Make it Count with SEND Qualifications
Learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) make up almost one in five (17%) of the FE student population (The Education & Training Foundation). It’s no wonder therefore, that professionals who are new to the sector, or already working in education, are on the lookout for specialist training that provides them with the essential knowledge and skills to be able to work with this group of young people.
Natspec (the membership body for specialist colleges) and the Association of Colleges identified that having sufficient staff with the appropriate expertise to meet the broad range of needs of young people with SEND, including those with the most complex needs, as a priority in their 2024 manifesto: Characteristics of a high-functioning FE system for young people with SEND.
We share this vision of inclusive education and are proud to support the sector in providing the skills that will support students of all abilities to be able to engage in learning and achieve their potential - be it in a special educational needs setting or in mainstream education.
AIM’s SEND qualifications have therefore been developed in conjunction with industry practitioners to meet the needs of employers in the sector. They are suitable for those looking for a career in education, or those already working in the industry, who want to develop a good understanding of working with children or young people who have special educational needs and disabilities.
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Our SEND qualifications include:
This qualification is for professionals working in education or carrying out a caring role in nursery nursing, teaching assistance, childcare or play work, and are looking to develop their knowledge and understanding of Special Educational Needs to progress within the sector as part of a new or existing role.
A highly sought-after, funded qualification, providing a non-apprenticeship route into qualifying as a teaching assistant (TA) for adults, that builds on the TA apprenticeship standard giving a more in-depth study of special educational needs, to be able to instil specialist knowledge and strategies into their practice. It is for individuals looking to enter or already working in education, working in a caring role in a nursery setting, childcare setting, or other supported learning environment, and enables them to progress within the sector.
We are taking expressions of interest for this qualification for delivery in September 2025.
Hear our thoughts
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AIM’s Head of Qualifications and Assessment Development, Kim Underhill, looks at the factors contributing to the growing demand for SEND support in education in our latest blog.
Deliver these qualificationsNew and exisiting centres looking to offer any of these qualifications, should speak to our Business Development Team , who can talk you through the offer. Find out more about becoming an AIM centre
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