Course summary

What if every child and young person with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) had the support they needed to thrive? Do you wonder how we can break down barriers to inclusion and create real change in education and beyond? Our SEND course options will help you make a difference and develop the expertise to advocate, innovate, and lead in the field of special educational needs and disability. Our SEND options are designed to meet the interests of a wide range of learners from schools, nurseries, universities, colleges and local authorities, as well as professionals working with children and young people in a variety of roles – for example in children's services and informal educational settings. Our courses are designed to reflect current and future trends in SEND, so will equip you with the skills and knowledge to work with and support children and young people with special educational needs. The MA/PGDip/PGCert in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) will be a perfect fit for you if you have the desire to make a real difference to the outcomes of the children and young people with whom you work. On this course, you will have the chance to study across a range of different modules. If you wish to focus on a specific learning difficulty – namely, Dyslexia – you might want to check out our MA/PGDip/PGCert in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD). On this course, the curriculum will be comprised of specific, focused modules, and your final 60 credit research project will be in the field of dyslexia. This course has the option to gain additional external professional qualifications related to dyslexia. Sitting within the University's School of Education, our MA/PGDip/PGCert in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) course analyses both the historical and current SEND landscape, investigating the factors which have contributed to an increase in the numbers of children and young people being identified as having special educational needs and disabilities (DfE, 2024). In addition, the course will equip you to evaluate current practice within your own work setting and will help you determine strategies to support children and young people to fulfil their potential and make a successful transition into adult life. Drawing on the latest policy, research and practice in SEND, this course will equip you with skills in critical evaluation and practitioner research, enabling you to make informed contributions to development in policy and practice. Our diverse student body with practitioners from different professional backgrounds facilitates discussion, debate and the sharing of experiences in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will also learn from staff who are experts in their field and are actively involved in the field of SEND. Our course focuses on subject areas such as neurodiversity, mental health and inclusive practice and more. The learning on our course will give you the knowledge and understanding of the key issues within the special educational needs and disability sector, whilst increasing confidence to be able to advocate for learners and their families.