For advice: call 01227 678225

or email enquiries@ventureeducation.co.uk

For advice & support call 01227 678225 or email enquiries@ventureeducation.co.uk

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Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

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  • NEW COURSE

  • 6-9 months

  • Online & in-person

New Course for September 2026

Get your foot in the door with this Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

This qualification is an ideal starting point for those who are currently working, or looking to begin their career within education or social care. Starting at Level 2, learners can build a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding of SEND while gaining valuable experience that can support progression onto higher-level qualifications and further professional development.

As a recognised qualification, it provides learners with the essential foundations of SEND and encourages them to apply their learning to real-life situations and practical experiences. This helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and professional practice, giving learners the confidence to use their understanding to support individuals with SEND effectively.

This qualification is ideal for school support staff looking to develop their knowledge and specialise in SEND, as well as anyone taking their first steps towards a career in this rewarding field. It provides learners with a strong foundation in SEND, helping to build the knowledge, confidence and practical understanding needed to progress into further study and higher-level SEND qualifications.

On completion career paths can include:

  • SEN Teaching Assistant

  • Learning Support Assistant

  • SEN Specialist Teacher

Course logo
  • NEW COURSE

  • 6-9 months

  • Online & in-person

ONE-TIME PURCHASE

New Course OFFER

£595.00 £495.00

Inc. VAT

A simple one-off payment and you're ready to start learning.

PAY MONTHLY

£62.50 £52.50

per month for 10 months inc. VAT

Recurring monthly payments to help split the cost.

4.8

out of 5

Stewart has been nothing but outstanding and so supportive throughout the course and when he visited me at my work placement.

Support from your own dedicated tutor

Learn at your own pace - instant online access

Recognised Ofqual Qualification awarded by NQual

Learn from experienced teachers and educators

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The course at a glance

Awarded by NQual

The NQual Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provides learners with a valuable foundation of knowledge, insight and understanding of SEND. The course encourages learners to develop a deeper awareness of the experiences and needs of individuals with SEND, as well as the impact these can have on individuals and their families. Learners will explore key areas including what SEND means, the assessment and diagnosis process, the different ways in which individuals may be supported, and strategies for promoting wellbeing and independence. This course provides learners with the opportunity to build their knowledge and confidence in supporting individuals with SEND, while developing an understanding that can be applied to real-life educational and support environments.

Delivery

The course is delivered through independent and online learning with one to one support. Each learner will be able to connect with their personal tutor throughout the course.

Entry Requirements

Candidates should have achieved a Level 1 qualification in English and Maths. It is also preferred that candidates are currently working or volunteering within a teaching and learning environment, as this can provide valuable opportunities to relate the knowledge and skills gained throughout the course to real-life practice.

Previous experience of working with individuals with SEND is beneficial, but the qualification provides a strong foundation for those looking to develop their knowledge and take their first steps towards a career in SEND.

Start date

Flexible

Level

2

Duration

5-8 months

Entry requirements

16+

High

£27,000

£23,500

Low

£19,000

What is the average salary for a SEN Teaching Assistant?

A SEN Teaching Assistant in the UK can typically be expected to earn between £19,000 (as a starter) rising to £27,000 (with experience). Salary can vary depending on location, experience, the level of responsibility and working hours (full-time or term-time only. It should be noted that many vacancies advertise a full-time-equivalent (FTE) salary, while the actual amount received can be lower if the employee works term-time hours.

What Does the Course Involve?

The course is structured around 4 mandatory units, covering a range of topics related to special educational needs and disabilities.

Learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of SEND, the awareness of the impact SEND has on individuals and their families, exploring the assessment and diagnosis process of SEND and gaining an understanding of strategies to support and promote the wellbeing and independence of those individuals with SEND.

What will I be required to do?

Each unit provides learners with a strong foundation in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), exploring key topics that develop their knowledge, understanding and confidence in providing effective support and promoting inclusion for individuals with SEND.

Throughout the qualification, learners will demonstrate their understanding through a range of engaging assessment methods, including written assignments, presentations delivered to a tutor and reflective accounts. These assessments allow learners to demonstrate not only their understanding of the theory, but also their ability to reflect on and apply their learning to real-life experiences and practical situations involving individuals with SEND.

Learners can complete the course at a pace that fits their individual needs, typically within 4 to 8 months. The Venture team will work with you to ensure your learning is well integrated around your day-to-day responsibilities within a school setting.

FAQs

The vast majority of our courses are delivered entirely online, with all lessons, seminars and one-to-ones with your tutor taking place via video call.

Where you see "in-person" mentioned on a course, this usually refers to your assessor visiting your place of work, which is sometimes required for assessment. If a course requires an in-person training day, this will be clearly stated on the course page, and we'll let you know early on where it will be held. Currently, none of our qualifications require this — only our apprenticeships do.

Every course has a guided learning time and an estimated total study duration. If you're able to move through tasks more quickly — including practical assessments and observations — you may be able to complete your course in less time than the guide suggests.

Yes. As soon as you enrol, you're assigned a dedicated tutor who'll be in touch to introduce themselves and answer any initial questions. They're available throughout your course to support you with assignments, practical assessments and work placements.

For most of our courses, you'll need to complete a number of hours — study, observation or practical work — in a school environment, whether classroom-based or PE-related.

In most cases, you'll need an expert witness at your school to observe you; this is typically the class teacher you're assisting. They should hold relevant QTS certification and be willing to mentor, observe, and provide feedback to your tutor and assessor at Venture Training & Education.

Your course fee covers everything you need, with no hidden extras such as assessment or certification fees.

For courses requiring an in-person visit, if a second visit is needed because the required standard wasn't met first time, a re-assessment fee of £120 applies.

You can cancel your course within 14 days of enrolling, provided no assignments have been marked yet.

Yes. We handle this manually — just email your organisation's details, any purchase order number we'll need to quote on the invoice, your own details, and the course you'd like to take to enquires@ventureeducation.co.uk.

Don't worry — we'll automatically retry the payment. We'll also send you an email with a link to log in and pay manually if you'd prefer.

Simply log in to our Student Portal via the link at the top of our website. Forgotten your password? You can reset it anytime. If you're having trouble logging in, email your tutor and they'll help you get back in.

We aim to grade work within 5–7 days, though this can vary slightly during busier assessment periods. If you've been waiting longer, just reach out to your tutor.

You submit your work through the portal. If further work is needed, you'll receive a "Refer" status with feedback. Once your work meets the required standard, your tutor will mark it as complete and sign it off in the portal.

Yes. All our qualifications are Ofqual-regulated and sit within the Regulated Qualifications Framework. They're delivered in partnership with external awarding bodies such as 1st4Sport Qualifications and Training Qualifications UK, who issue your final certificate.

Most courses have a 12–18 month completion window. For Level 3 Diplomas and above, this may extend to 24 months.

Yes, extensions are available, though additional charges may apply. Give us a call and we'll talk through your options.