This flexible, MA Education (specialist educational needs and disability/SEND) is part of our updated suite of Master’s of Education programmes, which allow you to graduate with a focus upon a key aspect of the education system.

In the latest educational reform, the Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years (2015), the government’s vision is that ‘the provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities is the same as for all children and young people; that they achieve well in their early years, at school and in college, and lead happy and fulfilled lives.’ This code supports the Equality Act (2010) and the TOBY SALT Report (2010) which indicated that equality and educational outcomes are reliant upon a teaching workforce that is prepared for the diversity of mainstream and special school classrooms. With the Special education and Disability Regulations, there is now an increasing need for appropriate teacher training programmes that prepare teachers for the variety of needs that children and young people present with. There is also a need for a continual professional development culture that maintains teachers’ knowledge and skills to keep up with the everchanging education contexts. This postgraduate qualification will meet that agenda.

There is a requirement for SENCOs in mainstream schools to hold qualified teacher status (QTS), Qualified Teacher Learning Skills (QTLS) for those in colleges and Early Years Teacher Status (EYT) for those working in early years settings. The SENCo aspect of the programme, therefore, will apply only to those who hold either of these statuses. Those who wish to complete the programme without the status will in effect, only achieve the SEN and Inclusion aspect of the award (hence the bracketing of the award).

The programme is offered on a part-time basis to accommodate teachers and other appropriately qualified education professionals based within the UK, who wish to undertake study while working full time.

You will complete two compulsory 30-credit modules. No Accreditation for Prior Learning (APL) or Accreditation for Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is allowed on this programme.

This course offers you the flexibility of attaining the qualification without commitment to a full Masters, although the modules can also be taken as part of a Masters’ qualification.

Please note: if these modules are taken as part of any of our MA routes the PG Cert will not be awarded, to avoid double accreditation.

You will be presented with the opportunity to draw upon your workplace practice and to consider challenges and successes of inclusion with peers, exploring and critically evaluating your own and your organisation’s practice.

The key aim of the programme is to initiate rigorous critical enquiry and discourse to extend the criteria for judging taken-for-granted assumptions underlying SEND/Inclusion policy and practice. You will develop an increasing respect for evidence and the capacity to lead change in your own practice within your professional context.

The assessment will engage you with challenges facing learners in your organisation, how these can be identified and addressed and the opportunity to apply these solutions in a targeted way in your practice.

You will draw upon education theory, research, policy, professional standards to develop such skills as collaboration and leadership as well as a deeper understanding of how change can impact on people. These attributes are critical in the role of the SENCo, and to those tasked with the job of empowering others to embrace the responsibility to work inclusively and in collaboration with other stakeholders.

University attendance will be on a weekly basis and will comprise a mixture of teacher-led discussions, group and individual presentations and workshops. In addition to tutorial support, your learning group will, in itself, form an important learning network.

The staff who lead the modules on this course are all passionate about their subject. They are qualified teachers and practitioners, with substantial experience across the whole of the education sector. We ensure not only strong academic but also strong pastoral support to all of our students.

You will learn from our exceptional team of warm and supportive staff who use their active research to inform their theory, meaning that your studies remain current and informed by contemporary issues.

We are extremely proud of our team and consider that it is our unwavering student support which really sets us apart.

Throughout the course you will be supported by your guidance tutor, the programme leader, and each of your module tutors. You can rely upon constant and consistent mentoring from your tutor with both personal and professional issues.

We ensure that our support services are always accessible and offer strong pastoral support to every student that wants it.

You will receive support and supervision during your dissertation project, when we will match you with a tutor who specialises in your area of interest. This will allow you to draw on their relevant knowledge and expertise.

The education team are dedicated to developing their own learning and research, and are frequently published in education journals.

We also have an ITE (Initial teacher education) team who are able to offer guidance on employment within the education sector. This a team run by staff who are teacher educators, operating in roles such as training teachers to work in schools.

At our base on Coach Lane Campus you will benefit from modern teaching facilities. You will also enjoy being immersed in an environment which is dedicated to the study of education.

This environment gives you the opportunity to reflect on your learning and discuss your findings with your peers, many of whom are from similar work backgrounds and working towards the same career goals.

Technology-enhanced learning is used extensively across the course and each module will have its own e-learning area. This helps us to share learning materials with you in a flexible way and allows you to revisit learning materials in your own time. It also enables you to have online discussions with your fellow students to develop ideas.

You will be equipped with the ability to challenge your personal and professional development, applying planning tools and career advice through the UseMYAbility website.

If you are an international student you can also benefit from the support of our Academic Language Skills Programmes (ALS). The programmes will run alongside your studies to help you develop your academic language and communication skills within an Education context.

This programme is designed to cater for a wide range of professionals in education and will offer you a great launch pad for the next step in your career. The flexibility to choose from such a wide variety of modules mean you can prepare for the exact role you want.

You will graduate with knowledge of the very latest in education research, policy and practice. You will gain a whole new perspective on data and evaluation, all of which will help to put you at the forefront of your field. You will also be able to reflect upon and challenge your own practice, which is a valuable skill to demonstrate to future employers.

You will leave the course confident in your knowledge and abilities, empowered to make change in your own organisation and ready to go to the next level in your career.