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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
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Programme content
How will I learn?
Benefits
Dates
Eligibility
FAQs
Transform SEND provision in your setting through strategic leadership, operational excellence and embedding a culture of continuous improvement
Through this apprenticeship, you will transform your SEND team from a reactive function to a strategic, proactive and evidence-driven team.
You will enhance your leadership skills, develop your team and harness advanced data analytics and Lean process optimisation to drive meaningful and sustained whole-school SEND impact.
A key output of this programme is the planning and delivery of a SEND improvement plan, directly tackling a challenge within your setting.
The Strategic SEND Leader programme has been endorsed and approved by The Institute of Leadership, offering you a 2 year membership to their professional body. As an Associate member, you will have access to additional learning and mentoring opportunities, digital credentials to share on social media and post-nominal letters after your name (AIoL). Explore all membership benefits here.
Funding for this apprenticeship
£0
Cost to delegate
£15,000
Funding band for this apprenticeship
QUALIFICATION
Level 6 Improvement Leader apprenticeship
STUDY STYLE
Self-paced online. Live online workshops. Regular progress reviews. Leadership coaching
DURATION
15 months + 4 month EPA
COACHING & TUITION
Personal tuition from a former Head or SENCO. One-to-one sessions with a leadership coach
SEND MASTERCLASSES
Ask the SEND experts and extend your knowledge further
ASSESSMENT
Learning portfolio. Professional discussion. SEND Improvement plan with presentation and Q&A
Carefully crafted by SEND experts
Benefit from a unique collaboration of SEND and Senior Leadership experts across Real Training and ESF Apprenticeships.
Ofsted outstanding apprenticeship delivery from ESF Apprenticeships. The Curriculum Lead and tutors on this apprenticeship are former SLT members.
SEND expertise from Real Training. Benefit from the knowledge and experience of educational psychologists and former SENCOs.
Benefits for learners
- Gain the knowledge and skills to lead a confident, high-performing SEND team: Develop your emotional intelligence, coaching and leadership skills to support staff wellbeing, manage difficult conversations with sensitivity, lead effectively and get the most out of your team.
- Transition from reactive management to strategic planning: Look beyond daily demands and anticipate future trends in pupil needs, SEND policy changes and demographics. Scan the horizon to align resource allocation with long-term goals, bridge skills gaps and drive sustainable change through the robust planning.
- Gain practical experience of high-level strategy and improvement tools: Create a long-term vision for your department and optimise your SEND initiatives to ensure that pupils receive the support they require to thrive in your setting.
- Plan, implement and review a high-impact SEND Improvement plan: Throughout the programme, you will be working on your SEND Improvement plan – this is your opportunity plan and implement a project which addresses a real-life challenge within your setting.
- Develop strategic leadership competencies: Gain the confidence to present your plans and showcase your impact to senior managers. You’ll learn how to free-up time spent on administrative tasks using “Lean” principles and develop competencies such as benchmarking, understanding and using data to make decisions.
- Elevate your professional standing as a SEND Leader: Join a global community of 50,000 and solidify your experience with status as a Member of The Institute of Leadership (subject to approval).
“The true value of this course lies in its ability to bridge the gap between policy and practice. This course will equip leaders with the tools to build sustainable, high-impact SEND provision. This investment delivers immediate returns, not just in organisational efficiency, but, in creating a supportive environment where every family feels heard and every pupil is on a trajectory to achieve their full potential“
Programme content
Phase 1: Understanding and setting SEND vision: Strategic thinking and development
- Understanding your setting and the SEND landscape.
- Horizon scanning and process optimisation.
- Strategic process and relational leadership in SEND.
- Predictive optimisation through data.
Phase 2: Preparing to drive improvement: Process understanding and Lean application
- Root cause analysis of SEND gaps.
- Team leadership and dynamics in SEND.
- Applying Lean methodology to transform SEND leadership and operational efficiency
- School visit: Benchmarking excellence in practice.
Phase 3: Driving change and improvement: Project management
- Implementing your SEND improvement project.
- Managing the improvement portfolio and risk.
- Team working and coaching others to embrace change.
- Strategic thinking for SEND Leaders: Mastering A3, critique and coaching
Phase 4: Reviewing and evaluating impact
- Measuring impact.
- Stopping problems before they start and safety.
- The Improvement Leader: Embedding continuous improvement.
How will I learn?
This 15-month programme includes a blended learning model, including opportunities to come together to share ideas with other SEND leaders.
- Online learning – study flexibly at a time and place that suits you.
- Self-directed project work – apply new knowledge and skills through practical projects and research in your setting. Build a portfolio of evidence that will help embed your learning and allow you to have a positive impact from the very start.
- Live online group workshops – mandatory workshops (2-3 hours) monthly with SEND experts, plus follow-up discussions.
- Deliver a SEND improvement project: Identify a key challenge in your setting to tackle over the duration of the programme. From planning to implementation and review, this project will deliver whole-school positive impact.
- Organise a visit to a high-performing SEND setting to observe and identify best practices.
- Regular progress reviews – with your ESF apprenticeship tutor and your mentor to discuss challenges, set targets and celebrate successes.
- SEND masterclasses – interactive 2 to 3 hour webinars from our SEND experts, where you’ll learn from speech therapists, dyslexia experts and educational psychologists with a specialist focus in autism, trauma, mental health and more.
How is this course assessed?
- Termly progress reviews will be conducted where growth and successes will be celebrated. There will be an opportunity to discuss any challenges faced. 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 meeting. Once this is completed, you will enter your End-Point Assessment period. You will write a 4,000-4,500 word dissertation which relates to the initial key challenge you identified.
- Throughout your time on the programme, you will also compile a portfolio of evidence demonstrating you have achieved the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the apprenticeship standard. This portfolio is not assessed, but underpins the professional discussion you will have with your Assessor during the final 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
The Strategic SEND Leader programme is for ambitious SEND Leaders who are looking to build their operational and leadership skills and knowledge within SEND.
You might be working as a SENCO, Head of SEND in a School or across a Trust, or be a member of the Senior Leadership Team looking to shape and drive SEND and Inclusion improvements.
You must:
- Have lived in England for the last three years and have the right to work in the the UK.
- Be employed at least 16 hours a week and spend at least 50% of working hours in England over the apprenticeship duration.
- Achieved a minimum of Grade 4 (Grade C) or above in GCSE English, or hold an equivalent Level 2 Functional Skills.
Your employer must:
- Agree and enrol you as an apprentice (we can support with this)
- Appoint a workplace mentor to attend the termly progress reviews
Course start dates
2026 dates
April: Now open for applications. Starts 28 April.
Please note: Spaces are only secured once all forms are submitted and funding has been approved.
Learner FAQs
Who is the Strategic SEND Leadership programme for?
This programme has been developed for ambitious SEND Leaders who are looking to build their operational and leadership skills and knowledge within SEND.
You might be working as a SENCO, Head of SEND in either a school or a Trust, or be a member of the Senior Leadership Team with responsibility for the SEND department.
Which models and tools will I learn on this programme?
You will be exposed to a wide range of models and tools via the Strategic SEND Leader programme. These advanced tools, all fully-contextualised for schools, will enable you to effectively plan, implement and ensure the long-term success of your SEND projects.
Tools explored include:
- Lean and Continuous Improvement Tools including Value Stream Mapping, A3 Thinking, Root Cause Analysis and the 5 Whys.
- Data, Measurement, and Analysis tools such as Statistical Process Control, Process Capability and Regression Analysis.
- Strategy and Financial Management tools such as Hoshin Kanri, Ansoff’s matrix and Net Present Value.
- Leadership and Change Management tools such as Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, Kolb’s Learning Cycle, CMI Principles of Management & Leadership and EEF. implementation frameworks.
- Process and Customer tools such as Process Mapping, Voice of the Customer and Capability Development.
What do I need to consider when selecting my SEND improvement project?
At the start of the programme, your tutor will work with you to discuss ideas for, and finalise the choice of your SEND improvement project. You also might like to speak to your workplace mentor – their buy-in will be useful as you should aim for your project to have maximum impact.
You will develop your improvement project over the course of the programme via a series of tasks, including:
- Identifying gaps and challenges and analysing root causes
- Writing a project proposal and plan
- Championing the project and implementing the plan
- Managing risk and engaging stakeholders
- Reviewing project success
- Managing a portfolio of projects and coaching colleagues
How will this programme help me to develop my career?
Not only will this programme help you gain skills to ensure your SEND department’s operational effectiveness, but you’ll also gain leadership skills to help you get the best out of your team and staff with whom you work closely within the wider school community, influence senior leaders and confidently roll-out new initiatives.
How will being a member of the Institute of Leadership benefit me?
As a member, you’ll be able to professionalise your experience as a part of their global community of 50,000 and also gain access to a suite of additional resources, including:
- IoL-branded certification upon completion of the programme
- digital credential/badge (sharable on social media)
- post-nominal letters after your name (i.e. AIoL)
- Access to webinars, podcasts, blogs and research on leadership
- Access to a mentor and career advice.
Read more about the benefits here
What release time is required for this apprenticeship?
We have developed a blended teaching and learning model which works for busy school professionals.
Scheduled release time:
- 2-3 hours every month for live online learning with an experienced teacher. You will also have the chance to share ideas with other SEND leaders across the country studying on this programme.
- 3 online sessions with a leadership coach.
Flexible release time:
- You will have access to our self-paced online learning platform, full of resources, ideas and research materials.
- You will also complete practical projects that can be carried out in a classroom environment and will be of direct benefit to your pupils and your school.
- 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.
- Time to attend our SEND Masterclasses held every six weeks during term time (optional).
Can I fund this using my school’s apprenticeship levy?
This programme can be fully funded using the Growth and Skills Levy (formerly known as the Apprenticeship Levy). In line with government apprenticeship funding bands, the cost of the full training package is £15,000.
If you are a school, nursery, MAT or local authority apprenticeship-levy paying employer (i.e. you have a wage bill in excess of £3m) then 100% of the apprenticeship is paid for using your employer levy pot.
We advise applicants to discuss details and gain approval to access the employers levy with their Business Manager / Finance Director prior to registration.
If you do not pay the levy then the Government will fund 95% of the apprenticeship and you will need to commit to paying 5% of the fee which is £750. 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 of this apprenticeship using another organisation’s unused funds via a process known as Levy Transfer.
Study this apprenticeship with us
Don’t miss out! Our next course starts 28 April 2026
Benefits
Course content
Levy funding
Employer commitments & FAQs
Drive operational excellence, while equipping your SEND Leader with the team development, resource management and leadership skills to optimise your SEND provision and deliver meaningful and sustained whole-school SEND improvements
Funding for this apprenticeship
£0
Cost to delegate
£15,000
Funding value for this apprenticeship
£750
Maximum cost to non-levy paying schools.
Funding for this apprenticeship
QUALIFICATION
Level 6 Improvement Leader apprenticeship
STUDY STYLE
Self-paced online. Live online workshops. Regular progress reviews. Leadership coaching.
DURATION
15 months + 4 month EPA
COACHING & TUITION
One-to-one tuition from a former Headteacher or SENCO. One-to-one leadership coaching sessions.
SEND MASTERCLASSES
Ask the SEND experts and extend your knowledge further
ASSESSMENT
Learning portfolio. Professional discussion. SEND improvement plan with presentation and Q&A.
Benefits for employers
A 15-month programme designed for experienced SENCOs or SEND Leaders.
- Evolve your school’s strategic vision for SEND – by the end of the course delegates will have started to implement their new skills and knowledge to improve the learning environment for pupils with SEND.
- Drive strategic SEND leadership: This programme bridges the gap between daily operations and long-term vision. It provides participants with the skills and confidence to drive operational excellence while implementing a cohesive, forward-thinking strategy for your SEND team.
- Embed a culture of sustainable continuous improvement: Participants will learn how to monitor SEND improvements to ensure that they are sustained for the long term, allowing pupils in your setting to benefit from an effective learning environment.
- Establish high-performing multi-disciplinary teams: The programme equips SEND leaders with skills in emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and coaching. This will benefit the school by fostering better collaboration across the team around the child, including teachers, TAs and external therapists.
- Be confident in the knowledge your team member is studying high-quality, impactful training. As an Ofsted outstanding provider, with 10+ years experience in delivering apprenticeships, and an achievement rate that exceeds the national average, we know this programme will support your team in achieving their goals. Additionally, the Strategic SEND Leader programme has been endorsed and approved by The Institute of Leadership, demonstrating to parents and Governors that your inclusion leadership operates under a recognised framework of excellence.
“The true value of this course lies in its ability to bridge the gap between policy and practice. This course will equip leaders with the tools to build sustainable, high-impact SEND provision. This investment delivers immediate returns, not just in organisational efficiency, but, in creating a supportive environment where every family feels heard and every pupil is on a trajectory to achieve their full potential“
Programme content
Phase 1: Understanding and setting SEND vision: Strategic thinking and development
- Understanding the setting and the SEND landscape.
- Horizon scanning and process optimisation.
- Strategic process and relational leadership in SEND.
- Predictive optimisation through data.
Phase 2: Preparing to drive improvement: Process understanding and Lean application
- Root cause analysis of SEND gaps.
- Team leadership and dynamics in SEND.
- Applying Lean ,ethodology to transform SEND leadership and operational efficiency
- School visit: Benchmarking excellence in practice.
Phase 3: Driving change and improvement: Project management
- Implementing a SEND improvement project.
- Managing the improvement portfolio and risk.
- Team working and coaching others to embrace change.
- Strategic thinking for SEND Leaders: Mastering A3, critique and coaching
Phase 4: Reviewing and evaluating impact
- Measuring impact.
- Stopping problems before they start and safety.
- The Improvement Leader: Embedding continuous improvement.
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 7, covering a wide range of skills.
Employer FAQs
What about Off-the-Job training hours?
Off-the-Job-Hours (OTJH) is an essential part of an apprentice’s development. It is dedicated time, during normal working hours, in which apprentices can focus on learning and applying new skills.
This protected time is required for apprentices to engage fully with their learning and development activities. All of the required learning, live workshops and projects completed during the programme count towards Off-the-job time.
Our apprenticeship tutors will sign-post opportunities which count as off-the-Job-Training and during the enrolment meeting we can discuss how this can work alongside busy job roles.
How can I access 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.
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 of 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.
Who should mentor someone on the Strategic SEND Leader programme?
We recommend someone who is part of the SLT within your school or perhaps your Trust. Often this is a line manager, but not necessarily.
What are the mentor responsibilities?
Workplace mentors will need to attend the initial enrolment meeting and should be available once per term for review meetings, alongside the ESF Apprenticeships’ tutor.
Mentors should be part of the Gateway meeting at the end of programme, during which we confirm participants have the required level of knowledge, skills and behaviours to move to End-Point Assessment.
In addition to providing regular guidance and feedback, mentors will also need to support the selection, planning and implementation of the SEND Improvement plan. As part of the End-Point Assessment, a technical expert from the school will need to attend the professional discussion. Their role is to provide the assessor with clarifications around specific school policy and procedure or technical knowledge. This technical expert may well be the apprentice’s mentor.
What release time is required for this apprenticeship?
We have developed a blended teaching and learning model which works for busy school professionals.
Scheduled release time:
- 2-3 hours every month for live online learning with an experienced teacher. You will also have the chance to share ideas with other SEND leaders across the country studying on this programme.
- 3 online sessions with a leadership coach
Flexible release time:
- Learners will have access to our self-paced online learning platform, full of resources, ideas and research materials.
- They will also complete practical projects that can be carried out in a classroom environment and will be of direct benefit to your pupils and your school.
- Delegates need to have release time for regular progress reviews with their ESF tutor and school mentor to set new targets and celebrate success. These are short sessions that will take place every 12 weeks.
- We also hold online 2-3 hour SEND Masterclasses every six weeks during term time (attendance is optional and recording are also made available).
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.”
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Some of our other SEND apprenticeships
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UPSKILL
Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant
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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.