Earlier this month, the Department for Education published a new job description and qualification specification to develop a new early years qualification for Level 3 practitioners working with children with special educational needs and disabilities. This will enable awarding bodies to develop an accredited qualification for SENCos at Level 3.
The Early Years SENCo role is aimed at practitioners working in private, voluntary and independent settings, including childminders.
Julie Hyde, director at CACHE, said, ‘CACHE will be supporting the new Level 3 criteria through a regulated qualification for early years staff.
‘We welcome the DfE’s commitment to meaningful CPD that enriches the sector by developing, nurturing and improving specialist skills in this critically important area of work.’
Pearson, the UK's largest awarding body, which owns Edexcel qualifications, has not confirmed whether it will be developing its own qualification.
A spokesperson for Pearson said, 'Pearson welcomes the introduction of new standards to develop recognised SENCO qualifications for the PVI early years sector, in line with the Early Years workforce strategy. This is a sector with an increasing need for quality assessments and we will monitor the development and implementation of the standards.'
While it is not mandatory, the DfE has said it is an important role to ensure the best possible educational outcomes are achieved for children with SEND.
Meanwhile, nasen, which was involved in developing the qualification specification, is also working towards securing funding to roll out the existing Level 3 City of Liverpool Early Years SENCo Award nationally, in partnership with School Improvement Liverpool. Piloted in 2014, to date 107 practitioners have successfully completed the award and a further 51 will complete it by the end of this academic year.
It will continue to be offered in Liverpool and other local authorities in September.
The award was developed in collaboration with practitioners from the early years sector and other professionals. The aim is to ensure SENCos fully understand the importance of their high-profile role, ensuring that inclusion is at the heart of any strong practice within early years. The award gives SENCos a thorough understanding of the SEND Code of Practice.
As part of the award, practitioners complete accredited SEND modules to support their professional development and to raise the status of the role of SENCo within the sector.
In 2017, an impact study was commissioned by School Improvement Liverpool to gather information from practitioners who have completed the award. Practitioners comments included that they were more confident and more able to support children who need additional support and their families.
The Quality Improvement Team, who lead the training, commented that the difference in the quality of practice and provision provided for children with SEND are noticeable when a SENCo has completed the award.