EYSEN programme overview
You can find full programme details and the link to apply here:
https://www.bestpracticenet.co.uk/early-years-SENCO
Programme overview:
- Duration: 6 months
- Required work: 4 mandatory live online sessions (2 hours with an optional additional hour) + self-directed study units
- Total qualification time: 34 hours over 6 months
- Guided learning hours: 24 hours
Funding:
This programme is fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE), so there is no cost to participants.
Places and prioritisation:
Places are limited and allocated in line with DfE guidance, prioritising settings with the greatest need.
- If your setting meets the criteria, you are very likely to be offered a place
- If not, a place cannot be guaranteed
Eligibility criteria (all requirements must be satisfied):
- Be an Early Years SENCo (or preparing for the role)
- Hold a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification
- Have the support of your employer/setting or be an Ofsted-registered childminder
You can check your qualification here: https://check-an-early-years-qualification.service.gov.uk/
For further queries, contact eysen@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Qualification Eligibility
To join the programme, you must hold a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification.
This means your qualification must be recognised for use in staff:child ratios.
For childminders:
- Minimum Level 2 full and relevant qualification
- At least one Level 3 module completed
- Relevant Early Years experience
Also accepted:
- EYTS (Early Years Teacher Status)
- EYPS (Early Years Professional Status)
- QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)
Check your qualification here:
https://check-an-early-years-qualification.service.gov.uk/
You will need your certificate details to use this service.
Degree Eligibility
Most degrees are not automatically considered full and relevant, even if they are in Early Years.
To be eligible:
- Your qualification must meet Level 3 “full and relevant” criteria
- It must be an Early Years qualification
Important:
- Degrees without QTS or EYTS are usually not accepted by default and need further checks to see if they meet the eligibility criteria.
If you have a degree without QTS/EYTS:
You will need to provide us with confirmation that your degree was assessed against the QAA Early Childhood Studies benchmark:
https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/sbs/sbs-early-childhood-studies-22.pdf
We recommend contacting your university to request written confirmation and uploading it to your application or you can send this to us on eysen@bestpracticenet.co.uk
EYSEN Event attendance
Attendance Requirements
As part of the programme, you are required to attend and actively participate in all four live sessions. Failure to comply with the attendance policy will result in a withdrawal from the programme.
Important to note/plan for:
- Each session is 2 hours long.
- 4 Sessions are delivered across the 6-month programme (approx. 6 weeks apart)
If You Cannot Attend a Session
If you are unable to attend a scheduled session, please contact our team as soon as possible at: eysen@bestpracticenet.co.uk
We will advise you on any alternative sessions that may be available, which you MUST attend.
Session Preferences
When completing your application, you can select your preferred day and time for attending sessions.
We will do our best to accommodate your preferences; however, we cannot guarantee that your preferred slot will be allocated.
Any queries or sessions you cannot attend must be discussed with the admin team on eysen@bestpracticenet.co.uk
EYSEN Eligible Settings
The Level 3 EYSENCo programme is tailored to Early Years educators employed in private, voluntary and independent (PVL) settings or Ofsted registered childminders with the greatest need for qualified SENCos.
Applicants are not eligible if they are employed in:
- Maintained schools
- Maintained nursery schools operating under the same URN as the school
- Settings not delivering the EYFS
- School-based nurseries (maintained or independent)
These settings are covered by separate statutory requirements and should consider taking a look at our NPQ for SENCo programme which may align more closely with their CPD needs: https://www.bestpracticenet.co.uk/NPQ-for-SENCOs
How do I find my URN?
A Unique Reference Number (URN), for your setting or as a childminder can be found here: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/
You will need your school's name and address to locate this. The URN must be supplied in your application for the Level 3 EYSEN programme.
If you are a childminder, this information will also be available on your registration letter you should have received from Ofsted: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/