Masters Degrees (Learning Difficulties)

The Postgraduate Diploma in SEN Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) is one of a range of special educational needs courses that are offered by the University of South Wales at postgraduate level.

This course is for you if you have at least two years experience of working with students with SpLD and are looking to gain a qualification to enable you to apply to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) for either Approved Teacher Status (ATS or ATS HE/FE) or an Associate Membership of the BDA (AMBDA or AMBDA FE/HE).

The course may also be of interest to other approved professionals, such as speech and language or occupational therapists and educational psychologists.

The Postgraduate Diploma in SEN Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) is recognised by the British Dyslexia Association for the award of Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA). It is also recognised by the Joint Council for Qualifications as the appropriate training for completing Access Arrangements in Secondary Schools.

Those who have obtained the PG Diploma in Spld (AMBDA) are eligible to assess and diagnose dyslexia.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/1280-postgraduate-diploma-sen-specific-learning-difficulties

What you study

To gain a Postgraduate Diploma SEN in SpLD you must pass four taught modules:

• Understanding Learning Difficulties and Disabilities which is taught on the campus or can be accessed via e-learning
• Specific Learning Difficulties
• Managing and Supporting Children and Young People with Specific Learning Difficulties
• Research Methodology

Both SpLD modules focus not only upon specific difficulties in literacy and numeracy, but address the wider spectrum of potentially associated conditions eg. Dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome.

The course enables participants to gain knowledge of:

• The vast range of differences within the SpLD continuum
• Current research on the identification of learners experiencing problems with literacy and numeracy
• Assessing individual learning needs, using both standardised and non-standardised methods
• Planning programmes of work for individual pupils based on initial and on-going assessment
• The effects on learning, self esteem and behaviour of SpLD
• Monitoring the progress of learners who may show uneven or intermittent standards of achievement
• A variety of strategies and resources, including ICT and technical aids, for assisting pupil organisation, drafting and presentation of work
• The monitoring, evaluation and auditing responsibilities within school or service, in respect of the quality of provision for pupils with SpLD.

Learning and teaching methods

Students undertake two modules in year one, and two modules in year two. Both SpLD modules are taught on Monday evenings for three hours on campus over a period of 12 consecutive weeks.

Assessment methods

The first module is assessed on the basis of a written assignment of 5,000 words (or equivalent).

The second module is assessed in two ways:
- For students seeking a professional award, the successful completion of 30 hours of teaching experience and assessment of relevant files (equivalent to 5,000 words)

- For other participants, one 5,000 word assignment, or the equivalent

Employment Prospects

Most students proceed to the MA dissertation, in order to achieve the award of MA SEN.

Following successful completion of the course, some students have gained posts as school and college SENCOs, specialist tutors in SPLD services, set up their own SpLD consultancies, or become LEA Advisors. Others have published books and papers on the subject and gained doctorate awards.

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The Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties blended learning programme which is a combination of campus face-to-face sessions and online education. Each module contains a 3 day campus study course and during the study weekends and the study days you will have the chance to be taught by academics from the University of Birmingham and other institutions as well as frontline practitioners and well-know training providers such as Peter Imray and Dave Hewett (Find out more in the Learning and Teaching section).

The programme aims to:

enable participants to study systematically, critically and in-depth, aspects of educating children and adults with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties that are relevant to their own practice
provide the support needed for participants to analyse critically and improve their own theory and practice with children and adults with severe, profound and multple learning difficulties
encourage participants to evaluate critically and develop their collaborative work across disciplines and agencies
facilitate participants in developing rigorous evidence-based practice
As the programme is designed for a range of practitioners, it is hoped that participants from different agencies or disciplines who work with the same learners will come on the course together (and thus improve their working together). If you are thinking of studying on the course, invite a colleague to study with you!

About the School of Education

The School of Education has a long-standing reputation as a centre of excellence for teaching and research in a wide range of areas of educational practice and policy. It is an international leader in education with a history of top rated research. In the 2016 QS World Rankings, it was ranked 28th in the World and joint 7th in Europe/UK.
The School employs over 100 academic staff who teach more than 2,500 students. It is home to a number of departments and research centres with a history of top rated research and is an international leader in education.
School of Education ranking:
- Ranked 6th in the Guardian University League Tables 2017
- Ranked 10th in the 2017 Complete University Guide
- In Top 3 for HEI provision in the Good Teacher Training Guide
- Ranked 28th in the World in the 2016 QS World Rankings
- Ranked 9th overall for Research in the 2014 REF (with more than 82% of research rated as ‘internationally excellent’ (3*) or ‘world leading’ (4*).
- Rated 'outstanding' in latest Ofsted inspection (2013) for its Teacher Training programmes
- Ranked third for Education in The Times Good University Guide 2017

Funding and Scholarships

There are many ways to finance your postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. To see what funding and scholarships are available, please visit: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding

Open Days

Explore postgraduate study at Birmingham at our on-campus open days.
Register to attend at: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/visit

Virtual Open Days

If you can’t make it to one of our on-campus open days, our virtual open days run regularly throughout the year. For more information, please visit: http://www.pg.bham.ac.uk

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We are a key provider in this field with over 20 years experience.

These are nationally recognised qualifications designed for teachers of children and young adults who are experiencing specific learning difficulties in literacy. They are accredited by the British Dyslexia Association* at Approved Teacher Status (ATS) level or Approved Practitioner Status (APS) in year 1 and Associate Member of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA) in year 2. Exit awards are available at the end of year 1 (PG Cert SpLD) and year 2 (PG Dip SpLD) for those not wishing to take the full master’s degree.

Courses are principally designed to enable classroom practitioners gain a high level of knowledge and skill so that they can expertly meet the needs of learners with specific learning difficulties (SpLDs).

There is a supervised teaching practice consisting of 20 hours one-to-one teaching in year 1 and a further 10 hours in year 2 in order to meet BDA requirements. There is an additional, mandatory fee of £325 per study year for this which covers the observation and assessment of two one hour lessons, two individual tutorials with AMBDA tutors, and support with report writing and lesson planning via feedback on drafts.

Features and benefits of the course

-The Postgraduate Certificate leads to Approved Teacher Status (ATS) or Approved Practitioner Status (APS) for those without QTS of the British Dyslexia Association and the Postgraduate Diploma leads to AMBDA (Associate Membership of the British Dyslexia Association).
-Those who successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma are eligible to apply for a Patoss Assessment Practising Certificate or BDA Assessment Practising Certificate.
http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/quality-mark-and-accreditation/professional-membership-accreditation.html
-Our Programme is led by highly qualified tutors with specialist experience who have close links to our Centre for Inclusive Education and Disability Studies. The Programme Leader has co-authored the two core texts on dyslexia which have been adopted by several universities and dyslexia providers, both nationally and internationally.

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The inclusion and achievement of students with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) within mainstream education is an important current focus. By acquiring specialist teaching and assessment skills, you’ll broaden your career opportunities within and beyond the school and college context.

The modules combine theory and practice. You’ll study through workshops, case studies and assignments, justifying your professional practice through research. Modules comprise taught sessions and assessed projects, and can be completed full-time in one year or part-time in up to five years.

COURSE STRUCTURE

You’ll develop your theoretical and practical knowledge of SpLD/dyslexia, and will learn specialist approaches to the identification, assessment and teaching of learners with specific learning difficulties.

MODULE STRUCTURE

The first module of the course enables you to assess a learner, compiling an individual profile based on your findings, and design/deliver an individualised programme of support. You’ll also explore methods and strategies to develop the inclusive practices which can support learners across the curriculum.

The second module will develop your ability to undertake full diagnostic assessments for dyslexia to inform programmes and appropriate support, such as Examination Access Arrangements.

A further module will allow you to develop an understanding of the difficulties faced by primary or secondary students with SpLD/dyslexia or dyscalculia when learning mathematics, and provide you with knowledge about how to support them.

If you already have specialist SpLD/dyslexia qualifications and wish to gain a PATOSS Assessment Practising Certificate, a further module can facilitate this.

For more information on careers, please view the Course Handbook: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/media/bathspaacuk/course-handbooks/ife/PG-Specific-Learning-Difficulties-and-Dyslexia-handbook-2016-2017.pdf

TEACHING METHODS

Modules are taught through twilight lectures and workshops, usually a three hour session each week from 5-8pm.

Many sessions are led by the Course Leader, who is a specialist in the academic and practical aspects of SpLD/dyslexia. Others are delivered by visiting tutors with particular areas of expertise such as an educational psychologist or dyscalculia specialist

ASSESSMENT

Each module is coursework-assessed (7000-10,000 words per 30 credit module). The dissertation is 15,000–20,000 words and worth 60 credits.

CAREERS

The programme can serve as a stepping stone to becoming a Specialist SpLD/Dyslexia teacher and assessor working either in a school setting or independently. This is also helpful pathway for those working within SEN leadership and management roles such as SENCO in schools. It can also lead onto further PhD studies in SpLD/Dyslexia, education or similar fields.

Areas of career direction include: Specialist learning support and teaching possibilities, Advisory Teacher roles for Local Authorities, educational leadership and management, curriculum design and development, higher education research and teacher training.

For more information on careers, please go to your Course Handbook: https://www.bathspa.ac.uk/media/bathspaacuk/course-handbooks/ife/PG-Specific-Learning-Difficulties-and-Dyslexia-handbook-2016-2017.pdf

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The Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) course is designed for mainstream teachers or those working in an educational setting (including practitioners with a particular responsibility for supporting children, young people and adults with dyslexia) who wish to deepen their understanding of dyslexia and link this learning to the School Improvement Plan.

A flexible framework combines academic study with work-based action learning and action research, where your day-to-day professional activity informs your development through reflection and peer discussion.

The PGCert is a stand-alone qualification and counts as one-third of a masters degree.

The course is accredited by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) and qualifies students to apply for Approved Teacher Status (ATS) or Approved Professional Status (APS) as long as they have completed two years (or equivalent) as a teacher or educational professional by the end of the course.

The programme is arranged to fit in with your working patterns and usually include twilight and Saturday sessions.

Areas of study

This course will focus on the following areas of study:

• developing knowledge of the theoretical basis of contemporary approaches to dyslexia
• the identification, assessment and practical support for leaners with dyslexia
• creating and delivering specialist intervention programmes and developing dyslexia friendly environments.
• the application of learning to practice and evaluation of impact on yourself, your learners or others affected by your study.

This will enable you, as a practitioner, to:

• extend and enhance your current practice
• gain knowledge of current thinking in the understanding of dyslexia
• develop frameworks for understanding the range of issues surrounding working with learners with dyslexia
• increase your confidence and effectiveness in supporting learners with dyslexia
• learn how to implement change in a range of policy contexts.

Careers and employability

Our PGCerts are designed to support your career progression, increase your subject knowledge and help you to make a direct difference to your school and students.

Graduates of the course are well placed to take on subject development and leadership positions.

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This leading programme in the field of dyslexia prepares teachers to critically evaluate and develop evidence-based practice to become specialist teachers and assessors of learners with literacy difficulties. This programme is recognised by the British Dyslexia Association for Approved Teacher Status (ATS) and Associate Member of the BDA (AMBDA).

Degree information

Students will gain an understanding of how children typically develop literacy skills and how it might go wrong; how literacy difficulties can be identified and how to develop an individualised support programme. As part of this programme students will administer standardised tests (in their own educational setting) and teach (in similar settings) learners with literacy difficulties.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (150 credits) and a research report (30 credits). All modules are core to this qualification. There are no optional modules for this programme.

Core modules
-Assessment of SpLD (dyslexia)
-Evidence-based Practice SpLD (dyslexia)
-Research Design and Methodology
-Understanding SpLD (dyslexia)
-Research report

Research project/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a research report of 6,000 to 7,000 words.

Teaching and learning
This programme is delivered via face-to-face evening and daytime sessions at UCL Institute of Education. It is assessed by coursework assignments and recordings of administering assessments and teaching pupils with literacy difficulties, plus a research report of 6,000 to 7,000 words.

Fieldwork
Students will be required to work with children and young people up to the age of 16 years to demonstrate the core competencies of the programme.

Careers

Graduates of this programme are currently working across a broad range of areas. Some are working as specialist teachers of children with SpLD (dyslexia), while others have jobs as specialist teacher assessors; many combine both. Graduates can also be found working as headteachers, special educational needs co-ordinators, local authority advisors and research roles.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Primary School Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher, Galliard Primary School & Children's Centre
-Special Educational Needs School Teacher (Head of Keystage a, White Spire School
-Specialist Teacher, Special Education Needs (SEN), London Borough of Tower Hamle
-Literacy Consultant, London Borough of Camden
-Manager of Language and Learning Team, London Borough of Merton Council

Employability
Successful completion of the programme will allow students awarded the ATS to support learners with dyslexia (up to the age of 16 years), and with the AMBDA to undertake diagnostic assessments and support learners with dyslexia.

Why study this degree at UCL?

This programme is taught by a range of leading researchers and professionals in the field of dyslexia. It uniquely offers a rigorous academic programme combined with professional practice qualifications fully recognised by the British Dyslexia Association and UCL IOE, an internationally recognised university.

Critical engagement with current research and evidence-informed practice, supported by professionals and researchers, will enable the participant to reflect on their learning and enhance workplace practice.

Professional practice is supported by a team of AMBDA specialists. It will provide the understanding, knowledge and skills required to teach children and young people with literacy difficulties.

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Summary

The Special Educational Needs (SEN) programme investigates issues involved in the education and development of children and young people with learning difficulties, disabilities and disadvantages. Our programme is founded upon a commitment to forms of education which enable the participation, learning and development of all.

Students studying on the programme engage with aspects of theory, policy and practice relevant to international and local contexts. With its international profile, this programme brings together teachers and other professionals working directly with children and young people with learning difficulties, disabilities or disadvantages, as well as policy-makers and managers in areas of SEN and Inclusive Education.

On the MA Special Educational Needs, students choose between two distinct pathways, Inclusive Perspectives or Psychological Perspectives, which reflect different theoretical traditions and approaches to practice, provision and policy within the field of special educational needs, disability and inclusion. Both pathways are relevant to mainstream and special education contexts.

The Inclusive Perspectives pathway emphasises the application of inclusive and person-centred values and critical educational analysis. Concepts and theories such as person-centred education; participation and ‘voice’; the social model of disability and difference; and human rights and equalities are used to consider educational practice, provision, policy and systems relating to pupils experiencing difficulties in educational settings.

The Psychological Perspectives pathway emphasises the use and application of psychological theories. Concepts and theories of cognition, educational testing, and social and emotional development are central in developing psychologically informed understandings of children and young people experiencing difficulties in educational settings.

Students greatly benefit from engaging with the insights, experiences and perspectives of other course members, from a diverse range of contexts and backgrounds. The combination of their own experiences, insights gained from others on the course and the theoretical resources offered by learning within the modules, enables students to deepen their understanding of, and to be able to challenge, the barriers that hinder the learning, development and participation of children and young people with learning difficulties, disabilities or disadvantages.

The teaching provided on modules is informed by active research and scholarship in the field of Inclusive Education and SEN practice and policy. All lecturers leading modules on the programme have high level specialist qualifications, teaching and leadership experience in the field of Education, SEN and Inclusive Education.

Content

All students complete a common module which takes a broad view of key perspectives and issues in SEN, it also introduces the psychological and inclusive perspectives. From here, students undertake specialist modules within the programme, depending on their chosen pathway.

Inclusive Perspectives Pathway content: Students critically explore the issues involved in children’s behaviour using sociological approaches. You will reflect on your own and society's beliefs about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ behaviour, which often relate to medical and psychological foundations of schools’ policies and practices. The social pedagogical approach is also explored as a basis for inclusive teaching and learning. A critical analysis of instrumentalist/functionalist approaches to teaching is developed with a view to enhancing holistic development and the participation of pupils as a means of addressing barriers to the inclusivity of the classroom.

Psychological Perspectives Pathway content: On this route students engage with the idea that socially and emotionally well-adjusted students perform better at school, whilst social and emotional aspects of learning have become marginalised in a highly competitive education system. The use of psychometric testing is covered, with an exploration of its appropriate uses (students can gain a Certificate of Competency in Educational Testing, accredited by the British Psychological Society, from successfully undertaking this module).

Optional modules are available to students on both pathways which focus on Dyslexia as a Specific Learning Difficulty and on Autism in Education. Students also have an option, instead of taking a taught optional module, to take a (non-taught) Independent Study module to learn about a specific issue relevant to their pathway and interests, which is not taught about in the programme.

The final module is an independent research-based enquiry (either a Dissertation or Practice-Based Research Project), which is founded upon the pathway perspective chosen, but is also subject to the student’s choice of topic.

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This new programme will interest graduates who want to make a difference to the lives of a wide range of children in education. You will compare inclusive educational practices in Scotland, the UK and across the world. You will study particular approaches to removing barriers to learning and including all children.

The programme has specific pathways for Postgraduate Diploma (visually impaired learners), Postgraduate Diploma (deaf learners) and Postgraduate Diploma (bilingual learners).

Programme structure

Compulsory courses

• Inclusive Pedagogy
• Sources of knowledge
• Conceptualising research

Option courses

You will choose three option courses from this range:

• Comparative approaches to inclusive and special education
• Collaborative working in children’s services
• Education for all
• Teachers as agents of change
• Foundations of international child protection
• Issues and strategies for teaching and learning (VI)
• Inclusion of pupils with visual impairment
• Cerebral VI and profound and multiple learning difficulties
• Audiology and audiometry
• Language and communication (deaf children)
• The developing bilingual learner
• Specific learning difficulties: dyslexia
• Assessing pupils with visual impairment
• Bilingualism and other additional support needs
• Promoting achievement and curriculum access to deaf / bilingual learners
• Specific learning difficulties: co-occurring difficulties
• Deaf Studies
• an option course worth up to 40 credits from within the School or from elsewhere in the University (at SCQF level 11), subject to approval by the programme director

Dissertation (MSc)

• Planning research
• Research dissertation

Learning outcomes

The programme aims to:

• develop and appropriately apply knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to inclusive education and the contexts in which it takes place
• reflect critically on the relationships between theory and practice and explore issues in the implementation of educational and social principles and ideals
• engage with and where appropriate influence policy issues and the practice of professionals in relation to the delivery of inclusive education
• develop extended skills in research and enquiry, including the use of literature, reviewing evidence, gathering, organising and evaluating data, responding to evidence and providing critical comment

Career opportunities

Suiting newly qualified teachers and experienced practitioners alike, this programme provides a qualification that can open doors to a new career in inclusive and special education, or an advanced role in the field.

It can also provide the foundations for a career in policy formation and development, as well as a broad range of highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied to roles in any field.

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This programme, which is suitable for graduates working in educational settings, will equip you with an understanding of the critical debates and issues surrounding dyscalculia and mathematics learning difficulties. You will develop the ability to screen and plan a programme of intervention for learners with dyscalculia, as well as engaging in the completion of reports based on the screening and assessment of learners. You will be equipped with a clear understanding of a range of approaches to effective teaching and learning and gain an appreciation of the wider social and emotional aspects of dyscalculia and mathematics learning difficulties. The programme provides a combination of critical thinking, evaluation and practical action to ensure you can demonstrate highly effective practice and support for learners with dyscalculia.

What will I study?

The course comprises two modules, one studied per semester, which explore the critical debates and issues surrounding dyscalculia and mathematics learning difficulties.

You will gain a deep understanding of current research, appraise a range of teaching and learning approaches, and critically reflect upon the difficulties that learners with dyscalculia may have to overcome in order to achieve their full potential in mathematics.

Additionally, you will develop the ability to screen, assess, report and plan intervention programmes for learners with dyscalculia.

How will I study?

The programme will be delivered through a blended learning approach that consists of face-to-face sessions and supported online learning through the use of the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE).

You will be encouraged to share reflections using the discussion facilities provided within the virtual learning environment, enabling you to participate in discussions with a network of professionals and draw on this pool of experience and expertise.

You will be required to attend two workshops and actively participate in all sessions and tutorials including online activities. Face-to-face sessions take place at Solihull College Conference Centre.

How will I be assessed?

The programme is assessed through a variety of methods including case studies, pupil profiles, evaluated specialist teaching, observations of teaching, and holistic diagnostic reports.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by tutors with a wide range of expertise in a variety of academic disciplines, including inclusion and special educational needs, dyscalculia, dyslexia, leadership and management, educational research and systematic enquiry.

All teaching observations will be carried out by tutors who hold Associate Membership of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA) status.

What are my career prospects?

The programme will equip you with the professional attributes, skills, knowledge, attitudes and confidence required to understand the needs of individuals with dyscalculia and provide highly effective specialist support to them.

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This programme, which is suitable for graduates working in educational settings, will enhance and develop your knowledge of a range of learning difficulties, enabling you to gain a deeper understanding of special education needs (SEN) and inclusion. There will be opportunities to reflect upon the importance of early identification of need as you enhance your awareness of how to recognise the indicators of a range of special educational needs. These include dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties. Effective strategies to improve intervention will also be considered and related to your practice, underpinned by reflection upon a range of literature and legislation, as you gain an enhanced appreciation of how inspiring practice can support and augment the learning of those with special educational needs.

What will I study?

The course comprises two modules, one studied per semester, which explore the provision of inclusive education for those with special educational needs.

You will consider the dilemmas arising from everyday practice, examine UK policy as well as national and international legislation, and reflect upon the range of learning difficulties within your own setting.

How will I study?

The programme will be delivered through a blended learning approach that consists of one workshop per module and supported online learning through the use of the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE).

Additional sessions will be available via Collaborate, an academic virtual classroom, to enhance the online learning experience. Academic tutors will also offer guidance on the development of your practice-based research.

How will I be assessed?

The programme is assessed through two reflective portfolios. These will include practice-based assessment tasks and a critical reflection of 2,500 words.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by highly qualified and experienced tutors with expertise in the field of special educational needs.

What are my career prospects?

The programme will equip you with the professional attributes, skills, knowledge, attitudes and confidence required to support individuals with a range of learning difficulties.

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This blended learning module allows you to reflect critically and guide your practice in the management of children, adolescents and adults with ADHD.

The SEN Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a challenging and stimulating blended learning course delivered by the internationally recognised Dyscovery Centre. The Dyscovery Centre offers assessment and assistance to children and adults with living and learning difficulties such as ADHD.

The Masters level 30 Credit module is accessible through blended learning which includes a combination of face-to-face teaching at the University of South Wales and e-learning. This offers you the opportunity to meet for four training days, receive information via the website and have telephone and email support and discussion.

There is growing awareness of ADHD in the UK and internationally. The SEN ADHD course will guide all those providing support, including members of CAMHS teams, Allied Health Professionals (AHP) and paediatricians to understand the diagnosis and treatments for ADHD and gain the skills to work in this field. The module will also be relevant to teachers and psychologists with an interest in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/1379-sen-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd

What you study

You are required to critically reflect on the challenges of interdisciplinary working as well as the issues of comorbidity that are evident among individuals with ADHD and how these may impact on the identification and assessment processes.

You are expected to undertake reading from a wide range of sources to develop your understanding and to reflect upon current practice from the evidence base presented.
The content of this module allows you to reflect critically and to guide your practice in the management of children, adolescents and adults with ADHD.

The module considers methods and models of management and intervention in the field of ADHD and considers the overlap with other related disorders. The course examines the effective working practices in this field.

Learning & Teaching Methods

This course is delivered through blended learning and will include four days of direct teaching time, plus online learning. The attendance at the four days of direct teaching is essential.

Assessment methods

Students will be required to submit a 5,000 word assignment at the end of the module.

Employment Prospects

Students may wish to progress to the MA Education and Linked Named Awards programme at the University of South Wales or to undertake research in the field of developmental disorders.

Teaching

This course is delivered through The Dyscovery Centre, an internationally recognised centre offering assessment and assistance to children and adults with living and learning difficulties such as ADHD.

The Dyscovery Centre is a specialist and high quality service that undertakes research, provides clinical services and provides consultancy services and training at all levels from awareness raising courses to Masters degree level.

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This Literacy Learning and Literacy Difficulties MA will provide students with a deeper understanding of the processes involved in learning to read, write and spell, the sources of difficulties, and approaches to intervention.

Degree information

This programme provides students with the opportunity to draw on the strengths of a team with research expertise in literacy and experience in evaluating early literacy interventions. They will also investigate literacy acquisition and problems in depth, covering reading, writing and spelling.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The programme consists of three core modules (90 credits), one optional module (30 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).

Core modules:
-Research Methods in Literacy and Literary Development
-Literacy Development
-Literacy Practice in Writing and Comprehension

Optional modules
-Reading and Spelling Difficulties
-Students choose one or two optional Master's level modules from across the UCL IOE offering.

Dissertation/report
All students submit a 20,000-word dissertation (60 credits).

Teaching and learning
Sessions for all modules are offered face-to-face in the evenings, supplemented by online discussion and reading. Dissertation/report group sessions are also delivered in the evening and are supplemented by one-to-one supervision. All 30 credit modules are assessed via the equivalent of a 4,000-word assignment.

Careers

Graduates of this programme are currently working across a broad range of areas. Some are working as literacy co-ordinators and special educational needs co-ordinators, while others have jobs as literacy advisers and specialists. Graduates can also be found working as teachers and as independent literacy intervention tutors.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Primary School Acting Deputy Head Teacher, Peterborough City Council
-Primary School Class Teacher (Year 5), Belmore Primary Academy
-Primary School Class Teacher, Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy
-Special Education Deputy Head Teacher, The Collett School

Employability
Students learn to diagnose a range of literacy difficulties and then to be able to consider appropriate interventions for those struggling with their reading and/or writing. Those graduating from the programme usually enhance their career prospects and can demonstrate a deeper understanding of literacy learning and supporting struggling readers and writers. Graduates usually move into coordinator/literacy management roles.

Why study this degree at UCL?

The Department of Learning and Leadership at UCL Institute of Education (IOE) has developed an internationally-recognised reputation for early childhood and pre-school and primary education studies.

The department has a vibrant teaching programme and offers a range of enriching events including research seminars and conferences in the field of early childhood and primary education.

In all its work, the department is strongly committed to working in partnership with government agencies, education authorities, schools, early years and community groups and other departments within the IOE.

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Course outline

We currently offer the opportunity to gain a postgraduate degree by research at the level of MSc, MPhil or DPhil (PhD). Study can be on either a full-time or a part-time basis. The minimum periods of study for achieving these research degrees are as follows:

• MSc – 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
• MPhil – 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time
• DPhil – 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time (this is our equivalent term for a PhD)

The Psychology Department fosters a culture of collaborative, multidisciplinary research, and you will join a vibrant community that includes regular work-in-progress seminars to foster an active research environment. You will join one of our four research hubs described below, all of which are engaged in inter-institutional collaborations, including some with non-academic partners such as health-care providers and music conservatoires.

We are happy to consider research proposals on a wide range of topics relevant to our hubs, but may also be looking to fill specific research roles in some areas. Contact us below for more details.

Our Research Hubs

‘CREATE’ (Centre for Research into Expertise Acquisition, Training and Excellence)

The main focus of the centre is the exploration of the drivers of excellence in performance (whether cognitive, creative or practice-based). We welcome applications from potential MSc and DPhil candidates across a wide range of related topic areas, including:

• Insight and creativity
• The drivers of performance excellence and expertise development (e.g. in music, theatre, puzzle-solving, board-games and medicine)
• Hobbies, motivations and characteristics of niche populations
• Music psychology
• Time perception and those with ‘natural’ time-keeping abilities

We have a number of external collaborative projects in the areas of creativity and performance, and also work with internal colleagues in Applied Computing and the University of Buckingham Medical School.

Centre for Health and Relationship Research

The main aim of the hub is to study the impact of the interpersonal world and support structures on health and well-being in clinical and non-clinical settings. This overarching focus has led to the study of topic areas such as:

• Prevalence, impact of and psychosocial challenges facing people following spinal cord injury
• Biopsychosocial understanding of pain and developing interventions for successful pain management
• Social norms as a predictor of health behaviours in young people
• Social factors affecting uptake of health behaviours
• The role of social support in living well with chronic conditions

Together, these projects represent a body of work which seeks to fight patient isolation and to understand health experiences in the context of a social world. The hub aims to identify methods for supporting patients as they live with long-term conditions, including through developing interventions, assessment techniques and knowledge dissemination. With connections and active research work taking part at four local NHS hospitals, we can offer excellent opportunities for research studies with tangible impact.

Emotion and Life-Span Relationships

The Emotion and Life-Span Relationships hub offers diverse research opportunities including:

• Cyberpsychology and Cyberbullying, including online gaming
• Cyber versus real world behaviour
• Social inference and emotion regulation
• Interpersonal relationships, including dating, rejection, relationship maintenance and break down
• Mental resilience and its relationship to social support

Psychology of Educational Development

In this hub, we study the cognitive processes, behavioural issues and developmental factors that affect learning, and how learning environments and individual differences influence educational outcomes. With a focus on the resilience, creativity and happiness of learners, as well as on Specific Learning Difficulties which might impact upon academic performance, we welcome applicants to study a wide range of topics with us, including:

• Children with Specific Learning Difficulties
• Bullying and Cyberbullying in schools
• Educating for Creativity
• Children's understanding of Science
• Excellence in Performance and Academic achievement
• Resilience, Wellbeing and Positive education

For more information, and to apply online, visit us here: http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/sciences/msc/psychology

Or contact us by email below.

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MA Special Educational Needs (SEN) is for people working with children or young people whose development is affected adversely by difficulties in learning or by behaviour.

The MA SEN course will be highly beneficial if you’re a teacher from a primary, secondary or special school, or a lecturer from a further education or higher education setting. Also if you are a social worker or police officer, or if you work with young offenders or other caring professions.

Studying the MA SEN, you will enhance your knowledge of the key issues related to special educational needs, and will develop your professional awareness of this area. You’ll experience a course that caters for both academic and practitioner driven interest in special educational needs.

There is a wide range of specialist modules to choose from, providing the opportunity to have a postgraduate course specifically tailored to meet your individual professional needs. MA SEN is also compatible with the TTA SENCo standards, and has been designed to provide continuous professional, academic and personal development.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/1237-ma-special-educational-needs-sen

What you study

You will study the specialist core module, Understanding Learning Difficulties/Disabilities.
On completing this module, you will be expected to make a decision to specialise in a particular subject area. You will select two optional modules from the MA Special Educational Needs programme. Examples of modules include:

- Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties - This specialist module relates to the increasing numbers of children and adolescents with problems in understanding (because of poor receptive skills) and in being understood (because of poor expressive skills).

- Specific Learning Difficulties - Focuses not only upon specific difficulties in literacy and numeracy, but addresses the wider spectrum of potentially associated conditions eg Dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome.

- Child and Adolescent Mental Health - This focuses on the causation, presentation and implications of mental health difficulties in children and young people.

- Supporting Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - This is an introduction to ASD module in which you will examine a wide range of strategies that can be used to support children with ASD.

Awards are available at Postgraduate Certificate level (after completion of two taught modules) and Postgraduate Diploma level (after completion of four taught modules).

- Dissertation
To complete the full MA SEN you go on to study a specific SEN topic that you are interested in and complete a 17,000 word dissertation.

An MA award demonstrates that you have developed advanced level skills in analysis, evaluation and research. If you are interested in the possibility of gaining a higher degree by research, your tutors will be pleased to discuss the opportunities at the University of South Wales.

Assessment methods

Modules are normally assessed by a written assignment of 5,000 words.

Work and Study Placements

Those who undertake the SpLD modules, with a view to gaining accreditation from the British Dyslexia Association, will undertake a specialist teaching practice. For other students, there may be opportunities to link with specialist settings on a voluntary basis.

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The Language, Literacies and Dyslexia programme, is aimed at teachers, speech and language therapists and other professionals working with children, young people and students in further and higher education at pre-16 and FE/HE education levels who have difficulties with learning literacy skills.

This distance learning masters level programme is essential for practitioners seeking to become specialist practitioners, employable to assess and teach learners with dyslexia and literacy difficulties of school age or in further/higher education. Successful completion of modules 1-3 which meet the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) criteria in practical assessments, allows students to apply for the BDA professional qualification.

The University of Birmingham offers three awards at masters level.

Postgraduate Certificate (3 modules, 12 months of part-time study, Sept – end of August)
Postgraduate Diploma (6 modules, 24 months part-time study, Sept – August)
MEd (6 modules+ dissertation, 36 months part-time study, Sept – August)
You can register for the first year’s study and half way through the year you will be invited to consider if you to wish extend your registration to a further award.

The programme provides a broad and critical perspective of language literacies and literacy difficulties/dyslexia through sociocultural and cognitive research, as well as education policies. It embraces school and further educational demands of literacy skills, the demands of family and social literacy practices, and peer demands of new literacies, such as digital literacies. The programme establishes the fundamental relationship between language and literacy in typical and atypical development. Students study literacy difficulties/dyslexia in contexts of monolingual, multilingual and multimodal (eg digital literacies).

Studying at a distance means you can work from anywhere, such as in your home or workplace in the UK or overseas. All your studies will be in English and it is a requirement that you practice in an educational context of monolingual or additional English (EAL/ESL/EFL). Reference would be made to contexts that are multilingual and multimodal.

Specialist professional practice in dyslexia/specific learning difficulties

All students follow the same programme and module requirements for study and assessment that develop knowledge and practice in specialist assessment and teaching for learners with literacy needs and difficulties.

Successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) award, meets the specialist professional practice competencies required by the Joint Qualifications Council UK, and the British Dyslexia Association’s AMBDA accreditation, in diagnostic assessment, and intervention/ specialist teaching with learners with literacy difficulties/ specific learning difficulties at school and FE/HE levels of provision.

The PGCert award allows practitioners, who wish, to apply for the BDA’s accreditation (ATS/APS, AMBDA, AMBDA FE/HE) depending on their professional qualification – please visit the BDA website http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk for further information.

The Department of Disability Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN) in the School of Education, has a very strong profile in professional development, regionally, nationally and internationally. The tutors who run this programme have strong national and international profiles in the field of research and practice in language and literacy difficulties and dyslexia. The department also runs a number of other courses in special education which may interest you.

About the School of Education

The School of Education has a long-standing reputation as a centre of excellence for teaching and research in a wide range of areas of educational practice and policy. It is an international leader in education with a history of top rated research. In the 2016 QS World Rankings, it was ranked 28th in the World and joint 7th in Europe/UK.
The School employs over 100 academic staff who teach more than 2,500 students. It is home to a number of departments and research centres with a history of top rated research and is an international leader in education.
School of Education ranking:
- Ranked 6th in the Guardian University League Tables 2017
- Ranked 10th in the 2017 Complete University Guide
- In Top 3 for HEI provision in the Good Teacher Training Guide
- Ranked 28th in the World in the 2016 QS World Rankings
- Ranked 9th overall for Research in the 2014 REF (with more than 82% of research rated as ‘internationally excellent’ (3*) or ‘world leading’ (4*).
- Rated 'outstanding' in latest Ofsted inspection (2013) for its Teacher Training programmes
- Ranked third for Education in The Times Good University Guide 2017

Funding and Scholarships

There are many ways to finance your postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. To see what funding and scholarships are available, please visit: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding

Open Days

Explore postgraduate study at Birmingham at our on-campus open days.
Register to attend at: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/visit

Virtual Open Days

If you can’t make it to one of our on-campus open days, our virtual open days run regularly throughout the year. For more information, please visit: http://www.pg.bham.ac.uk

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