• Organized by Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong
• Commissioned by the Education Bureau, HKSAR

Course Aim
To provide a professional development programme for SENCO in ordinary primary and secondary schools to enhance their capacity to lead the student support team in planning, implementing, and evaluating the Whole School Approach (WSA) to Integrated Education (IE) policy and support measures in catering for students with SEN.

In addition to fulfilling leadership, management, and coordination responsibilities, a SENCO has a crucial role in guiding fellow teachers to utilize effective support strategies that enhance the learning effectiveness of students with SEN. Continuous practice, reflection, and the acquisition of knowledge and skills are key components for a SENCO to successfully carry out his role within the Whole School Approach.

Course Design

• One-year full-time block release mode.
• The Course comprises two major components, including taught course and networking activities throughout the school years.
• The Course will be divided into 4 blocks: 5 days for Block 1 – 3 and 3 days for Block 4.
• The duration of the course is 18 weekdays with 6.5 hours/day, total 117 hours.

Course Outline

Module 1: SENCO’s roles in planning, coordinating and promoting the Whole School Approach to Integrated Education

1. Introduction of the whole Programme and briefing of assignments
2. Introduction to the roles of SENCO in promoting the WSA to IE
3. Person-Centred Approaches
4. The Graduated Approach
5. Equal opportunities for students with SEN
6. Key factors in empowering SENCOs to perform their roles and responsibilities and to facilitate change to help students with SEN overcome barriers to learning
7. Effective use of IT to enhance SENCO’s role
8. Networking activity
9. School-based mini project
10. Special Examination Arrangements for Candidates with SEN

Module 2: SENCO’s roles in leading the Student Support Team to support students with SEN

1. SENCO’s roles in promoting students’ effective study and decision-making skills
2. SENCO’s roles in leading change in teaching and learning
3. SENCO’s collaborative role in leading the staff to support students with behavioural problems
4. SENCO’s collaborative role in handling students with SEN who are victims of or are involved in bullying
5. SENCO’s role in leading, managing, and coordinating meetings on students’ progress
6. Networking Activity

Module 3: SENCO’s roles in coordinating and collaborating with different stakeholders

1. Continuing professional development of teachers and teaching assistants
2. SENCO’s roles in ensuring coordination, collaboration, and active engagement from stakeholders
3. Collaborative partnerships and Home-school cooperation
4. SENCO’s roles in managing resources and evaluating its impacts
5. SENCO’s roles in establishing effective transition and transfer processes within school and across schools for students with SEN
6. Group work presentation
7. SENCO’s roles in collaborating with the Guidance and Counselling team to support students

Module 4: SENCO’s role in leading future development

1. School-based mini projects presentation
2. Networking Activity
3. Utilizing effective tools for future development
4. Networking Activity
5. Meeting on future planning and programme review

Medium of Instruction

All classes will be conducted in Cantonese, supplemented with English. The training materials will be in English and/or Chinese.

Mode of Delivery

The course will comprise a good mixture of lectures, workshops, small group discussions, and lots of interactive activities to allow maximum Participant engagement and first-hand experience. Small group discussions adopting problem-based learning, and reflective activities, both suitable for primary and secondary school SENCOs will be arranged for the Participants to exchange ideas and experiences. Flipped learning and post-class self-learning will also be incorporated with appropriate content to further motivate Participants’ independent and self-initiated learning which is important for SENCOs.

Assignments

Each participant is required to complete five short assignments (about 400 words) out of seven choices, a group work of leading professional development, and a mini school-based project.

Dates and Time of Class

Date Class AA Block 1: 12-16/10/2026 Block 2: 7-11/12/2026 Block 3: 4-8/1/2027 Block 4: 10-12/5/2027

Class AB Block 1: 12-16/10/2026 Block 2: 14-18/12/2026 Block 3: 11-15/1/2027 Block 4: 19-21/5/2027

Time
9:00am – 12:30pm; 1:30pm – 4:30pm (12:30pm-1:30pm lunch time)

Venue

Main campus, The University of Hong Kong (MTR HKU Station)

Course instructors

Prof.Yuen Man Tak
Mrs. Kit Chan 
Mr. Derrick Au 
Ms. Janna Chan
Dr. Matthew Chu
Ms. Pat Huang 
Mr. Kung Pak Lung
Dr. Queenie Lee
Dr. Simon Ng

Registration

Teachers have to register via the Training Calendar System hosted by the EDB

Enquiry

senco@hku.hk