Final Chance to study Advanced SEND Leader Apprenticeship at Level 7

The countdown is on for SENCOs and aspiring SEND leaders across England to secure a place on our final cohort that will achieve the prestigious Level 7 qualification.
ESF Apprenticeship’s application deadline is set for Sunday, 16 November 2025.

This is a transformative apprenticeship training pathway programme, shaping the future of inclusion and is designed for:

Experienced SENCOs ready to elevate their SEND expertise and strategic leadership
SENCOs aspiring to senior leadership roles such as Assistant or Deputy Headteacher
Education professionals working closely with SEND provision who want to step into leadership

Developed for ambitious SEND professionals, the Advanced SEND Leader Apprenticeship provides the expertise needed to drive meaningful change across schools, trusts, and local authorities. It goes beyond compliance and interventions, focusing instead on whole-school strategy, evidence-informed practice, and inclusive leadership.

Revolutionising SEND Leadership Across Schools and Trusts

The Advanced SEND Leader programme empowers leaders to make a measurable, whole-school impact. Participants move beyond operational SEND coordination to become strategic inclusion leaders who influence policy, practice, and outcomes. This leadership programme equips professionals to:

Shape and deliver a strategic, whole-school vision for SEND
Lead transformational change across organisations
Develop financial and resource management strategies
Use data-driven decision-making to improve outcomes
Build inclusive cultures and empower SEND teams
Influence senior leadership and policy

Yasmine Dhillon, Deputy Headteacher, Inclusion, says the programme changed her career trajectory:

“It’s fundamentally changed how I approach thinking and problem-solving. The course helped me shift from simply implementing strategies to rigorously evaluating their impact. It enabled me to move beyond specific needs to a whole-school framework of inclusion — a direct catalyst for my promotion.”

Yasmine Dhillon
Deputy Headteacher, Inclusion

It’s been a game-changer for Assistant Principal, Magdalena from The Cambian Group

“The Advanced SEND Leader programme has given me an invaluable (and very rare) opportunity to develop my leader mindset, be vulnerable in a safe space, and lead with impact, focusing our efforts on strategies that make a tangible difference to those who need it most. A game-changer when it comes to developing a more strategic approach to leading inclusion. The impact on the whole team’s energy has been palpable.“

Magdalena Lawrence
Assistant Principal – Education
The Cambian Group
Advanced SEND Leader delegate

In May 2025, the UK government announced a significant change to funding rules for Level 7 apprenticeships

As a result, our November cohort is the final opportunity to gain a Level 7 qualification, fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy.

Final places remain.

📌 Application deadline: Sunday 16 November
📌 Programme start: 27 November 2025
📌 Funding: Apprenticeship Levy eligible
📌 Award: Senior Leader apprenticeship (Level 7)