SWIFT
National Professional Qualifications
SWIFT
National Professional Qualifications
SWIFT
National Professional Qualifications
An Introduction to National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
SWIFT is delighted to be working in partnership with OneCornwall Teaching School Hubs, Teach First and the National Institute of Teaching to make available to your school the full suite of reformed National Professional Qualifications (NPQs).
Our NPQ Programmes
NPQs are a national, voluntary suite of qualifications, designed to support the professional development of teachers and school leaders. A reformed suite of NPQ's are now available. The reformed NPQs are informed by best available research and evidence.
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The application window for NPQ programmes opens on Tuesday 23 June 2026 for programmes starting in the Autumn 2026 term. We partner with two lead providers for NPQs offering diversity and flexibility in the programme structures. Our lead providers are the National Institute of Teaching and Teach First.
Both lead providers have discrete application processes. On the left, please select the application guidance and APPLY button for the NPQ you are interested in and follow the application process outlined. Early submission is highly recommended as funded places are limited nationally! NPQ funding information for the Autumn 2026 cohort is available on the DfE site HERE |
Specialist NPQs
Since 2021, the reformed specialist NPQ suite has grown to five programmes.
NPQ for Leading Teacher Development - Teach First
The Teach First NPQLTD is designed for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school.
This programme is suitable for teachers who meet the following criteria:
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Please note that funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £899.
This programme is suitable for teachers who meet the following criteria:
- have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school
- are employed in state-funded schools, as well as those employed in state-funded 16 to 19 organisations in England
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Please note that funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £899.
NPQ for Leading Behaviour and Culture - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TEACHING
The NIoT’s NPQLBC is designed for ambitious teachers and leaders, including behaviour-management leads and SENDCOs, who want to be involved in developing and implementing behaviour and wellbeing strategies at their school. Developed by teachers for teachers, the programme will harness the NIoT’s leading research and putting it to immediate, practical use. Because the programme has been designed by teachers, there will be no time wasted: it will provide only the information essential to helping you do your job efficiently, effectively and in a way that inspires pupils to success.
Overview
A culture of high expectations and good behaviour provides the foundations for everything that school is about: effective learning and pupil wellbeing. The NIoT’s NPQLBC will provide access to cutting-edge research, developed by people who know what teachers need. You’ll be supported in putting this into practice, learning to develop and implement behaviour strategies in your school. You will learn to create the conditions for good behaviour, and gain the confidence to support colleagues in the classroom. You will also spend time exploring the link between pupil wellbeing and behaviour. And you will learn to deal with complex behaviour needs, including how to respond to – and prevent – bullying. At the heart of it all will be your pupils. Everything you learn will help ensure that your pupils flourish and are able to live the fullest and most successful lives they possibly can.
Benefits
The programme is made up of 5 modules, studied over 12 months. Each module contains a combination of self-study units, locally delivered sessions, online masterclasses delivered by specialists and virtual visits to a school.
Time commitment
There are two or three scheduled events every half term, some online and some in-person and around six to eight hours of self study.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Please note funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £850.
Overview
A culture of high expectations and good behaviour provides the foundations for everything that school is about: effective learning and pupil wellbeing. The NIoT’s NPQLBC will provide access to cutting-edge research, developed by people who know what teachers need. You’ll be supported in putting this into practice, learning to develop and implement behaviour strategies in your school. You will learn to create the conditions for good behaviour, and gain the confidence to support colleagues in the classroom. You will also spend time exploring the link between pupil wellbeing and behaviour. And you will learn to deal with complex behaviour needs, including how to respond to – and prevent – bullying. At the heart of it all will be your pupils. Everything you learn will help ensure that your pupils flourish and are able to live the fullest and most successful lives they possibly can.
Benefits
- Essential knowledge: There is no fluff – every minute spent working towards an NPQLBC will enable you to make a greater impact in your job.
- Research-informed practice: You’ll have access to the latest and best evidence of what works in education, and will be able to apply this to engaging pupils, motivating staff and reducing disruption in the classroom.
- Create a positive culture: You’ll learn to develop school-wide systems to support pupils. This will enable staff to teach to the best of their ability and will allow pupils to flourish.
- Community of educators: You’ll be part of a diverse community of educators, all learning from one another during the course – and potentially afterwards, too.
- Fulfilment: The better and more knowledgeable you are at your job, the more enjoyable and exciting you will find it – and that enthusiasm will be passed on to your pupils.
The programme is made up of 5 modules, studied over 12 months. Each module contains a combination of self-study units, locally delivered sessions, online masterclasses delivered by specialists and virtual visits to a school.
Time commitment
There are two or three scheduled events every half term, some online and some in-person and around six to eight hours of self study.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Please note funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £850.
NPQ for Leading Teaching - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF tEACHING
The NIoT NPQLT is designed for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.
The programme is suitable for teachers who meet the following criteria:
There are two or three scheduled events every half term, some online and some in-person and around six to eight hours of self study.
Assessment
In order to receive NPQLT accreditation, participants will need to complete the programme and achieve a pass mark in a written, ‘open book’ style, structured assessment of up to 1,500 words. The NIoT will support participants with writing clinics before they embark on gaining their accreditation.
The assessment itself takes place over an eight-day window.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £850.
The programme is suitable for teachers who meet the following criteria:
- have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase
- are employed in state-funded schools, as well as those employed in state-funded 16 to 19 organisations in England
- How to contribute to creating a culture of high expectations for young people as well as a culture that is conducive to colleagues’ professional development in your setting
- How to develop colleagues’ planning and delivery of evidence-informed practice
- How to design and develop a well-sequenced, coherent curriculum
- How to help colleagues adapt their planning and teaching to meet the needs of all pupils
- How to design assessments that lead to valid and reliable data and increased pupil learning, and which do not overly burden teacher
There are two or three scheduled events every half term, some online and some in-person and around six to eight hours of self study.
Assessment
In order to receive NPQLT accreditation, participants will need to complete the programme and achieve a pass mark in a written, ‘open book’ style, structured assessment of up to 1,500 words. The NIoT will support participants with writing clinics before they embark on gaining their accreditation.
The assessment itself takes place over an eight-day window.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £850.
NPQ FOR LEADING LITERACY - tEACH FIRST
The Teach First NPQLL is designed for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading literacy across a school, year group, key stage or phase.
This programme is available to teachers who meet the following criteria:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £899.
This programme is available to teachers who meet the following criteria:
- for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading literacy across a school, year group, key stage or phase
- are employed in state-funded schools, as well as those employed in state-funded 16 to 19 organisations in England
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £899.
NPQ FOR LEADING PRIMARY MATHS - TEACH FIRST
This course is for:
This 15-month programme (12 months’ delivery and three months for assessment) consists of a series of modules based on the DfE’s NPQ frameworks.
Each module cycle features:
This cycle repeats throughout the programme, with implementation a consideration in every module. Towards the end of the programme, you’ll also take a module focused specifically on effective implementation. This provides an opportunity to plan a strategic improvement, focused on your context and pupils. There will be ongoing support through a seminar group and discussion forum.
During the Practical Implementation cycle, programme members will be required to put learning into practice and implement an improvement, or plan the implementation of an improvement, in their setting based on the NPQ programme they are working towards.
The focus will be identified by the programme member and must be level appropriate. This improvement should be a stretching professional development target within the programme member’s existing role. For aspiring leadership programme members, the school/employer should support them to implement an improvement at the aspiring level. The allocation of learning time is five hours so any implementation focus should be feasible within the timeframe.
What will I learn:
You’ll develop the knowledge, skills and expertise that underpins effective leadership of mathematics. This will include leading and guiding others to develop their approach to ‘mastery mathematics’, supporting pupils to build a deep understanding of concepts, secure number sense, and positive attitudes towards mathematics.
Our content is informed by the best and most recent evidence and developed with input from school leaders and subject matter experts.
Our programmes have a practical focus. You’ll be supported to make small but important changes to your and others’ practice throughout the programme. This will conclude with the implementation module and practical implementation cycle of the programme.
What are the training commitments?
The programme is designed to fit around your teaching and other school commitments. Over the course of the whole programme (spread over three terms), you’ll undertake around 55 hours of learning.
This includes a combination of seminars, online learning modules, conferences and focused work on implementation.
Why study with Teach First?
Teach First is an education charity. Since 2003, we’ve been improving the life chances and choices for children experiencing poverty.
We train talented teachers and equip school leaders working in some of the poorest areas of the country – to give children with the fewest opportunities access to a great education.
Teach First one-to-one support
Teach First is offering free one-to-one support on all of our NPQ programmes, for teachers and leaders working in schools and settings serving disadvantaged communities.
This free support comes in the form of an experienced former school leader who will coach and guide you throughout your NPQ. You can apply for this in your application with us or your delivery partner, and we will allocate this support on a priority school basis.
How will I be assessed?
The assessment process for all NPQs has been refreshed to reduce the workload burden on teachers while still providing an opportunity to apply their knowledge.
At the end of the programme, you’ll complete your summative NPQ assessment during a fixed eight-day window. We’ll share detailed dates with you before the start of the programme.
Your assessment submission is a written response to a case study related to the content covered in your NPQ. It's an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the NPQ framework.
It will represent a likely situation that a leader might encounter at the relevant NPQ qualification level. The summative assessment is designed to give you an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the relevant NPQ framework and how this can be applied to school improvement.
You must pass the summative assessment to pass the NPQ.
To be eligible to complete the assessment, you'll need to have engaged with at least 90% of the course content, both online and in person. Diagnostic tasks contribute 30%, reflective tasks 20%, and attendance at events 50% to this total.
In the eight-day window, you will provide a written response of a maximum of 1,500 words for the case study. It is an ‘open book’ approach, so you can refer to your course materials when completing your response.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £899.
- teachers and leaders with responsibility for leading maths across a primary key-stage or school, or those who want to have this responsibility
- teachers familiar with mastery approaches to teaching primary maths, who want to improve leadership skills in this area
- subject leaders in a school already engaged in the primary Teaching for Mastery programme or similar programme example
This 15-month programme (12 months’ delivery and three months for assessment) consists of a series of modules based on the DfE’s NPQ frameworks.
Each module cycle features:
- evidence-based online content to refresh and build knowledge, as well as exemplify what this looks like for your role and level of leadership
- a formative assessment task to support your learning
- a face-to-face seminar with a group of peers, facilitated by a serving school leader or Teach First Development Lead – you’ll analyse and reflect on the task and hear further examples of good practice
- the opportunity to record reflections and consolidate learning
This cycle repeats throughout the programme, with implementation a consideration in every module. Towards the end of the programme, you’ll also take a module focused specifically on effective implementation. This provides an opportunity to plan a strategic improvement, focused on your context and pupils. There will be ongoing support through a seminar group and discussion forum.
During the Practical Implementation cycle, programme members will be required to put learning into practice and implement an improvement, or plan the implementation of an improvement, in their setting based on the NPQ programme they are working towards.
The focus will be identified by the programme member and must be level appropriate. This improvement should be a stretching professional development target within the programme member’s existing role. For aspiring leadership programme members, the school/employer should support them to implement an improvement at the aspiring level. The allocation of learning time is five hours so any implementation focus should be feasible within the timeframe.
What will I learn:
You’ll develop the knowledge, skills and expertise that underpins effective leadership of mathematics. This will include leading and guiding others to develop their approach to ‘mastery mathematics’, supporting pupils to build a deep understanding of concepts, secure number sense, and positive attitudes towards mathematics.
Our content is informed by the best and most recent evidence and developed with input from school leaders and subject matter experts.
Our programmes have a practical focus. You’ll be supported to make small but important changes to your and others’ practice throughout the programme. This will conclude with the implementation module and practical implementation cycle of the programme.
What are the training commitments?
The programme is designed to fit around your teaching and other school commitments. Over the course of the whole programme (spread over three terms), you’ll undertake around 55 hours of learning.
This includes a combination of seminars, online learning modules, conferences and focused work on implementation.
Why study with Teach First?
Teach First is an education charity. Since 2003, we’ve been improving the life chances and choices for children experiencing poverty.
We train talented teachers and equip school leaders working in some of the poorest areas of the country – to give children with the fewest opportunities access to a great education.
Teach First one-to-one support
Teach First is offering free one-to-one support on all of our NPQ programmes, for teachers and leaders working in schools and settings serving disadvantaged communities.
This free support comes in the form of an experienced former school leader who will coach and guide you throughout your NPQ. You can apply for this in your application with us or your delivery partner, and we will allocate this support on a priority school basis.
How will I be assessed?
The assessment process for all NPQs has been refreshed to reduce the workload burden on teachers while still providing an opportunity to apply their knowledge.
At the end of the programme, you’ll complete your summative NPQ assessment during a fixed eight-day window. We’ll share detailed dates with you before the start of the programme.
Your assessment submission is a written response to a case study related to the content covered in your NPQ. It's an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the NPQ framework.
It will represent a likely situation that a leader might encounter at the relevant NPQ qualification level. The summative assessment is designed to give you an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the relevant NPQ framework and how this can be applied to school improvement.
You must pass the summative assessment to pass the NPQ.
To be eligible to complete the assessment, you'll need to have engaged with at least 90% of the course content, both online and in person. Diagnostic tasks contribute 30%, reflective tasks 20%, and attendance at events 50% to this total.
In the eight-day window, you will provide a written response of a maximum of 1,500 words for the case study. It is an ‘open book’ approach, so you can refer to your course materials when completing your response.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £899.
Leadership NPQs
The reformed leadership suite of NPQS has grown to five, with the latest addition of NPQ for SENDCOS.
NPQ for Executive Leadership - tEACH FIRST
The Teach First NPQEL is designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, an executive headteacher or have a school trust CEO role with responsibility for leading several schools
This programme is available to those who meet the following criteria:
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £3890.
This programme is available to those who meet the following criteria:
- are, or are aspiring to be, an executive headteacher or have a school trust CEO role with responsibility for leading several schools
- are employed in state-funded schools, as well as those employed in state-funded 16 to 19 organisations in England
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
It has now been confirmed that funding for this NPQ will be available for those teachers and leaders who work in the most challenging schools or educational settings, serving more disadvantaged communities. Specifically, schools with the highest 50% of pupil premium pupils will be eligible to receive this funding. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £3890.
NPQ for Headship - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TEACHING
The NIoT NPQH is designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school
Fully funded by the DfE and available to re available to those who meet the following criteria:
There are two or three scheduled events every half term, some online and some in-person. There are also around four to eight hours of self study.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
The DfE has now confirmed that all state schools are eligible for fully-funded places on the NPQH Autumn 2026 cohort. Funded places are limited nationally.
If you or your school is not eligible (for example if you work for an independent school) the programme cost is £1850.
Fully funded by the DfE and available to re available to those who meet the following criteria:
- are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school
- are employed in state-funded schools, as well as those employed in state-funded 16 to 19 organisations in England
- How to establish and drive your school's strategic direction
- How to set whole-school culture, creating a safe and secure environment for pupils and adults to learn, work and develop
- How to ensure curriculum and lesson planning is effective across all areas of your school
- How to develop and maintain the quality of teaching in your school
- How to design and implement assessment practices which produce valid and reliable data, and how to drive actions based on this data through others
- How to ensure all pupils experience success and enjoy a positive school experience, including those for whom school is more challenging
- All aspects of statutory compliance you need to know as a headteacher, including safeguarding, exclusions, risk management, HR and finance
- How to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders
- All aspects of governance and external organisations you will need to manage as a headteacher
There are two or three scheduled events every half term, some online and some in-person. There are also around four to eight hours of self study.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
The DfE has now confirmed that all state schools are eligible for fully-funded places on the NPQH Autumn 2026 cohort. Funded places are limited nationally.
If you or your school is not eligible (for example if you work for an independent school) the programme cost is £1850.
Early Headship Coaching Offer (EHCO)
The Early Headship Coaching (EHCO) programme provides structured, unassessed face-to-face support for new leaders in their first five years of headship.
The programme is a targeted package of support, based on the latest and best available evidence about what makes an effective Head. A personalised, practical and flexible programme, the focus is on helping you to maximise your impact as a head and deal with the challenges you face in your school context.
It is available to any new head who has EITHER completed the new/reformed NPQH before becoming a head OR is currently taking the existing NPQH.
What will I learn?
Programme length: 9 – 18 months (tailored to participant)
Online seminars: 12 hours (optional)
Online mentoring/coaching: 8 hours
Optional online self-study: up to x20 2-hour units
School visit: 6 hours in person (optional)
The programme is a targeted package of support, based on the latest and best available evidence about what makes an effective Head. A personalised, practical and flexible programme, the focus is on helping you to maximise your impact as a head and deal with the challenges you face in your school context.
It is available to any new head who has EITHER completed the new/reformed NPQH before becoming a head OR is currently taking the existing NPQH.
What will I learn?
- Essential knowledge: There is no fluff – the programme was developed by education leaders, so that every minute spent working towards an EHCO will enable you to make a greater impact as a head.
- Research-informed practice: You’ll have access to the latest and best evidence of what works in education, but will also be supported in turning it into real, hands-on practice in managing and leading a school.
- ‘Act like leaders’: Complementing the new NPQH programme’s focus on how to ‘think like leaders’, this programme with show you how to further develop your leadership mindset to display complementary leadership behaviours.
- ‘Meaning-making phase’: Further developing your self-reflection, observation and analysis of your own leadership and development, as well as its impact on the school and the school improvement process.
- Create a positive culture: You’ll gain further insight into how to develop school-wide systems to support your staff and pupils. This will enable staff to teach to the best of their ability and will allow pupils to flourish.
- Community of educators: You’ll be part of a diverse community of educators, all learning from one another during the course – and potentially afterwards, too.
- Fulfilment: The better and more knowledgeable you are at your job, the more enjoyable and exciting you will find it – and that enthusiasm will be passed on to your pupils.
- Coaching/Mentoring - one to one and small group.
- Optional online sessions, delivered in cohorts to help you build networks.
- Optional self-study units covering the full NPQH framework.
- Content provided by national experts from within and beyond our partnership.
- Addresses recognised challenges facing new head teachers, including SEND, exclusions, HR, governance, budgeting and school development planning – with the focus on providing practical examples and guidance.
- Online seminars (optional), with one of the outstanding school leaders in our partnership regions, with:
- opportunities for network building and to engage with exemplary practice following the principles which underpin the NPQ programmes.
- focus on specific leadership challenges
Programme length: 9 – 18 months (tailored to participant)
Online seminars: 12 hours (optional)
Online mentoring/coaching: 8 hours
Optional online self-study: up to x20 2-hour units
School visit: 6 hours in person (optional)
NPQ for Senior Leadership - TEACH FIRST
The Teach First NPQSL is designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross-school responsibilities
Available to those who meet the following criteria:
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
The DfE has now confirmed that all state schools are eligible for fully-funded places on the NPQSL Autumn 2026 cohort. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £1090.
Available to those who meet the following criteria:
- are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross-school responsibilities
- are employed in state-funded schools, as well as those employed in state-funded 16 to 19 organisations in England
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
The DfE has now confirmed that all state schools are eligible for fully-funded places on the NPQSL Autumn 2026 cohort. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £1090.
NPQ FOR EARLY YEARS LEADERSHIP - TEACH FIRST
The Teach First NPQEYL is designed for leaders qualified to at least level 3 with a full and relevant qualification who are, or are aspiring to be:
You’ll develop expertise in the knowledge, skills and concepts for leading an Early Years setting. These include best practice around child development and additional and specialist educational needs, as well as culture, organisational management and partnerships you may make as the leader of an Early Years setting. The content is informed by the best and most recent evidence and developed with input from serving leaders and subject matter experts. The programmes have a practical focus. You’ll be supported to make small but important changes to your and others’ practice throughout the programme. This will conclude with the implementation module and practical implementation cycle of the programme.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
The DfE has now confirmed that all state schools are eligible for fully-funded places on the NPQEYL Autumn 2026 cohort. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £1090.
- managers of private, voluntary and independent nurseries
- headteachers of school-based or maintained nurseries
- childminders with leadership responsibilities
You’ll develop expertise in the knowledge, skills and concepts for leading an Early Years setting. These include best practice around child development and additional and specialist educational needs, as well as culture, organisational management and partnerships you may make as the leader of an Early Years setting. The content is informed by the best and most recent evidence and developed with input from serving leaders and subject matter experts. The programmes have a practical focus. You’ll be supported to make small but important changes to your and others’ practice throughout the programme. This will conclude with the implementation module and practical implementation cycle of the programme.
Funding update for Autumn 2026:
The DfE has now confirmed that all state schools are eligible for fully-funded places on the NPQEYL Autumn 2026 cohort. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the course cost is £1090.
nPQ FOR SENCOS - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TEACHING
In too many settings, pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) do not progress in line with their peers without SEND. The work of a great SENCO can support these pupils who most require support to flourish socially and academically. SENCOs perform a critical role in every school in the UK, both in the bespoke support for some pupils with SEND and in their promotion of teaching, curriculum and behaviour approaches that work for all pupils, including those with SEND.
The NIoT NPQ for SENCOs will ensure you are ready to take on this vital, statutory role in any school setting. You will understand and be able to undertake all statutory aspects of the role, as well as to lead practices across the whole school that benefit all pupils, including those with SEND, such as embedding instructional practices that lead to the greatest pupil progress. Throughout the qualification, you will be led by expert, experienced SENCOs to help you secure the practices and approaches for you to lead this area across a school. By working to improve the practice of all school colleagues, you will have a dramatic impact on the potential outcomes and opportunities open to young people with SEND needs.
Who is this course for:
The NPQ for SENCOs is mandatory for all practising and aspiring SENCOs*. They will need to complete this qualification within their first three years in the role.
*Please note that SENCOs who have already obtained the NASENCO qualification do not need to complete the NPQ for SENCOs, as well as SENCOs appointed before 1 September 2009.
What will I learn?
The DfE has now confirmed that all state schools are eligible for fully-funded places on the NPQ for SENCOs Autumn 2026 cohort. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the programme cost is £1250.
The NIoT NPQ for SENCOs will ensure you are ready to take on this vital, statutory role in any school setting. You will understand and be able to undertake all statutory aspects of the role, as well as to lead practices across the whole school that benefit all pupils, including those with SEND, such as embedding instructional practices that lead to the greatest pupil progress. Throughout the qualification, you will be led by expert, experienced SENCOs to help you secure the practices and approaches for you to lead this area across a school. By working to improve the practice of all school colleagues, you will have a dramatic impact on the potential outcomes and opportunities open to young people with SEND needs.
Who is this course for:
The NPQ for SENCOs is mandatory for all practising and aspiring SENCOs*. They will need to complete this qualification within their first three years in the role.
*Please note that SENCOs who have already obtained the NASENCO qualification do not need to complete the NPQ for SENCOs, as well as SENCOs appointed before 1 September 2009.
What will I learn?
- How to create a culture of high expectations and achievement for all pupils, allowing those with SEND to flourish
- How to enact the statutory framework and meet all compliance aspects of the role of SENCO
- How to deploy colleagues and resources to support individual pupils to overcome particular barriers
- Reviewing pupil progress and adjusting plans in consultation with stakeholders
- Supporting teachers and leaders to plan and adapt lessons to suit the needs of all pupils
- Fostering the motivation of pupils with SEND and ensuring they are supported by school culture and climate
- How to lead, monitor and review whole-school SEND provision and practices
The DfE has now confirmed that all state schools are eligible for fully-funded places on the NPQ for SENCOs Autumn 2026 cohort. Funded places are limited nationally.
If your school is not eligible for funding, the programme cost is £1250.
Conference 2, Cohort 1a Programme Member
Superb facilitators with an obvious depth and breadth of knowledge. Superbly delivered and it is great it be challenged professionally in a safe environment
Conference 2, Programme member
I am thrilled to be able to share with you that I have secured an Assistant Head of School role for a school in January. My interview was following our Conference session and I want to thank you both for the whole day which supported me in the process and without doubt put me in the right frame of mind for what is now an exciting new job and promotion for me.
I was so positive in talking about the Theory of Change that we had discussed together!
I was so positive in talking about the Theory of Change that we had discussed together!
Conference 1, NPQSL Programme Member
I have enjoyed thinking about how to break down the changes of behaviour using the COM-B model. I also found it was excellent to challenge my thinking by talking to colleagues from my schools in my local area.
Conference 2, 2a NPQH Programme Member
This course is very well organised, the documentation received is always very clear and the seminars and face to face sessions are run very well. The opportunity to network is excellent!
Conference 2, 2a NPQEYL Programme Member
It has given me a deeper understanding of how the issues of CPD affect nursery settings and how these can be addressed.
I have been promoted to Federation Early Years Lead since undertaking the NPQEYL!
I have been promoted to Federation Early Years Lead since undertaking the NPQEYL!
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