Best online SEND courses UK (2026 comparison)

What to compare in an online SEND course

• A regulated qualification. A regulated SEND qualification is on the Ofqual register with a qualification number you can look up. Lift College's SEND certificate is 603/5910/9, awarded by TQUK.
• The level and what it covers. Lift's certificate is Level 2: 14 credits and 110 guided learning hours across five mandatory units, from SEND conditions and models of disability to the law, person-centred approaches, inclusive learning and EHC plans.
• How it is assessed. Lift's certificate is assessed by a portfolio of written assignments and workbook questions, marked by your tutor, with no exams, no timed tests and no observations.
• What the fee includes. Check whether registration and the certificate are in the price. At Lift College the tutor, marking, AI Study Support, TQUK registration and certificate are all included.
• Whether you need to be in a SEND role. Lift's certificate is a knowledge qualification, so you do not need to be working in a SEND role or have a placement.

SEND course fees compared

Full course fees as each provider listed them on its own page when we checked on 29 October 2026. Where a provider sells a different qualification, the nearest match is shown. Prices change, so check each provider's own page and the qualification number before you enrol.

What the SEND certificate covers

The five mandatory units are Introduction to special educational needs and disability; Understand Equality and Diversity in context of SEND; Principles of promoting person centred approach for individuals with SEND; Understanding SEND and learning, which covers Education, Health and Care Plans and reasonable adjustments; and Living with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, which covers neurodiversity, stigma and the support available to families.

Who should choose which

• You want to try the course before you pay and spread the cost: Lift College, with a 7-day free trial, monthly payments and no contract.
• You want the same TQUK certificate from another provider: CTC Courses and The Learning College listed it when we checked. Compare their full price and how you pay.
• You need a Level 3 SEN qualification: Lift's SEND certificate is Level 2. Learning Curve Group listed a Level 3 SEN certificate from a different awarding body. TQUK names the Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools as a progression route for teaching assistants who take on specialist support.
• You want to focus on one area of need: see the Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism or the Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties.

What you get with Lift College

• The TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability (RQF), qualification number 603/5910/9 on the Ofqual register: 5 units, 14 credits, 110 guided learning hours and 140 hours total qualification time.
• A named UK tutor who marks your work and gives written feedback, usually within 5 to 7 working days, plus AI Study Support while you study.
• A portfolio of written work, with no exams. If anything is not yet met, you get feedback and resubmit. TQUK quality assures the marking and issues your certificate.
• Your own pace. Many learners finish in 3 to 6 months, with no timetable and no fixed exam date. You need to be 16 or over, and there are no formal entry requirements.
• TQUK registration and certificate included, and Lift College is a TQUK recognised centre.
• 7-day free trial, then monthly or in full, with no contract and a 14-day money back guarantee. Employers can enrol staff through an organisation account and pay by card or invoice.

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.