SEND Training for Teachers and Support Staff in England

In England, the only SEND training that is a legal requirement for a named role is the SENCo qualification. Every new special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCo) in a mainstream school must complete approved training within three years of appointment. For other teachers and support staff, the SEND Code of Practice expects schools to make sure staff have the skills to support pupils with SEN, but it does not set a number of training hours. This guide covers England only: the SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years states that it applies to England, and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own systems.

What the SEND Code of Practice says about teacher responsibility

The current statutory guidance is the Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years, published in January 2015 (the gov.uk page was last updated on 12 September 2024).

Several paragraphs in Chapter 6 set the tone for training:

• Paragraph 6.36 says teachers are responsible and accountable for the progress and development of the pupils in their class, including where pupils access support from teaching assistants or specialist staff.
• Paragraph 6.37 says high quality teaching, differentiated for individual pupils, is the first step in responding to pupils who have or may have SEN, and that schools should regularly review the quality of teaching. That includes reviewing and, where necessary, improving teachers' understanding of strategies to identify and support vulnerable pupils and their knowledge of the SEN most frequently encountered.
• Paragraph 6.49 says all teachers and support staff who work with a pupil should be made aware of their needs, the outcomes sought, the support provided and any teaching strategies required.
• Paragraph 6.50 says support should be provided by staff with sufficient skills and knowledge.

Paragraph 6.4 adds that the quality of teaching for pupils with SEN should be a core part of the school's approach to professional development for all teaching and support staff. Training is not just the SENCo's job.

Teachers' Standards and initial teacher training

The Teachers' Standards (the version on gov.uk was last updated in December 2021) set the minimum level of practice for trainee and qualified teachers in England. Standard 5 is "Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils". It includes having a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

New teachers are trained against the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF). According to the Department for Education (DfE), it applies from September 2025 and combines and replaces the earlier ITT Core Content Framework and the Early Career Framework. The January 2024 document says it contains significantly more content on adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND than its predecessors. Trainees and early career teachers (ECTs) learn how to work closely with the SENCo, use the SEND Code of Practice, and make effective use of teaching assistants. For how this fits into the two-year induction, see our guide to the Early Career Framework and ECT induction.

The mandatory SENCo qualification

This is the one SEND training requirement with a hard deadline. The Code of Practice (paragraph 6.84) says governing bodies of maintained mainstream schools and the proprietors of mainstream academies, including free schools, must ensure there is a qualified teacher designated as SENCo. DfE guidance on the mandatory qualification explains how the training requirement now works:

• Since September 2009, every new SENCo in a mainstream school has had to gain the National Award in SEN Co-ordination (NASENCO) within three years of starting the job.
• The NASENCO was replaced by a leadership-level national professional qualification (NPQ) for SENCos, mandatory from 1 September 2024 under amended SEND Regulations 2014.
• DfE says all SENCos must complete training within three years of appointment, and that schools and SENCos must make sure the SENCo enrols on training that meets this requirement.
• SENCos who already hold the NASENCO do not need to complete the NPQ. SENCos appointed before 1 September 2009 are not required to take the NPQ.
• SENCos enrolled on a NASENCO course that started before September 2024 are treated as having met the requirement if they complete it within three years of appointment and by 31 August 2027.
• SENCos who started in post during the 2023 to 2024 academic year had to enrol on an NPQ course starting no later than spring 2025.

DfE says leadership NPQ courses last between 18 and 22 months, including time for assessment and results, and that approved providers decide the structure and delivery method. Check the SEND Regulations 2014 (as amended) for the exact rules that apply to your appointment date.

Quick reference: who needs what

Training for teaching assistants and support staff

The Code of Practice does not set a qualification for teaching assistants (TAs), but paragraph 6.52 says teachers should work closely with them to plan and assess the impact of support. For wider background on TA routes and CPD, see our guide to teaching assistant qualifications and CPD.

The DfE has recently started to fill this gap. In January 2026 it announced £200 million for SEND and inclusion training and said it would invest in training for teaching assistants, developed with the sector. A later DfE document says fully funded TA training courses begin in autumn 2027. That timetable comes from announcements, not a legal duty, so check the DfE pages for current dates.

What DfE is offering now

In September 2026 the DfE published a free collection, "SEND and inclusion training for mainstream schools". It is designed for teachers and teaching assistants in mainstream schools, developed with Ambition Institute and informed by the Education Endowment Foundation's inclusive teaching guidance. Schools run the sessions in-house, using slides and facilitator guidance. Delivery is optional, and DfE says new materials are due in early 2027. Current sessions cover the SEND reforms, inclusive teaching, the SEND areas of development, and speech, language and communication.

Is a new SEND training duty coming?

In January 2026 the DfE said a new expectation would be set out in the SEND Code of Practice confirming that all staff in every nursery, school and college should receive training on SEND and inclusion. The consultation "SEND reform: putting children and young people first" ran from 23 February to 18 May 2026, and the DfE page says it is analysing feedback. We could not confirm that a revised Code has been published, so the January 2015 Code remains the statutory guidance to work from. Watch the gov.uk page for the Code for changes.

Practical steps for schools

• Record SENCo dates. Note each SENCo's appointment date, any exemption, and when they enrolled on the NPQ.
• Build SEND into the CPD plan for teaching and support staff, as paragraph 6.4 expects.
• Brief everyone who works with a pupil on their needs, outcomes and strategies (paragraph 6.49).
• Keep a training log. Dates, attendees and topics help show how the school keeps staff skilled, even though no set hours apply.

Staff who want general CPD information can browse the Learnsignal CPD hub.

Frequently asked questions

Is SEND training mandatory for all teachers in England?

The Code of Practice does not set mandatory SEND training hours for all teachers. It does make teachers accountable for pupil progress and expects schools to review and improve teachers' understanding of SEN. The DfE has said it intends to confirm an expectation that all staff receive SEND and inclusion training, but we could not confirm that a revised Code has been published.

Do SENCos have to hold a qualification?

Yes, in mainstream schools. Per DfE, all SENCos must complete training within three years of appointment, and the NPQ for SENCos is the mandatory qualification from 1 September 2024. Those who already hold the NASENCO, or who were appointed before 1 September 2009, do not need to take the NPQ.

Do teaching assistants need a SEND qualification?

No qualification is set by the Code of Practice. Schools should make sure support is provided by staff with sufficient skills and knowledge, and the DfE has announced funded TA training from autumn 2027.

Does this apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

No. The SEND Code of Practice applies to England, and this guide does not cover the other UK nations.

In summary

In England, the SENCo qualification is the only SEND training with a legal deadline. For everyone else, the Code expects schools to keep staff skilled and informed, and the DfE is building a funded training offer around that. Check gov.uk for the latest position before you plan.

This article is general information for schools and staff in England and is not legal or compliance advice. Check current DfE guidance and the SEND Regulations 2014 (as amended) for your own circumstances.