The Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (SPMLD)blended learning programme is one of the leading programmes in the field both nationally and internationally and it has has been developed for a range of professionals/practitioners who work with children and adults with learning difficulties in educational settings across the severe and profound range (SLD/ PMLD) including autism (where it overlaps with SLD/ PMLD). Most learners with SLD/ PMLD use specialist services such as special schools or colleges but some use inclusive services in nurseries, mainstream schools or community education. The programme will cover issues for staff who work in any of these services and has particular emphasis on working together to meet needs. The programme will aim to study systematically, critically and in-depth, aspects of educating children and adults with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. In particular, it will emphasis working together to meet needs.
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, parents, individuals with learning difficulties, former students of our courses, and well-know training providers. For example Peter Imray and Dave Hewett, Jean Ware, Flo Longhorn, Catherine Edwards, Liz Hodges and Neil Hall (Find out more in the Learning and Teaching section).
Awards
To attempt to meet the needs of the wide range of people working with learners with SLD/ PMLD, the programme is available at more than one level. Level H (AdCert) is available for those with certificates and diplomas eg: HND, NVQ level 4/5, Foundation degree, whereas Level M (PGCert, PGDip, MEd) is available for those who have an honours degree (or equivalent). The lecture, seminars and online material contain the same material for everyone but participants studying at different levels are expected to respond to ideas and concepts differently. Further reading and critical analysis is required at M level.
Certificate (PGCert or AdCert) – modules 1 – 3 (Total of 60 credits);
PGDip – modules 1 – 3, plus Special Studies (40 credits), Special Studies (20 credits) (Total of 120 credits);
MEd - modules 1 – 3, plus Special Studies, then the module ‘Practitioner Inquiry in Education’ (preparation for dissertation) plus dissertation (Total of 180 credits).
Download information on all the postgraduate study programmes in the School of Education (PDF)
The Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties blended learning programme is a combination of campus face-to-face sessions and online education.
The programme aims to:
As the SPMLD 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!
In the three videos below, students on the Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties programme share their views on why they choose the course and what they enjoy about it.
This programme is for a range of professionals and practitioners who work with children and adults with learning difficulties in educational settings across the severe and profound range (SLD/ PMLD, including autism where is overlaps). Most learners with SLD/ PMLD use specialist services such as special schools or colleges but some use inclusive services in nurseries, mainstream schools or community education and the programme will cover issues for staff who work in any of these services and has particular emphasis on working together to meet needs.
