National Award for SENCo - time commitment?

[Rufus27]

Hi
Can anyone advise me about the time needed to complete this award? I know there are six taught days and four ‘days off’ school are recommended, but realistically, how much time in addition to this did you need in order to complete the award?

I’m an experienced teacher (25 years in secondary, 15 teaching SEN English) currently working 0:3ft as a 1:1 literacy teacher and an unofficial Senco assistant. I desperately want to do the award (and have school’s support) and in the future work as a primary Senco, but I’m worried that I’ll just not be able to find the free time to do it and end up looking like an idiot!

(For context, I have two toddlers with additional needs, both have EHCPs and high level DLA and partner works away. They are rarely asleep before 9 pm and often wake during the night. I don’t have a big support network).

Am I mad? I so want to achieve this, but not if I’m setting myself up to fail.

[langkaw]

Hi

I did mine four years ago online through Middlesex university real training. It was manageable. It's not difficult to pass and you can commit loads of time to it or bare minimum and come away with the same qualification.

I found doing it during term time a nightmare. I work full time and have young kids. I probably dedicated 2 hours a week to it. I spent large chunks of the summer holiday (probably 2 weeks) properly writing up the assignments. I'd advise going to the library where there are no distractions if you can.

I've got a friend who did it in about 3 weeks (not advisable!)

It's actually a really interesting course and made me a much better senco. I liked being a student again and am now doing the full masters in sen.

I would say go for it! It's not really difficult once you get into the masters mindset as they call it.?

[Rufus27]

Thanks @langkaw - really helpful (and reassuring!). I think I will go for it, but may wait until next year when both children are actually at school. I’m quite excited about being a student again, but need to fight the voice in my head that tells me I’m not good enough!

[langkaw]

@Rufus27 you will absolutely be good enough! It's lots and lots of reading and more laborious than difficult. Good idea to wait until the kids start school though so you've got more headspace. Good luck!

[ohthegoats]

Agree with what langkaw said - it's laborious more than difficult. I did it in my first year of being a senco, with a 2 year old. It wasn't 'easy' and I wish I'd waited a year until I started it, but it was super interesting. It's also changed my classroom teaching quite a lot. I was only a senco for a couple of years after that though because the job just didn't suit me.

[HairyMaclary]

I would agree to wait until your children are in school if you can. I worked 0.8 while doing g it with 1DC with and EHCP and associated needs. It was full on but doable, DH needed to take the children out some weekend days as essay deadlines approached.

Very pleased I did it face to face, met good people to do do it with and created a support network that is still going strong.

[Snowbeau]

I'm doing it at the moment. I have a 1yo and 4yo and it's my first year in post.
It's time intensive but not challenging. I think that's because I'm in post though. I also have a very small teaching load so can fit it in very easily in my day to day work

[Subordinateclause]

Honestly I found it a huge time commitment - several full working days every half term holiday. I tried to go for a 'good enough' approach rather than perfection but did get a distinction so could have got away with doing less. I've since reflected that I wouldn't have been willing to devote that time to it since having a child. Pisses me off a bit actually that I had to do so much work for a qualification the school needed me to do, for a tiny amount of extra pay each month and no extra time!