Do SENCO's get trained on ADHD?

[ADHDDDDDDDBOOM]

Because it sure as fuck feels like ours hasn't.

Does anyone know?

No, not as standard.

I would imagine it's a big fat no

Nope

It's up to them to research as part of their own professional development

There is no specific training

fuck sake!! This explains everything.
my poor bloody kid!

They won’t get detailed specific training in any learning need but they should be doing their own research and training!

The state of the education system, especially for ND learners is woeful. I’m so sorry for you and your child.

Senco's I think don't actually have to have any training above being a qualified teacher. It's a thankless job and I don't belive they are paid any extra. So you get along sencos who have gone out of their way to train themselves and teachers that are shoved into the job with little experience

As pp said, there is no legal requirement for a SENCO to have extra or special training.

Hilarious isn't it.

Depending where you are in the country you can make a parental application for an EHCP, I strongly advise you do this ASAP, even if it doesn't go to appeal it will take the good part of a year to sort.

Here is the best link to start with.

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/

There is.

The NASENCO award is required.

At the expensive of the SEN child.

How fucked.

They work very hard and probably learn as they do along and there are probably online courses for their CPD in these financially constrained times

Sencos in England have to have a masters level qualification within 3 years of taking up the post but the majority will either have that qualification or be on the course when they take up the role

Within that qualification though there is very little on specific Sen diagnoses as there are so many you would be paying lip service -but sencos should absolutely know about the children in their own shchools diagnosis

Sometime you get older/more experienced sencos would did they training years ago and consider themselves trained
A lot of the info about adhd has changed over the last 5 years -could it be that they are out of date rather than having no knowledge?

Sencos do now have a qualification they do. They should get outside support from specialists but the problem is services are so stretched they are often left to manage with school resources. I have a masters in education special needs but am not an expert on everything and it is a real problem.

On the job online training and takes a year to complete, you don't require the qualification before being accepted as a SENCO.

The PGcert SENCO (or NASENCO) is quite a lot about managing the role rather than areas of need. It’s a university accredited course that you do alongside being a teacher. It would be impossible to cover all aspects of SEND and will often involve a case study or an area of interest/ relevance. SENCOs often get a TLR payment depending on the size of the role (and available money in the budget!)

In my opinion, schools should be able to access SEND training regularly for all staff, but we’re in a massive funding crisis after 13 years of underfunding - we need money in education. Services that would previously have supported schools just don’t exist anymore.

It's a masters level course, so dismissing as "online training" is wrong.

Yes, it's within three years of appointment.

The National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination (NASENCO) is a legally required qualification for all new special educational needs co-ordinators, to be completed within three years of appointment.It's been statutory since 2008.

It is not a lie to say it is a course completed primarily or in totality online, any physical attendance is voluntarily based.

*it's been statutory

I think the issue is that sencos have very little power to change much. Their main role is organising ta support (there are not enough hours to go round) and completing paperwork. They do undergo training on the job but are dealing with a full time role while studying in their own time. They are criticised by everyone and often blamed for lack of support when they literally have no funds to provide the support. It is a completely thankless task and I am surprised anyone wants the role.

any physical attendance is voluntarily based

The 12000 word dissertation isn’t voluntary though, and would be difficult to write without attending any of the tutorials. (3 x 4000 word essays including a research based case study using school based data)

I am a SENCo and pp are correct, the role is mainly about applying for funding, referring children to other professionals and managing EHC plans/IEPs. It's not about being a specialist in any type of SEN need per se. Although obviously with experience you do learn a lot about a variety of needs.

Every school legally has to have one - often they have a full teaching load as well as the responsibility. They do get a bit of extra money but not much. Not as much as the trouble is worth mostly.

They deal with the same bureaucracy of the waiting lists and inefficiencies of the NHS as everyone else - endless lost forms, undelivered emails and ignored emails and voice messages.

They manage the staff who look after the children with SEN - very poorly paid staff may it be said - keeping them motivated and happy in their jobs. Dealing with parents who become outraged (understandably so) when advocating for their children.

A very difficult job.

I'm a soon to be ex SENCO, as it's the hardest most thankless job you can do in a school. We really are on the child's side (I hope!) but are reliant on the goodwill (despite the equality act) of school staff to do what they're meant to do, as well as trying to create provision out of an empty pot. What needs ti happen is that teacher training needs a huge focus on neuroscience and neurodivergence. Everything in schools is pitched at neurotypical children: behaviour policy, curriculum ...