Postgraduate Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties and Inclusion

Course Content

• Course Details

  The programme is made up of four modules and the overall aim of the course is to:

  • understand the nature of literacy difficulties and those associated with SpLD (including dyslexia)
  • enable professionals working within educational settings to understand and use a range of teaching approaches to support learners with literacy difficulties (including dyslexia)
  • develop your critical understanding of psychometrics and how standardised assessments are used within access arrangments
  • develop your ability to select and accurately administer standardised assessments as part of a full diagnostic assessment

  The first two modules will be taught in year 1 and the second two modules in year 2.

  Module information can be found on the Award Map.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 21/22. The modules relating to the academic year 22/23 will be available from June 2022.

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• Entry Requirements

  You should possess:

  • Two years of recent and relevant professional experience in an educational setting

  and

  • QTS or equivalent

  or

  • Good honours Degree (2:1 or above) of a UK University or from a recognised University other than in the UK

  or

  • Applicants working in children’s services without QTS with an ordinary degree in Early Years Teacher Status or QTLS will be considered

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Minimum standard – IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) for study at postgraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  2022/23 Tuition Fees

  • Year 1 (60 credits) £2,550
  • Year 2 (60 credits) £2,550*

  *fee may be subject to an inflationary increase in 23/24

  2021/22 Tuition Fees

  • Year 1 (60 credits) £2,490
  • Year 2 (60 credits) £2,490*

  *fee may be subject to an inflationary increase in 22/23

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• Professional Body

  Our Postgraduate Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties and Inclusion is approved by SASC. Students with this qualification can apply for an Assessment Practising Certificate which enables you to carry out diagnostic assessments for dyslexia.

  

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• Top-up

  On completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties and Inclusion, you will be able to undertake the Special Educational Needs & Inclusion Research Module SENM100 (60 credits) in order to obtain the award of MA in Specific Learning Difficulties and Inclusion Top-up.

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• FAQs

  How will I learn?

  The course is taught on a part-time basis in twilight sessions (usually 5-8pm).  Face to face teaching is within informal and interactive small group seminars.  Sessions will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of assessment and teaching.

  How will I be assessed?

  Assessment takes a variety of forms, including essays and reports, reflective teaching portfolios and video observation of teaching and assessment practice.  Formative assessment will be offered by tutors to support this process.

  The programme includes work-based learning consisting of 1:1 teaching practices with learners with dyslexic-type difficulties, and also formal assessment using psychometric tests.  You will need to arrange access to learners that you can work with in order to complete the teaching and assessment activities required throughout the modules.

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Careers and Employability

The course will enhance your skills and knowledge working within any type of setting and enable you to lead good practice in literacy teaching.

In addition, the qualification could lead to, work within disability support services in Further or Higher Education, as a specialist teacher and assessor in a Local Authority, as an assessor for access arrangements in schools or for Disabled Student Allowance assessments in HE, or to work as a private tutor or assessor.