Education - Dyslexia and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

• Literacy Difficulties: Theory and Practice

  Designed to build on your work with children with literacy difficulties in either primary or secondary school, you'll explore and evaluate a range of theory and research, investigating reasons for children's literacy difficulties. This includes:

  • an overview of normal literacy processes - literacy and self esteem
  • debates around recent changes in the definition of dyslexia
  • the historical and policy frameworks for supporting children with literacy difficulties
  • reviewing the research on alternative explanations of dyslexia
  • the cooccurance of different SpLDs and neurodiversities
  • informal assessment of reading difficulties
  • gathering background history of a child’s difficulties.

  Through a range of collaborative activities and discussion, you'll review the implications of these ideas on school provision and your own practice.

• Literacy Difficulties: Assessment and Intervention

  You will develop skills in a range of assessment and teaching strategies for working with children and young people with significant literacy difficulties.
  
  You will carry out a case study with one child or young person (CYP), undertaking assessment work then planning and delivering 10 hours of individualised teaching. You'll explore different approaches to intervention and consider the social, emotional and behavioural aspects of dyslexia and SpLDs. 

  • Assessing literacy difficulties, principles of assessment, and reviewing a range of assessment techniques.
  • interpreting evidence and data to make informed decisions and maximise access to learning.
  • exploring a range of teaching interventions, including multi-sensory, phonological and meta-cognitive approaches and precision teaching.
  • using digital technologies to support children with literacy difficulties.
  • considering the impact of literacy difficulties on self-esteem and the social consequences of learning failure.

• Managing Dyslexic Friendly Practice in Education

  You’ll further develop specialist teaching skills and examine how schools provide dyslexia friendly support. You’ll examine:

  • school policies, such as creating a dyslexia-friendly school
  • identifying areas for development in schools’ policy and practice 
  • working with parents around their children’s literacy
  • acting as the child’s advocate, including case building and report writing
  • working with external agencies
  • evaluating resources and support strategies, creating a resource base to support good provision.

  
  You’ll work with a fellow student to produce a presentation on an aspect of ‘Dyslexia Friendly Practice’ and then write an individual critique. You’ll also carry out a second case study with a child or young person, including 10 hours of specialist teaching.
  
  The specialist assessment and teaching work completed during the first year of the course will enable you to apply to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) for Accredited Teacher or Practitioner Status.

• Specialist Assessment

  Throughout this module, you will develop your skills as a specialist assessor and teacher of dyslexia.

  You’ll carry out 3 diagnostic assessments for dyslexia, creating diagnostic reports, and deliver 10 hours of specialist teaching with one child.

  This will involve:

  • exploring the principles of assessment, and reviewing a range of assessment techniques.
  • carrying out diagnostic assessments and writing reports that meet the SASC standards.
  • interpreting evidence and data to make diagnostic decisions and maximise access to learning.
  • using a range of approaches, including multi-sensory, phonological and meta-cognitive strategies and digital technologies, to make recommendations for teaching.
  • using digital technologies to support children with literacy difficulties.
  • assessing students for formal exam access arrangements.

• Understanding Research for SpLD

  In this final module, you'll explore a range of research approaches, methods and techniquest appropriate for the study of children and young people with literacy difficulties. You'll explore the complex and interdisciplinary nature of work in and across these areas through qualitative and quantitative research approaches.   

  You'll critically evaluate methods of data collection and analysis suitable for investigating a proposed research question.

  This module will prepare you for the methodological components of the MA Education dissertation, should you wish to complete the full Masters' in Education.

  In addition to the Postgraduate Diploma, completing the full course successfully will enable you to apply to the British Dyslexia Association for accreditation as an Associate Member (AMBDA) and an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) from the BDA, PATOSS or the Dyslexia Guild.