• Access Duration:  1 Year
• Awarded by: NCFE  CACHE
• Qualification Level:  Level 4
• Qualification Number: 603/4888/4
• Guided Learning Hours (GLH): 95
• Total Qualification Time (TQT): 120

• Provide an outline of the relevant SEND laws and guidance for early years provision.
• Support others to implement SEND policies and procedures in an early years setting.
• Work collaboratively to develop and implement a plan to improve SEND practice.
• Audit your staff training and experience to identify what they need to enhance their SEND skills.
• Demonstrate how strategies can be used to support child-centred approaches in line with the Graduated Approach.
• Understand how adverse childhood experiences can impact a child’s personal development.
• Implement a provision mapping exercise to identify how SEND services are delivered in your own setting.
• Provide the findings of an investigation by practitioners to improve SEND services.

The NCFE CACHE Level 4 Award in SEND Leadership and Management is designed for professionals who are ready to demonstrate their ability to lead on the coordination of special educational needs.

This course is ideal for:

• Lead Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs)
• Aspiring SEND Managers
• Room Leaders
• Level 3 Early Years Practitioners seeking career progression
• Nursery Managers
• Deputy Managers
• Childminders with SEND specialism
• Early Years Foundation Degree students
• CPD seekers in early years inclusion

• You must be aged 19 or over.
• You must be working as an Early Years practitioner in a lead SENCO or SEND related role. Alternatively, you must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required for a lead role.

• This course can be completed through two flexible study options to suit your lifestyle:
  • Standard Course Plan (4 months) – ideal for learners balancing other commitments.
  • Fast Track Option (2 months) – perfect for those who can dedicate intensive study time.
• Most learners complete within their chosen timeframe, though some may finish earlier depending on personal circumstances and available study time. We accommodate your pace with unlimited support for 12 months. This Level 4 Award requires approximately 95 guided learning hours.

T&C apply

Internal Assessment: This qualification is internally assessed by assessors from South London College.

Portfolio of Evidence: Learners will compile a portfolio to demonstrate that they have achieved all the learning outcomes.

Competence-Based Assessment: Learners must demonstrate the relevant knowledge and practical skills in their workplace or a real work environment. Assessment methods may include direct observation, professional discussion, reflective accounts and the learner’s own work products.

The NCFE CACHE Level 4 Award in SEND Leadership offers practitioners a great academic foundation for professional development and for obtaining higher-level awards in early years and inclusive education.

Next Steps for a Possible Academic Progression Pathway

• Step 1: NCFE CACHE Level 4 Certificate in Early Years Advanced Practice
• Step 2: NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma for the Early Years Senior Practitioner
• Step 3: Foundation Degree (FdA) in Early Years
• Step 4: Bachelor’s Degree (BA/BSc) in Early Childhood Studies
• Step 5: Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
• Step 6: Master’s Degree (MA/MEd) in SEND

Alternative Pathways 

• Specialist CPD courses in SEND leadership, safeguarding, and child development.
• Leadership and management qualifications tailored for early years settings.
• Progression into roles such as Area SENCO or Early Years Advisory Teacher.

The NCFE CACHE Level 4 Award in SEND Leadership and Management will equip you with the strategic skills needed to work as a senior or specialist in early years settings.

Here are some career opportunities you could pursue as you gain experience and complete this qualification, along with approximate UK salaries. (Source: Glassdoor UK)

• Nursery Manager (SEND Specialism) – £34,000
• Early Years SENCO Lead – £32,000
• Room Leader (Baby/Toddler Room with SEND Focus) – £28,000
• Early Years Practitioner (Level 4 Qualified) – £27,000
• Senior Nursery Nurse (Inclusion Support) – £26,500
• Childminder (SEND Specialist) – £26,000
• Early Years Educator (SEND Support) – £25,000

This qualification is regulated by Ofqual, the UK government’s Office for Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. Ofqual regulation ensures that the qualification meets national standards for quality, consistency, and fairness. It means the course content, assessment methods, and learning outcomes are carefully monitored, giving learners confidence that the qualification is credible, well recognised, and supports progression to further study or employment in the UK.

RQF

The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) is a system used in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales to categorise and regulate qualifications based on their level of difficulty and size. RQF is jointly regulated by England’s regulator Ofqual, Wales DCELLS, and Northern Ireland’s CCEA. The RQF ensures qualifications are standardised, making it easier for learners, employers, and educational institutions to understand the value and level of each qualification. The framework consists of nine levels, from Entry Level to Level 8, with each level indicating the complexity and depth of learning. For a qualification to be recognised as part of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), it must be created or approved by an awarding body that is acknowledged by one of the government-appointed regulatory bodies.