SENCO: requirements and qualifications

Be clear on which types of schools must appoint a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO), and what qualifications they need for the post.

Last reviewed on 2 December 2025See updates

School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 1779

Contents

Include the SENCO in your SLT structure
Mainstream schools must have a SENCO
Who can be a SENCO?
SENCOs must have an NPQ or NASENCO
A SENCO can work across small primary schools
You can appoint a part-time SENCO

Include the SENCO in your SLT structure

Ofsted expects your special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) to have sufficient authority within your school’s leadership structure to make a positive difference for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), so it’s a good idea to make them part of your senior leadership team (SLT).

See page 15 of the State-funded Schools Inspection Toolkit and read more about the SENCO's role and responsibilities in our other article.

Mainstream schools must have a SENCO

You must have a designated SENCO if you're:

A maintained school
An academy
A free school
An alternative provision (AP) academy
A pupil referral unit (PRU)
A maintained nursery school (other early years providers are also expected to have one)

Your governing board or school proprietors (for academies and free schools) must make sure that there's a designated SENCO in place.

Other school types are

Include the SENCO in your SLT structure

Mainstream schools must have a SENCO

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