TQUK · Level 2✓ On the Ofqual register · 603/5910/9From £29.99 a month

Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability Online TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability (RQF), QAN 603/5910/9

What is a Level 2 SEND course?

A Level 2 SEND course builds your understanding of special educational needs and disabilities and how to support people with SEND. The TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability (603/5910/9) is on the Ofqual register as a five-unit, 14 credit, 110 guided learning hour qualification, assessed by written work with no exams. You can study it online in 3 to 6 months.

3 to 6 monthstypical study time, at your own pace
RQF Level 214 credits, 110 guided learning hours
No examsportfolio marked by your tutor, pass or fail
TQUK certificateregistration and certificate included

7-day free trial. Nothing to pay today, then £39.99 a month from day 8. Cancel before day 8 and pay nothing.

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Updated

A Level 2 SEND course for anyone who supports, or wants to support, children, young people or adults with special educational needs and disabilities. You learn about SEND conditions and models of disability, the law and guidance behind SEND support, person-centred approaches, inclusive learning and EHC plans, and what life with SEND is like day to day. Most learners finish in 3 to 6 months, and it is assessed by written work marked by your tutor, with no exams.

Course facts

TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability (RQF) (603/5910/9) online with Lift College. Pay today: £29.99 a month or £269.99 in full. Or start with a 7-day free trial, then £39.99 a month or £399.99 in full. 14-day money back.

QualificationTQUK Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability (RQF)
Qualification number (QAN)603/5910/9
Awarding bodyTQUK, Training Qualifications UK
LevelRQF Level 2
Credits14 credits
Guided learning hours110 hours
Total qualification time140 hours
Typical study time3 to 6 months, at your own pace
Units5 units
AssessmentYou complete all five mandatory units, 14 credits in total.
Minimum age16 or over
PricePay today: £29.99 a month or £269.99 in full. Or start with a 7-day free trial, then £39.99 a month or £399.99 in full. 14-day money back.
Why Lift College

Why study this course with Lift College

Start today, study on your phone

There are no eligibility checks and no term dates. Anyone aged 16 or over, anywhere in the UK, can enrol and start the same day, then study on a phone, tablet or computer at their own pace.

The full picture of SEND support

Five mandatory units take you from SEND conditions and models of disability, through equality, safeguarding and the law, to person-centred approaches, inclusive learning, EHC plans, neurodiversity and stigma.

A named UK tutor and AI Study Support

You have a named UK tutor who marks your work and gives written feedback, usually within 5 to 7 working days, plus AI Study Support to help you with questions as you study.

TQUK certificate, 7-day free trial

Your TQUK registration and certificate are included, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre. Start with a 7-day free trial, pay monthly or in full, and you are covered by a 14-day money back guarantee.

Prices compared

How the cost compares

Course fees for the same qualification online, exactly as each provider showed them on its own page when we checked on 28 October 2026.

ProviderCourse feeHow you pay
Lift College£269.99paid in full today, or £29.99 a month. TQUK registration and certificate includedMonthly or in full, no contract. Or a 7-day free trial, then £39.99 a month. 14-day money back
learndirect£227.99The same TQUK certificate, sale price at 40% off the list price. Written questions, tutor support included.Pay in full, or a deposit then monthly over up to 24 months
UK Open College£269The same TQUK certificate.Pay in full; no monthly plan recorded

Checked on . Prices change, so check each provider's own page before you enrol.

What you'll study

The 5 units you study

1Introduction to special educational needs and disabilityY/618/1345 · Level 2 · 2 credits · 22 guided hours

Mandatory unit. The conditions categorised as SEND, the different models of disability, and how the rights of and support for people with SEND have changed over time.

  • Understand the different conditions categorised as SEND conditions
  • Understand different models of disabilities
  • Understand how the rights and support available to those with conditions categorised as SEND has changed over time
2Understand Equality and Diversity in context of SENDD/618/1346 · Level 2 · 4 credits · 24 guided hours

Mandatory unit. Equality and diversity, the legislation and guidance that support people with SEND, why safeguarding matters for individuals with SEND, and the benefits of an inclusive society.

  • Understand the concept of Equality and Diversity
  • Understand legislation and guidance which supports individuals with special educational needs and disabilities
  • Understand the importance of safeguarding an individual with special educational needs and disabilities
  • Understand the benefits of a diverse and inclusive society for an individual with SEND
3Principles of promoting person centred approach for individuals with SENDH/618/1347 · Level 2 · 3 credits · 22 guided hours

Mandatory unit. What a person-centred approach is, why active participation matters, and how to support an individual's wellbeing.

  • Understand person centred approaches
  • Understand the importance of encouraging active participation
  • Understand the importance of an individual's well being
4Understanding SEND and learningK/618/1348 · Level 2 · 2 credits · 20 guided hours

Mandatory unit. Inclusive learning, support programmes for individuals with SEND, the role of reasonable adjustments, and how Education, Health and Care Plans work.

  • Understand the importance of inclusive learning
  • Understand the use of support programmes for individuals with special educational needs and disabilities
  • Understand the role of reasonable adjustments
  • Understand Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
5Living with Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesM/618/1349 · Level 2 · 3 credits · 22 guided hours

Mandatory unit. Neurodiversity, the concept of the self, societal and cultural influences, the effect of stigma, and the sources of support available to individuals with SEND and their families.

  • Understand the concept of neurodiversity
  • Understand the concept of the self
  • Understand the impact of societal and cultural influences on individuals with conditions categorised as SEND
  • Understand sources of support for individuals with SEND and the families
  • Understand the impact stigma has on individuals with special educational needs and disabilities
Total: 14 credits · 110 guided learning hours · 140 hours total qualification time
Assessment

How you're assessed

You complete all five mandatory units, 14 credits in total. Every unit is assessed by a portfolio of evidence made up of written assignments and workbook questions, internally assessed by your Lift College tutor and externally quality assured by TQUK.

01Learn each unit online

Work through the five mandatory units at your own pace, with short lessons, worked examples, your named UK tutor and AI Study Support on hand.

02Complete your portfolio

For each unit you answer written assignment and workbook questions that cover every assessment criterion, then upload them to your portfolio.

03Tutor marking and feedback

Your tutor marks each submission, usually within 5 to 7 working days, and gives written feedback. Work that does not yet meet a criterion is referred, and you resubmit at no extra cost.

04Quality assured and certificated

Lift College quality assures the marking internally and TQUK quality assures it externally. Once every unit is passed, TQUK issues your certificate.

Graded pass or fail: you pass when every learning outcome and assessment criterion is met. There are no exams and no observations, and you do not need to be working in a SEND role. This is a knowledge qualification; it shows your understanding of SEND and does not on its own qualify you for a post. Employers decide what each role needs.

Who it's for

This course is for you if

  • You work, or want to work, as a teaching assistant or learning support assistant with pupils who have SEND
  • You support children, young people or adults with SEND in a nursery, college, care or community setting
  • You are a parent or carer of a child with SEND and want to understand the system, the law and EHC plans
  • You are aged 16 or over and want a regulated SEND qualification you can study from home with no exams
  • You want a foundation before Level 3 specialist teaching support or SENCo-related study
Careers

Where this can take you

SEN teaching assistant

Schools look for teaching assistants who understand SEND, inclusive learning and EHC plans; each school decides what a post needs.

Learning support assistant

Colleges and training providers employ support assistants to help learners with SEND take part fully in learning.

One-to-one support worker

Person-centred approaches, active participation and wellbeing are at the centre of one-to-one support roles.

Support worker for disabled children or adults

Care and support providers value staff who understand models of disability, equality and safeguarding.

TQUK and Ofqual

Your certificate comes from TQUK

TQUK, Training Qualifications UK

The TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability (RQF) is regulated by Ofqual and listed on the Ofqual register as 603/5910/9. Training Qualifications UK (TQUK) awards it, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre.

Step 1Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre

TQUK approves the centre, the tutors who assess you and the way the course is delivered before a single learner is registered.

Step 2TQUK checks the marking

An external quality assurer from TQUK samples assessed work from Lift College learners. Your result stands because TQUK has agreed it, not just your tutor.

Step 3TQUK issues and verifies your certificate

Your certificate is printed by TQUK with a unique number. Any employer or university can confirm it is real on TQUK's certificate verification service.

Sources: TQUK qualification specification, 603/5910/9, Version 4 · Ofqual register: TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability (RQF), 603/5910/9 · Equality Act 2010 · Children and Families Act 2014 · Care Act 2014

Next steps

What you can do next

Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools

TQUK names this diploma as a progression route for teaching assistants who take on specialist support, including for pupils with SEND.

View course →
Level 3 Award for Special Educational Needs Coordinators in Early Years Settings

TQUK names this award for people who coordinate SEND support in an early years setting.

Level 4 SEND qualifications

TQUK also names the Level 4 Certificate in Supporting the Learning of Learners with SEND and the Level 4 Award in SEND Leadership and Management in the Early Years.

What learners say

What our learners say

The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.
Sarah M. · ManchesterAccess to HE Diploma
I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.
James P. · BirminghamA Level Biology
Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.
Aisha K. · LondonAccess to HE Diploma (Nursing)
Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost, really helped me improve.
David R. · LeedsCMI Level 5
Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.
Emma L. · GlasgowGCSE English
I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.
Tom W. · BristolCMI Level 7
Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is the Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability regulated?

Yes. The TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability (RQF) is regulated by Ofqual and sits on the Ofqual register at Level 2, qualification number 603/5910/9. It is 14 credits, 110 guided learning hours and 140 hours total qualification time. Your TQUK certificate is issued by Training Qualifications UK, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre.

How long does it take?

Most learners finish in 3 to 6 months. The certificate is 110 guided learning hours and 140 hours total qualification time across five units. There are no fixed deadlines, and you move on as soon as each unit is marked.

How is it assessed?

By a portfolio of evidence. For each of the five units you answer written assignment and workbook questions, which your Lift College tutor marks against the TQUK assessment criteria. TQUK externally quality assures the marking. The certificate is graded pass or fail.

Are there any exams?

No. There are no exams, no timed tests and no observations. Everything is assessed through written work that you complete online in your own time.

What are the entry requirements?

There are no formal entry requirements. You need to be 16 or over, and the course is studied and assessed in English.

What does it cost?

One price covers the whole course: your named UK tutor, marking, AI Study Support, your TQUK registration and your TQUK certificate. You can pay monthly or in full, and the current prices are shown on this page. You can start with a 7-day free trial, and there is a 14-day money back guarantee. Paying today, it is £29.99 a month or £269.99 in full. After the 7-day free trial, it is £39.99 a month or £399.99 in full.

Can my employer pay?

Yes. Your employer can open a free organisation account, enrol you and any colleagues, and pay by card or by invoice. Organisation accounts get ten per cent off every course, and the account shows each learner's progress. An organisation place is £359.99, 10% off the £399.99 price, paid by invoice.

What can I do after this qualification?

TQUK names the Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools, the Level 3 Award for Special Educational Needs Coordinators in Early Years Settings, and two Level 4 SEND qualifications as progression routes. Many learners also use the certificate to apply for SEN teaching assistant and learning support roles.

What does SEND stand for?

SEND stands for special educational needs and disability. It covers children and young people who have a learning difficulty or disability that means they need special educational provision, and the course also looks at how SEND affects adults.

Will a SEND course help me become an SEN teaching assistant?

It gives you the knowledge schools look for in SEN support staff: SEND conditions, inclusive learning, reasonable adjustments, EHC plans and person-centred support. Each school decides what qualifications and experience a post needs, and many also look for a teaching assistant qualification.

Does the course cover EHC plans?

Yes. The unit Understanding SEND and learning covers Education, Health and Care Plans, alongside inclusive learning, support programmes and reasonable adjustments.

What laws and guidance does the course cover?

The equality and diversity unit looks at the legislation and guidance that support people with SEND, including the Equality Act 2010, the Children and Families Act 2014, the SEND Code of Practice 0 to 25 (2015), the Care Act 2014 and Keeping Children Safe in Education.

Is this course useful for parents of children with SEND?

Yes. Many parents and carers take it to understand SEND conditions, their child's rights, how EHC plans work and where to find support. You do not need to be working in education to study it.

Does the course cover autism and neurodiversity?

The course looks at the range of conditions categorised as SEND, and one unit covers the concept of neurodiversity. If you want to focus on autism in depth, the Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism is a separate qualification.

Start the Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability today

£269.99 in full or £29.99 a month when you pay today. TQUK registration and certificate included. 14-day money back on every payment.

Choose how to payTry it free for 7 daysNothing to pay today, then £39.99 a month from day 8

Training a team? Organisation accounts pay by invoice, at £359.99 a learner: 10% off the £399.99 price.

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