Skills bootcamp for SEND support

COURSE

A Government funded, 8-week Level 3 programme

The Skills Bootcamp in SEND Support is a Government funded, 8-week Level 3 programme designed to equip adult learners with the essential knowledge and skills required to work as Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) or classroom support staff in schools, nurseries, and special schools.

Learners benefit from optional work experience in local schools and a fast-track interview process at the end of the course, including opportunities for roles within schools and nurseries.

This comprehensive programme includes Paediatric First Aid and First Aid for Youth Mental Health, FAA accredited and delivered in person — a valuable skill for those wishing to work with children with SEND. The course prepares learners for real-world scenarios in schools and lays a strong foundation for career progression.

The Skills Bootcamp blends live virtual classrooms (3 days per week) with in-person support and workshops, creating an engaging, practical learning experience led by experienced educators.

The programme also includes an SEND Tools Workshop, providing learners with practical strategies and resources to effectively support children with special educational needs in educational settings. In addition, an Employability Workshop delivered by a professional recruiter from Worldwide Education Recruitment covers CV writing, interview techniques, and mock interviews to help learners prepare for real job opportunities.

Funded by Buckinghamshire Council and supported by the Department for Education, this Skills Bootcamp is completely free for eligible learners and offers a clear route into employment or further training in the SEND sector.

This fully funded Skills Bootcamp is available to individual learners—whether you are employed, unemployed, or self-employed—at no cost. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain the skills, practical experience, and direct access to employment opportunities in the SEND sector.

The programme is also available to schools and nurseries looking to upskill their staff. Employers can train their staff members at a fraction of the usual cost, contributing just 10% of the total course fee if they are an SME, or 30% for larger organisations. This represents outstanding value—roughly equivalent to the cost of a standard first aid course—while providing a comprehensive professional development programme designed to build expertise in supporting children with special educational needs.

All Upcoming Courses

No upcoming courses. Please contact us for more information.

Qualification Overview

This Skills Bootcamp is suitable for:

Adult learners who are resident in Buckinghamshire, are aged 19+, have RTW in UK and meet the residency eligibility criteria
Individuals who are seeking a career change, returning to work, are unemployed and looking to upskill to be able to find a job in the education sector
Self-employed individuals who are seeking to gain new skills in order to find new work opportunities
Employed workers whose employer is based in Buckinghamshire and who requires their workers to upskill in order to develop their role/ start a new role within the Company.

FUNDING CRITERIA

This is a DfE funded programme and it’s free for all learners who meet the following criteria:

Aged 19+
Resident of Buckinghamshire
Have Right to Work in UK
Hasn’t completed another skills bootcamp within the last 12 months

Progression opportunities

Learners can progress into:

Employment in Buckinghamshire’s schools, nurseries, or special schools (minimum 12 weeks, full- or part-time).
Progression to an apprenticeship in education, early years or health & social care.

The programme includes a fast-track interview for local LSA positions, enabling learners to quickly transition from training to employment.

Qualification Reference Number (QRN)

N/A

Total qualification time (TQT):

8 weeks

Guided learning hours (GLH)

144

Accreditation

Ncfe CACHE

Mode of Delivery

Blended

Entry requirements:

– Aged 19+
– Level 2 English or equivalent
– Have Right to Work in UK

Mandatory Units

Module	GLH
Understand how to safeguard children and young people	25
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)	29
Understand how to support learning of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities	25
Understand factors which may affect children and young people’s mental health	29
Paediatric First Aid	12
First Aid for Youth Mental Health	6
SEN equipment & Tools	6
Employability Skills	12
Total	144

Assessment

Portfolio of Evidence
Practical Demonstration

By the end of the programme, learners will be able to:

Understanding safeguarding children and young people with SEND and their wellbeing
Understand child development with focus on children with SEND
Understand the context of supporting children with learning and physical disabilities
Understand children and young people’s mental health
Respond appropriately to paediatric first aid situations.
Respond appropriately to mental health first aid situations.
Prepare CVs and practise for interviews effectively.
Understand vetting and compliance requirements in education recruitment.