Be recognised for your inclusive practice
Specialist Status in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SSSEND) sets a benchmark for excellence in supporting diverse learners, strengthening both your professional practice and impact.
SSSEND is designed for professionals leading SEND practice within the FE and skills sector. It recognises those who can evidence meaningful impact while continuously developing their skills to ensure practice remains inclusive, accessible and effective. Undertake the status if you want to:
- Gain professional recognition with a competency based accreditation
- Validate your current expertise in SEND at an advanced level
- Confirm expert knowledge, skills, behaviours and effective practice related to SEND
- Showcase your ability and sustain your impact and influence on other professionals, learners, and your organisation
Pricing and upcoming dates
Pricing
- Member price: £215*
- Non-member price: £245
*ETF members are eligible for the member rate.
Not an ETF member yet? Find out more and join today.
Upcoming dates
Cohort begins: 19 November 2026 (12-week programme)
Who is it for?
Whether you facilitate learning, are a teacher, leader or in any other professional support role within FE and skills, SSSEND can help you gain recognition for your expertise.
It is particularly suited to educators, leaders and support staff who already play a significant role in supporting learners with SEND and promoting inclusive practice within their organisation.
Programme structure
Our 12-week online, competency-based, validation programme offers a flexible timeline. The status includes:
- Scheduled online group support sessions
- An online portfolio
- A SEND-focused project or case study
- Peer review activities
How to apply for SSSEND
Step 1: Check your eligibility
Review the entry requirements to ensure SSSEND is the right fit for your experience and professional practice.
Step 2: Review the programme details
Check the programme costs, cohort dates and commitment required to participate in the 12-week validation programme.
Step 3: Book your place
When bookings are open, complete the online booking form and select your cohort. ETF members can sign in to access the member price.
Step 4: Access your programme materials
Once your booking is confirmed, you'll receive joining information, access to the online portfolio and details of your support sessions and next steps.
KEY INFORMATION:
Requirements to undertake the validation programme:
- Be working in an educational setting or environment, either on a paid or voluntary basis
- Support from your organisation
- Be in a position to demonstrate
- A high level of effective practice and application of SEND in an educational environment*
- Opportunities to further develop advanced knowledge, skills and behaviours related to SEND policy and practice to continue demonstrating the most effective practice in your own setting**
- Opportunities to apply SEND knowledge, skills and behaviours with your own role, professional setting and/or organisation
- Opportunities to evidence impact of the SSSEND validation process on your own practice, learners, colleagues or organisation in accordance with the nine core competencies in the programme framework
- There is no requirement to hold formal qualifications in SEND to access the programme.
*The SSSEND process validates and confirms existing advanced knowledge, skills, behaviours and effective practice related to SEND. The programme does not contain learning materials.
**The SSSEND is not suitable for those seeking an introductory programme to SEND. Applicants who are currently building their knowledge and skills in SEND may need to undertake CPD prior to registering for the SSSEND programme.
This framework forms the basis of the Specialist Status in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It describes competencies that those working in the FE and skills sector can demonstrate to positively impact SEND outcomes for themselves, their learners, their organisation and the wider sector.
This status has been created to recognise SEND practice in any role in the FE and skills sector - from professional business support staff, teachers and educators to leaders. How you demonstrate the competencies will depend on your context, role and organisation.