Published on 30 September 2016
The University has been awarded a national quality standard for its provision of support for those working in special needs education.
Our Post Graduate Certificate National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination has gained the Quality Standard from NASEN (National Association for Special Educational Needs).
To gain the quality award, providers have to produce a rigorous self assessment document which is assessed for quality. This has led to the School of Education within the Faculty of Education and Society at Sunderland being recognised for their work in developing a national qualification and becoming the only provider in the region awarded this status and use of the NASEN logo.
Dr Lynne McKenna, Head of the School of Education, said: "We welcome being an approved quality provider of NASEN.
"The team is led by Senior Lecturer Sarah Martin Denham whose recent book Teaching Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities was published in 2015, and have worked extremely hard to ensure we have a first class National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination Programme (NASENCO)."
"The team are committed to enabling Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) and aspiring SENCOs to improve provision and practice for children and young people with special educational needs."
SENCOs play a vital important role in leading the coordination of provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in schools. It is a legal requirement for new SENCOs in mainstream schools to gain a National Award for NASENCO within three years of taking up their post. The University’s course directly addresses the learning outcomes for NASENCO that have been specified by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL).
The NASEN Quality Standards Framework assures those applying for NASENCO training that they are engaging with providers offering quality training.