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Teacher training for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

If you are passionate about supporting children with additional needs to develop and thrive, our specialist SEND training routes will enable you to complete your training in a special school and develop the skills to teach diverse learners effectively.

PGCE SEND

Our PGCE SEND is grounded in current educational practices, the course focuses on fostering inclusive environments, understanding the complexities of SEND, and implementing evidence-based strategies to enhance learning outcomes. It will develop your subject knowledge and teaching skills, so you'll be better equipped to adapt your lessons to different contexts and learners with varying abilities. The PGCE also leads to 60 master's level credits.

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or international Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS)

QTS is the professional qualification required by the DfE to teach in state-funded maintained schools in England. iQTS is the equivalent international award and holders are automatically awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which certifies you to teach in state-maintained schools in England should you wish to.

Mainstream placement

Your QTS/iQTS award from the DfE is not specific to SEND, so you will be required to complete your second school placement in a mainstream setting.

SEND specialist teacher training routes

Postgraduate routes

Employed routes

Apprenticeship routes

Primary and Secondary routes

Full-time and part-time routes

Choose your course

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Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship: PGCE SEND

A nationally recognised, work-based route to QTS. Complete while employed as an unqualified teacher in SEND schools. England only.

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PGCE with QTS: SEND (Tuition-fee Funded)

Qualify to teach with QTS while on unsalaried placement in SEND schools.

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PGCE with QTS: SEND (Employed Route)

Qualify to teach with QTS while employed as an unqualified teacher in SEND schools.

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PGCE with iQTS: SEND

Gain iQTS and study for a PGCE while in employment or on placement in special schools outside England.

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Frequently asked questions

I am working with children with complex needs who are not accessing a formal curriculum, can I do this course?

I am not a graduate, are any specialist routes open to me?

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Information for SEND schools

Find out how our SEND focused courses can help you develop and retain your staff.

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Already a qualified teacher?

Our MA in Education offers a SEND specialist pathway.

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Just looking for QTS?

If you have a degree and at least two years of teaching experience, you could gain QTS without further study through our assessment only route.

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No degree?

If you are working in a school, our Foundation Degree in Professional Practice for Teaching Assistants could be your next step.

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Why we need specialist SEND Initial Teacher Training

After 25 years of specialising in Special Educational Needs, NITE Module Lead Sonia Mathias explains why the SEND PGCE has arrived just in time.

A young girl with Down syndrome smiling in a school corridor.