# What does a SENCO do day to day, and how do you become one?

> A realistic week in the role, the NPQ for SENCOs, and how to protect time for what matters.

URL: https://theautismkit.com/guides/senco-role-and-npq
By The Autism Kit team · Updated 2026-09-27

**Short answer:** A SENCO coordinates special educational needs provision in a school: advising teachers, meeting families, working with outside professionals, keeping SEN records, and leading EHC needs assessments and annual reviews. In England, SENCOs must be qualified teachers, and since September 2024 new SENCOs must complete the national professional qualification (NPQ) for SENCOs within 3 years of taking up the role.

**Key takeaways**
- SENCOs **coordinate SEN provision** across the school.
- They must be **qualified teachers**.
- New SENCOs complete the **NPQ for SENCOs** within **3 years**.
- **Protected time** and **good systems** make the role manageable.

## What does a SENCO do each week?

| Task | What it involves |
| --- | --- |
| Advising teachers | Helping plan adaptive teaching and SEN support |
| Meeting families | Reviews, concerns, sharing progress |
| Outside agencies | Educational psychologists, speech and language therapy, CAMHS |
| Records and plans | SEN register, support plans, provision maps |
| Statutory work | EHC needs assessment requests and annual reviews |
| Staff development | Training teaching assistants and teachers |

These responsibilities are set out in the SEND Code of Practice.[1]

## How do you become a SENCO in England?

1. **Be a qualified teacher.**
2. **Be appointed** as SENCO by your school.
3. **Complete the NPQ for SENCOs** within 3 years, unless you hold NASENCO or another exemption applies.[2]

Professional networks like nasen offer resources and community for SENCOs.[3]

## How do SENCOs keep the role manageable?

**Try:**
- Protected SENCO time in the timetable
- Simple, shared templates for plans and profiles
- Training teaching assistants to deliver agreed supports
- Batching meetings and paperwork

**Skip:**
- Being the only person who knows each pupil's plan
- Plans that live in folders instead of classrooms

**Visible supports save time.** When supports like visual timetables and break cards are in daily use, you spend less time firefighting and more time
  planning.

**Help us review guides.** Are you a SENCO? We'd love your help reviewing guides for families and teachers. [Become a
  reviewer](https://theautismkit.com/editorial-policy#reviewers)

Free printable: [Free printable: one-page pupil profile](https://theautismkit.com/printables/pupil-profile.pdf)

## What can I do this term?

- [ ] Check your NPQ timeline
- [ ] Agree protected SENCO time with leaders
- [ ] Standardise one template, like the pupil profile

## Common questions

### Do I need the NPQ if I already have NASENCO?

No. SENCOs who hold the NASENCO award don't need to complete the NPQ.

### How long does the NPQ for SENCOs take?

It's an 18-month course plus an assessment window, and must be completed within 3 years of starting the role.

### Can a SENCO also teach full time?

Many do, especially in small schools. The SEND Code of Practice expects schools to give the SENCO sufficient time and resources to carry out the role.

## Sources

1. GOV.UK: SEND code of practice, 0 to 25 years (the role of the SENCO). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25
2. GOV.UK: National professional qualification (NPQ) courses. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-professional-qualification-npq-courses
3. nasen. https://nasen.org.uk/

General guidance, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Talk with your pediatrician or a developmental specialist about your child's care.