Early Childhood Special Educational Needs Level 3 Award
(ECSEN Award)
The ECSEN Award empowers educators supporting or interested in supporting children and young people with special educational needs to ensure all children young children are given the best start in life and have the support they need.
Successful learners will achieve International Level 3 Award in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion.
Register learners for your school
99% of participants would recommend this programme to an Early Years Practitioner
Impact Survey, August 2024
Course duration
6 months
Awards:
International Level 3 Award in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion
For educators in global settings
Online learning method
Access to expert guidance
Total guided learning hours 24
About the ECSEN Award:
After successfully delivering the Early Years SENCO Award in partnership with the Department for Education to thousands of candidates across England, we have created the Early Childhood Special Educational Needs Award Level 3 specifically for international schools.
This award is designed to support educators and children worldwide by equipping practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to coordinate SEN provision confidently in their settings.
Delivered by Best Practice Network, it reflects our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality SEN training for early childhood professionals around the globe.
ECSEN Award overview:
The Early Childhood Special Educational Needs Level 3 Award qualification is recognised, validated and accredited by NCFE.
Successful learners will gain the knowledge and confidence to support children with additional needs. The course explores the educator’s role in SEN provision, along with practical strategies for working with children, families and professionals.
Topics include international legislation, safeguarding, equality and inclusion, linguistic diversity, and reflective practice - all with a focus on early identification and personalised support.
View Framework
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Who should apply for the ECSEN Award?
- Teaching Assistants
- Support staff
- Teachers
- School leaders
- Nursery managers
- Home schooling parents
- Au Pairs
What our learners are saying:
"I'm an inclusion teacher and the content is relevant. It's interesting to see how it's done in the UK and given me a wider understanding of policies and laws" - Hannah W | COBIS International School UAE "The information provided was easy to follow, including the study guide, the course overview, further reading suggestions, and more. It was wonderful to have the first session live, even if the others were recorded to fit our busy schedules." - Emina H | COBIS International School Slovenia "The learning journey has been incredibly enriching for me, particularly in the areas of legal frameworks for inclusion, the SEND Toolkit for improving inclusive practices, reflective practice, and strategies for supporting my staff in identifying and meeting the needs of children with SEN." - Karina E |The Winstedt School Singapore
Click here to enlargeHow is the ECSEN Award delivered?
The ECSEN Award is delivered over 6 months through recorded online classrooms and online study modules.The recorded online classrooms are 2 hours long and are presented by ECSEN experts and incorporate pre-reading tasks and reflection activities.
The online study modules are delivered through the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment. Login details and induction training will be provided before the programme starts.
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What will I learn?
The programme content consists of 9 distinct modules:
- International Guidance
- International Child Protection and safeguarding
- The Role of the SEN Educator
- Working in Partnership
- Identifying and Supporting Areas of Need
- Approaches to SEN Provision
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Diverse Linguistic Backgrounds
- Reflective practice
What are the benefits of completing the ECSEN Award?
Completing this award ensures that children with special educational needs and disabilities get the support they deserve.
Benefits for schools
- Having a certified ECSEN teacher can boost your team’s ability to identify and respond to SEN needs early - supporting better outcomes for all children.
- Families are more likely to engage with a setting that has a inclusive provision, especially when their child has additional needs.
- With certified staff, your setting can proudly promote its inclusive values - supported by official status, digital banners, and a certificate.
Benefits for learners
- Gain practical tools and up-to-date knowledge to take the lead in SEN support across your setting.
- This nationally recognised qualification helps you stand out and take the next step in your early childhood career.
- Learn how to create effective support plans and work meaningfully with families - impacting children's lives right from the start.
Frequently asked questions about the ECSEN Award
This award is open to anyone working in an educational setting - specifically nurseries & primary - in a teaching, support or leadership role with children. The programme can also be undertaken by au pairs.
The ECSEN Award is £450 plus VAT where applicable. VAT is chargeable on courses funded by private individuals.
The qualification focuses on the roles and responsibilities of educators for the provision of Special Educational Needs and Inclusion and strategies and techniques for supporting children and families.
Key areas covered include:
- legislation and guidance
- child protection and safeguarding
- the role of the EY SENCo
- equality, diversity and inclusion
- diverse linguistic backgrounds and reflective practice.
The ECSEN Award specification is clear that the number of Guided Learning Hours (GLH) is 24, although clearly some individual learners may take more time. The Guided Learning Hours on our programme equate to 8 hours of taught sessions (4 x 2 hours) and an expectation of a minimum of 16 hours online/independent study.
Total Qualification time will include induction to the programme, initial needs analysis, and assessment activity.
You will be assessed through an e-portfolio of evidence against these 32 Assessment Criteria. Throughout the course you will complete 9 assignments which meet the learning outcomes for this qualification. Once all 32 criteria have been demonstrated, you will be awarded the qualification (subject to moderation).
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