Course Overview

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.

Modules will be taught across evening and day time classes and there is also the option for part-time study. This means that it is possible to combine this course with an existing job or family life, depending on your modules.

If you are interested in progressing with your career to more senior or specialist roles, then this the perfect way to build on your existing credentials and to offer something extra to employers.

The 2015 Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (DfE/DoH) outlines that all teachers must be teachers of pupils with SEND and are responsible for the progress of all learners in their class.

With an estimated 20 per cent of young people in school having special educational needs, it is essential that teachers have a working knowledge of current research in SEND and take ownership of being competent in this specialism.

On this course, you will learn to critically engage with current thinking and ideas about inclusive and specialist education. Our excellent teaching staff will use their practical experience to develop your knowledge of specific learning difficulties, and support you in becoming a thoughtful practitioner who can apply wider research to inform your own practice.

You will gain a solid grounding in understanding a range of special needs across a variety of age groups. Subjects include autism, dyslexia, social and emotional mental health issues and other, wide ranging modules.

You will be supported by a diverse and extremely well qualified range of research active staff. The accessibility and approachability of our staff is paramount to our master’s programmes and our unique and dedicated approach to student support truly sets us apart.

You will have the choice of a full range of modules from across our different specialisms, allowing you to create a bespoke course that tailors exactly to your requirements.

We welcome applications from a broad range of academic backgrounds and will consider each individual application on its merit. The reason for your application is paramount and we would encourage you to apply if you have transferable skills from less traditional circumstances, such as industry or even personal experience.

Your Career

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.