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Call us: 01784 222 300
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Our friendly, knowledgeable team are ready to chat
Call us: 01784 222 300
Email us: info@esfapprenticeships.co.uk
GET IN TOUCH
SEND Leadership and Development Programme
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For employers
Empower your SEND and inclusion teams, build confident leaders to elevate your whole-school SEND provision
Looking to embed consistent, high-quality adaptive teaching across your entire staff body without relying on external consultants?
Our SEND Leadership and Development Programme goes beyond core classroom support. It equips SENCOs, and Inclusion Leaders to become strategic practitioners who drive school-wide improvement, manage SEND resource budgets, implement evidence-based adaptive teaching frameworks (such as the EEF "5-a-day"), lead staff CPD, and make data-driven decisions that align directly with your School Improvement Plan (SIP).
Independently endorsed by NQual
An Ofqual-regulated Awarding Organisation, this SEND Leadership and Development programme meets rigorous national standards for quality, relevance, and learner impact.
Funding for this apprenticeship
£0
Cost to delegate
£7,000
Funding value for this apprenticeship
£350
Maximum cost to non-levy paying schools
QUALIFICATION
Level 5 Learning & Development Consultant Business Partner apprenticeship
STUDY STYLE
Self-paced online learning.
Live online workshops.
DURATION
15 months
+ 8 week Apprenticeship Assessment
DEDICATED TUTORING
Dedicated time with SEND Leaders
SEND MASTERCLASSES
Ask the SEND experts and extend your knowledge further
ASSESSMENT
Improvement project (report or presentation) + Professional discussion
Benefits for employers
Designed to build long-term capacity from within, this programme turns your experienced SEND team into strategic internal leads who can share the leadership load, elevate teaching standards and ensure all pupils receive the support they need to thrive
- Equip senior support staff with the skills to spot provision gaps, deploy resources where they are needed most, and deliver a practical work-based project tied directly to your School Improvement Plan.
- Develop a confident SEND Leader who can establish, implement and adapt your Inclusion strategy to meet the changing needs of your school.
- Strengthen classroom support across your entire school by embedding practical teaching principles and scaffolding techniques into your support team.
- Build an internal coaching culture by equipping your support staff with peer mentoring tools and Action Learning Sets to nurture colleague confidence and drive consistent school-wide practice.
- Provide your SEND leaders with well-rounded skills across data management, financial literacy, change management, effective communication, leading teams and project management - tailored to SEND.
Course content
Empowering your SEND Team and inclusion leaders with the specialist operational and pedagogical expertise required to partner effectively with your SENCO or inclusion lead to drive exceptional school-wide outcomes.
Key areas of focus include:
- Leading inclusive practice and statutory compliance: Navigating statutory frameworks, EHCP & ISP administration, SEND reform, and high-needs funding caps to ensure compliant, high-quality provision across your setting.
- Designing high-impact staff development and coaching: Applying adult learning theories, peer coaching, Action Learning Sets (ALS), and instructional mentoring to upskill colleagues and embed a whole-school culture of continuous improvement.
- Strategic TA deployment and resource management: Operationalising frameworks like MITA (Maximising the Impact of Teaching Assistants), conducting organisational needs analyses (ONA), and managing SEND budgets to align with your School Improvement Plan.
- Beyond core classroom support: The curriculum equips practitioners to drive school-wide improvement, manage SEND budgets, implement adaptive teaching frameworks (such as EEF "5-a-day"), lead adult learning/CPD, and utilise data-driven decision-making.
Levy funding
The Growth and Skills Levy (formerly known as the Apprenticeship Levy) is essentially a fund set up to support the training and development of staff through apprenticeships. Funds are collected and put into a digital account for employers.
- Who pays it? Anyone with an annual wage bill over £3 million.
- How does it benefit your school? The money in this account can be used to pay for apprenticeship training for both your existing staff and any new apprentices you hire. Apprenticeships are available for anyone aged 16 and over, from Level 2 right up to Level 5, covering a wide range of skills.
Employer FAQs
How do I find out if my school is eligible for levy funding?
If you pay the Growth and Skills levy (formerly known as the Apprenticeship levy), determine who controls the funds, how much you can access, and the steps to get it. Speak to your bursar, business manager, or finance team.
- Local Authority schools can access funding from their council's shared levy pot, even if their payroll is below the threshold, by contacting the Local Authority's Apprenticeship Team.
- Multi-academy Trusts with a wage bill over £3m should contact their central finance or HR team.
- Voluntary Controlled schools should approach their Local Authority.
- Voluntary-aided and Foundation schools (non-levy paying) can access 95% government funding, with further support potentially available from the Local Authority or via levy transfer.
How do I find out how much is in my levy?
School employers can check their apprenticeship levy pot through the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS), which is managed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Here’s how:
Log in to the Apprenticeship Service
(accounts.manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk).
Set up or access your account – schools may need to do this via their local authority or academy trust, depending on how payroll is managed.
View your levy funds – the account shows how much levy has been paid in, any top-ups from government, funds available to spend, and when funds are due to expire (after 24 months if unused).
For maintained schools, the local authority usually manages the levy pot, so schools should contact their LA HR/payroll or finance team.
For academies and trusts, the trust itself manages the levy and can view funds directly in their digital account.
What if I'm a non-levy paying school?
If you don’t pay the Growth and Skills levy then the Government will fund 95% of the apprenticeship and you will need to commit to paying 5% of the fee.
Larger organisations can support other organisations, by making up to 50% of their annual levy funds available to eligible employers who need financial assistance with apprenticeships. ESF Apprenticeships should be able to support your organisation to fund the whole cost this apprenticeship using another organisation's unused funds via a process known as Levy Transfer.
We can provide more information if you are interested in pursuing this route.
What are my obligations as an employer?
You must assign a school mentor who will participate in termly progress reviews and complete a final "Employer Review" assessing the apprentice's professional behaviours.
Apprentices will gain experience throughout the programme, designing, delivering, and evaluating a real-world SEND Change Initiative tied directly to your school's current priorities.
Mentors will need to support the end-point assessment process by attending a "gateway meeting" and assisting with planning the assessment day, which typically takes only a few hours.
What release time is required?
We have developed a blended teaching and learning model which works for busy school professionals.
Scheduled release time: 2-3 hours every fortnight for live online learning with an experienced teacher to gather portfolio evidence. There will be the opportunity to share ideas with other aspiring Leaders from the course.
Flexible release time:
- Delegates will have access to our self-paced online learning platform full of resources, activities, research and ideas.
- Work based change initiative: Throughout the programme, delegates will design, deliver, and evaluate a real-world SEND Change Initiative tied directly to your school's current priorities.
- They will also need to have release time for regular progress reviews with your ESF tutor and school mentor to set new targets and celebrate success. These are short sessions that will take place every 12 weeks (as a minimum).
- Our SEND Masterclasses are 2-3 hour live online sessions held every month during term time. Attendance is optional, and recordings are also available.
Who from my school should mentor an apprentice on this course?
Each apprentice will need a mentor within school to guide and support their development. The ideal mentor is a Senior Leader.
The key is that the mentor has the knowledge, experience, and time to provide regular guidance, feedback, and opportunities for the apprentice to apply their learning in practice.
See all >
Case Study
Manor Fields Primary School
“The support we've had from ESF has been so positive and so worthwhile. They have really gone the extra mile for my staff and care about them as individuals - the impact on staff confidence has been transformative.”
Case Study
Knebworth Primary and Nursery School
“When we were looking for a training provider to support us with upskilling current staff, ESF Apprenticeships seemed the perfect choice! They came highly recommended by other primary schools in the area. It has been so rewarding to see our staff engaging in such a high-quality qualification.”
Case Study
Melbourn Primary School
"I'd definitely recommend the course to other Headteachers. It's been an excellent way to give staff an opportunity to develop their skills when they're still in school. We are seeing the benefits every day for our children."
Develop your workforce
Complete our short online form and we’ll be in touch to discuss your needs.
First course starts: | January 2027
Build a culture of inclusive practice by leading staff development and SEND strategy
Do you want to shape how your entire school approaches inclusion by upskilling colleagues and leading staff development?
Our higher level SEND Leadership and Development programme is designed for practitioners who want to drive strategic change beyond individual classrooms.
Step up from managing day-to-day SEND provision to leading strategic inclusion across your whole school. You’ll develop the expert coaching and training skills needed to upskill staff, audit provision, and build high-impact SEND strategies that deliver real results for every pupil.
Independently endorsed by NQual
An Ofqual-regulated Awarding Organisation, this SEND Leadership and Development programme meets rigorous national standards for quality, relevance, and learner impact.
Upon completion, you will achieve a Level 5 Learning and Development Consultant Business Partner apprenticeship plus an NQual Endorsed programme Certificate
Funding for this apprenticeship
£0
Cost to delegate
£7,000
Funding band for this apprenticeship
QUALIFICATION
Level 5 Learning & Development Consultant Business Partner apprenticeship
STUDY STYLE
Self-paced online learning.
Live online workshops
DURATION
15 months
+ 8 week Apprenticeship Assessment
DEDICATED TUTORING
Dedicated time with SEND Leaders
SEND MASTERCLASSES
Ask the SEND experts and extend your knowledge further
ASSESSMENT
Improvement project (report or presentation) + Professional discussion
What will I gain from the SEND Leadership and Development programme?
Master mentoring skills to coach newer support staff and share your SEND expertise with confidence.
- Master advanced inclusive practice and gain the expertise to drive SEND leadership
- Elevate your role from taking instructions to guiding peers. Gain formal mentoring skills to coach newer support staff and share your SEND expertise with confidence.
- Master organisational needs analysis, instructional coaching, and evidence-based staff training.
-
Bridge statutory SEND frameworks with whole-school improvement, equipping teachers and support teams with the expertise needed to transform pupil outcomes at scale.
Who is it for and how does it build on existing training and experience?
Apprenticeships are a great way to build on the skills and knowledge you already have, while also gaining practical, hands-on experience in a real-world setting. They offer a unique blend of theoretical learning and on-the-job training, allowing you to apply what you learn on the programme to your everyday work.
This apprenticeship is designed for experienced SENCOs, SEND or Inclusion Leaders and Support Staff Managers, who wish to progress into a more senior role to develop their strategic skills. It has been developed to build on skills and knowledge you may have gained from previous qualifications, such as NASENCO or NPQ SENCO, as well as practical experience in your setting.
Course content
This programme is designed to equip you with the operational tools, pedagogical understanding, and leadership confidence needed to drive meaningful SEND improvements across your setting.
Key areas of focus include:
- School Audit & Needs Analysis: Learn how to evaluate your setting's current SEND provision, analyse pupil data alongside your School Improvement Plan, and spot specific capability gaps across your staff team.
- Utilising data to drive improvements: Explore sources of data, SEND funding and track the effectiveness of your resources.
- Evidence-Based Pedagogy & Adaptive Teaching: Deepen your understanding of Cognitive Load Theory, scaffolding techniques, and EEF '5-a-day' principles to help embed consistent, accessible classroom practice.
- Statutory Frameworks & Compliance: Navigate the SEND Code of Practice, EHCP paperwork, and overlapping regulatory requirements with clarity and confidence.
- Project & Resource Management: Build practical skills in project planning, risk management, and budget allocation, learning how to write costed proposals and measure intervention ROI.
- Instructional Coaching & Sharing Good Practice: Master peer-coaching models, the use of Action Learning Sets (ALS), and feedback loops to mentor colleagues and foster a psychologically safe, continuous learning culture.
- Values-Based Leadership & Stakeholder Buy-In: Develop communication and leadership techniques to engage senior leaders, report effectively to Governors, and lead collaborative change across your school.
Work-based Initiative:
Throughout the programme, you won't just study theory—you will design, deliver, and evaluate a real-world SEND Change Initiative tied directly to your school's current priorities. This will involve co-production techniques, gaining stakeholder approval, establishing pupil voice and using AI and other digital tools for analysis.
This real-world initiative forms the basis of your final project and assessment.
SEND Masterclasses
Exclusive invitations to interactive sessions led by an expert in SEND and inclusion.
Benefit from high-impact sessions for schools and nurseries. You’ll be brought up to date in various aspects of SEND and mental health by leading speech and language therapists, dyslexia assessors, educational psychologists, autism specialists and a range of other experts.
- Held every month during term time (attendance optional)
- 2-3 hours presentation and interaction
- Your chance to ask the expert!
- Downloadable resources
- Recordings available on-demand
Eligibility
Application criteria:
- Experienced SENCOs, who have completed or are currently completing a SENCO qualification or have at least one year's experience in the role (full-time equivalent).
- SEND or Inclusion leaders working across multiple schools.
- SENCOs and Inclusion Leaders who wish to progress into a more senior role or develop their strategic leadership skills
- You must have lived in England for the last three years and have the right to work in the UK.
- You must be employed at least 16 hours a week and spend at least 50% of your working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship in an educational setting..
- You will need to declare you have achieved a minimum of GCSE English at Grade 4 (Grade C) or above, or hold an equivalent Level 2 Functional Skills qualification. This level of English proficiency is required as the apprenticeship is equivalent in academic standard to a foundation degree.
How will I learn?
You will participate in a variety of activities:
- Asynchronous online learning – study flexibly at a time and place that suits you
- Live online workshops – mandatory monthly workshops led by SEND experts, plus follow-up discussions and opportunities to share good practice
- Work based Initiative: Throughout the programme, you will design, deliver, and evaluate a real-world SEND Change Initiative tied directly to your school's current priorities
- Progress Reviews - With your ESF Apprenticeship tutor and your mentor to set targets and celebrate success.
- You’ll also receive exclusive invitations to our series of online SEND Masterclasses.
- Apprenticeship Assessment period of 8 weeks.
Learner FAQs
What is the release time required?
We have developed a blended teaching and learning model which works for busy school professionals.
Scheduled release time: 2-3 hours every fortnight for live online learning with an experienced teacher, and to gather portfolio evidence. You will also have the opportunity to share ideas with other aspiring Leaders from the course.
Flexible release time:
- You will have access to our self-paced online learning platform full of resources, activities, research and ideas.
- Work based change initiative: Throughout the programme, delegates will design, deliver, and evaluate a real-world SEND Change Initiative tied directly to your school's current priorities.
- You will also need to have release time for regular progress reviews with your ESF tutor and school mentor to set new targets and celebrate success. These are short sessions that will take place every 12 weeks (as a minimum).
- Workplace Observations
In-person observations based in your setting
Two of these will take place with your mentor, and one will be with your ESF tutor. Your tutor will visit you in your setting to observe you delivering planned sessions, giving you the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how you apply pedagogical theory in real time. - Our SEND Masterclasses are 2-3 hour live online sessions held every month during term time. Attendance is optional and recordings are also available.
What happens at my End Point Assessment (EPA)?
You will have termly progress reviews in which you’ll celebrate your growth and successes and discuss challenges you have been facing. These will be scheduled with your Mentor and Apprenticeship tutor at a time that is convenient for you.
The final progress review is combined with a Gateway Review.
Once you complete your final Gateway Review, you’ll move on to your End-Point Assessment (EPA). For this programme, your assessment consists of two core parts:
- Work-Based Project: SEND Change Initiative
You will design, deliver, and evaluate a practical improvement project directly in your school. This is your chance to showcase how you identify a genuine need, deliver effective training or support, manage your resources, and measure the positive impact on your setting. - Professional Discussion
A structured, supportive conversation with an independent assessor. Using your project as the foundation, you’ll talk through your work, explain your decision-making, and reflect on how you've helped foster an inclusive learning culture across your team.
You will need to pass both components.
What could I go on to study next?
- You might like to further enhance your skills and knowledge by studying courses that will help you develop specialist skills.
- Interested in Educational Testing? You might like to consider Real Training’s Assistant Test User course (ATU) or Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET).
- Working in a Secondary setting and interested in Access Arrangements? You could go on to study Real Training’s Access Arrangements Coordination course (AACoord), or if eligible, their Certificate of Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A)
Looking to develop your knowledge of specific areas within SEND? Browse Real Training’s full range of modules on their postgraduate programmes, covering topics such as Autism, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs plus many more!
Who is the SEND Leadership & Development Programme for?
Completing this programme positions you as a key operational and strategic specialist within your setting, opening up clear career pathways across school leadership, specialist SEND practice, and multi-school support networks:
Step into a senior operational role taking direct ownership of setting-wide SEND provision, managing TA teams, and leading day-to-day inclusion strategy alongside your Headteacher and SENCO.
Focus your expertise on specific areas of pupil need, such as Autism, Speech, Language & Communication Needs (SLCN), or SEMH, acting as an internal specialist practitioner and advisory lead across your school or trust.
Staff Development & Coaching Lead: Leverage your adult learning and instructional coaching skills to oversee whole-school CPD, mentor early career educators, or lead SEND training networks across local school partnerships.
What is the career progression for this role?
- If you hold QTS, you might like to work towards being the named SENCO in your setting. To achieve this, you would need to study the NPQ SENCO within your first 3 years in the role.
- You might like to further enhance your skills and knowledge by studying courses that will help you develop specialist skills.
- Interested in Educational Testing? You might like to consider Real Training’s Assistant Test User course (ATU) or Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET).
- Working in a Secondary setting and interested in Access Arrangements? You could go on to study Real Training’s Access Arrangements Coordination course (AACoord), or if eligible, their Certificate of Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3A)
- Looking to develop your knowledge of specific areas within SEND? Browse Real Training’s full range of modules on their postgraduate programmes, covering topics such as Autism, Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs plus many more!
Study with us
Starting: January 2027
Some of our other SEND apprenticeships
UPSKILL
Level 5 Speech, Language and Communications Leadership Programme
Enables teachers and TAs to lead communication interventions across their setting, drive strategic change, and provide a vital link with specialist services. Includes the Higher Level Communications Practitioner award.
UPSKILL
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant
A new progression pathway for experienced teaching assistants to improve outcomes and advance their careers. Choose to focus on Literacy, Language and Literacy, SEND, or SEMH. Includes an optional add-on to gain HLTA status.
NEW HIRE / UPSKILL
Level 3 Teaching Assistant with SEND Training
Suitable for both new and existing TAs, this programme covers both theory of childhood development and practical skills to support teachers. Provides foundational knowledge of how to support children with SEND.