & Teaching
Careers in Learning Support & Teaching
Careers in Learning Support & Teaching
Careers in Learning Support & Teaching Careers in Learning Support & Teaching Careers in Learning Support & Teaching
Careers in Learning Support & Teaching
Careers in Learning Support & Teaching
Careers in Learning Support & Teaching

How will I learn?

The programme will be delivered over 12 weeks (3 hours per week). This can be face to face or through Microsoft Teams. There will also be an online workshop for 1 hour per week to support with assessments.

Ready to take the next step? Navigate to the top of the page and click Apply Now to continue your degree-level journey.

Not the course for you?

Take a look at some of our other degree-level study options and see what sparks your imagination.

  • Early Years Advanced Practitioner - Level 4 Certificate

    View course
  • Teaching and Learning Support - Foundation Degree

    View course
  • Early Childhood Studies - Certificate of Higher Education

    View course

How will I be assessed?

How will I be assessed?

This qualification has 3 units:

  • Leading effective practice in the role of the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) within Early Years Settings
  • Evaluate Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND) provision for effective practice within an Early Years Settings
  • Lead change to inform Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND) provision in an Early Years Setting

Assessment is through a portfolio of evidence, an observation in the workplace and a professional discussion. Unit 3 requires an action research project to be carried out in the workplace.