ED4U032
Special Educational Needs/Additional Learning Needs: Contexts and Concepts (30 credits)
This module covers the most common learning difficulties and disabilities encountered in a mainstream educational setting. An appreciation of the difficulties is the first step towards making a positive contribution to inclusive education. The module discusses the changing perceptions of SEN and the practice of inclusive education in the context of the local landscape, with reference to international practices.

Module Aims

• To critically engage with and evaluate national and international research and literature in relation to theories, policies and contexts for SEN/ALN and learning disabilities.

• To raise students’ capability to adopt a holistic approach to meeting the needs of individuals with SEN/ALN and learning disabilities across the life-span.

• To examine practice in SEN/ALN, learning disabilities and inclusive education and critically reflect upon the tension between identification of need and the philosophy of inclusion.

• To develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of the range of SEN/ALN and learning disabilities which is informed by current multi-disciplinary scholarship and research.

ED4U027
Dyslexia: Theory and Assessment (ATS) (30 credits)
The module addresses the aetiologies, manifestations and implications of dyslexia and co-occuring specific learning difficulties (SpLD), including their complexity and diversity. It focuses on the identification and assessment of students with SpLD and the use of this assessment data to design relevant programmes of intervention. Besides focusing on specific difficulties in literacy and numeracy, it will also cover the wider spectrum of potentially associated conditions e.g. Dyspraxia, ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome, demonstrating clearly the inter-relatedness of many aspects of SEN covered in the MA SEN/ALN programme.

Module Aims

• To provide opportunities for students to acquire a knowledge and understanding of dyslexia, relating theory to practice.

• To provide opportunities for students to acquire a knowledge and understanding of the identification and screening of dyslexia.

• To enable students to consider and critically reflect on a range of response options which will enable dyslexic children and adults to manage their difficulties and improve basic literacy skills within their capabilities.

• To enable students to critically review recent research underpinning the current theories and methods of teaching learners with dyslexic-type difficulties.

ED4U019
Managing and Supporting CAMH and SEBD (30 credits)
This module focuses on individuals and groups of children and young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) difficulties and/or social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). The module discusses the different approaches used to manage these difficulties with a particular focus on the relevance to our local context.

Module Aims

• To support students in developing a critical understanding of policy and practice and research in relation to managing and supporting children and young people with CAMH difficulties and SEBD.

• To use experiential learning to explore a range of interventions, and where appropriate for students to reflect on their relevance and application to their own work contexts.

• To enable students to plan effectively for individuals and groups of children and young people with CAMH difficulties and SEBD within a range of health, social care, and educational contexts and to be able to support and advise colleagues in this field.

• To support students in developing an understanding of effective partnership working with families and multi-agency collaboration.

• To provide students with an understanding of legislation, policy, and the organisation of CAMH Services.

• To develop student’s ability to critically review national and international research relating to the effectiveness of interventions appropriate for CAMH difficulties and SEBD.

ED4U034
Working with Dyslexia: Linking Theory, Assessment and Practice (ATS) (30 credits)
This module enables students to develop a specialist evidence-based intervention programme at the individual level, based on a dyslexic learner’s assessment data. This module introduces students to a range of skills, knowledge and tools, including ICT, to facilitate supporting, advising and assisting colleagues to formulate and enact appropriate responses to the needs of learners with dyslexia.

This module includes a 20-hour teaching practicum spread out over a 6-month period. Students are required to teach a learner who is at risk of literacy difficulties in this 20-hour teaching practicum. The learner will have to be sourced from students’ own contacts.

Module Aims
• To develop the students’ abilities to effectively use a dyslexic learner’s assessment data to develop a specialist evidence based intervention programme at the individual level.

• To enable students to make appropriate and reasonable adjustments to the curriculum or within the workplace to accommodate the needs of learners with dyslexia.

• To present students with a range of skills, knowledge and tools, including ICT, to facilitate supporting, advising and assisting colleagues to formulate and enact appropriate responses to the needs of learners with dyslexia.

ED4U009
Research Methodology (30 credits)
This module provides an introduction to research methods in preparation for the MA SEN/ALN dissertation. It will familiarise students with the basic processes of conducting research, including general methodological approaches as well as research ethics. Assessment will consist of a critique of a research article and an outline plan for a research project, which may form the basis for the dissertation.

Module Aims

• To support students to critically examine the theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches which underpin the process of qualitative, quantitative and blended research.

• To support the critical evaluation by students of the research process, drawing on relevant research findings to impact positively on their professional practice.

• To support the deepening of students’ understanding and skills to enable them to carry out extended professional research.

• To critically evaluate research methodologies and their application to research in students’ own professional context.

ED4U008
DISSERTATION (30 credits)
In this 7,500-word dissertation, students are required to bring together what they have learnt and what has inspired the from the previous modules and produce a substantial piece of individual work that shows critical thinking and good research skills. It is important from the beginning of the MA SEN/ALN programme to think about possible projects for the Dissertation.

ED4T002
DISSERTATION (60 credits)
In this 15,000-word dissertation, students are required to bring together what they have learnt and what has inspired them from the previous modules and produce a substantial piece of individual work that shows critical thinking and good research skills. It is important from the beginning of the MA SEN/ALN programme to think about possible projects for the Dissertation.