Learning and Teaching (Special Educational Needs and Disability) FD

This specialist Foundation Degree is designed for people currently working, or intending to work, with learners with special educational needs and disability (SEND) in specialist or mainstream settings.

With learning firmly rooted in professional practice, a key part of the course is the opportunity to complete a work-based learning module in a different SEND-related setting so you can reflect on differences in professional structures and practice.

The course is taught one afternoon a week by the Lifelong Learning Centre, so you can fit in study alongside your work and family commitments.

After the first three years of study you will receive your Foundation degree and can then progress to a BA degree with a further two years of part-time study. Many of our graduates progress to managerial positions both within and outside the education sector.

Additional support

We know that many mature and part-time students face unique challenges, including balancing academic study with family and employment commitments. The Lifelong Learning Centre provides specialist guidance, advice and support to mature and part-time students, from pre-application right through to graduation and beyond.

The course will develop your specialist knowledge through core and optional modules including: How Learners Learn, Typical and Atypical Development, Developing Teaching Skills and broader issues in Education. On successful completion of the FD Learning and Teaching (SEND) degree, you can progress to the BA top up in Learning and Teaching (SEND). The course includes core modules on Theories of Learning, Academic and Study Skills, Child development, Inclusion and SEND, Educational Research and Policy, Curriculum and Assessment, Learning Resources and Developing Teaching Skills. You will also have the opportunity to take optional modules in topics such as Dyslexia, Using Stories to Develop Learning, Counselling Skills, Coaching and Mentoring and Young People, Families and Mental Health.

The Foundation Degree is structured and delivered in such a way that you have the opportunity to understand and assimilate new ideas and concepts and to apply these in practice. Your choice of optional modules will allow you to develop more specialised skills and knowledge in areas which affect your own practice.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Learning and Teaching (Special Educational Needs and Disability) FD in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

Teaching is imaginative and supportive to make sure that you are intellectually stretched and helped to become an independent inquirer. Group sizes are small enabling you to engage actively and be well supported.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessments are varied and include essays, projects, case studies, individual and group presentations and posters. This wide range gives you the opportunity to work to your strengths and to gain skills in different forms of expression.

Entry requirements

A-level: 3 A-Level passes or equivalent eg CACHE Level 3

GCSE: English and Maths grade C/4 or above, or equivalent

Other course specific tests:

Applicants must also be engaged in relevant work (paid or voluntary) with a minimum of 60 hours per year.

• Access to HE Diploma

  Complete 60 credits with 45 credits at Level 3 of which 30 must be at Merit or above and 15 at Pass.

• Other Qualifications

  CACHE level 3

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

Alternative Entry for Mature Applicants
If you are a mature applicant (over 21 at the point of entry) and you don’t have the required A Levels or GCSE qualifications, you can complete our Alternative Entry Scheme (subject to meeting the eligibility criteria). As part of this you may be asked to take tests in English and maths and to write an essay. Contact the Lifelong Learning Centre for more information.

If you are a mature student or want to study part-time the Lifelong Learning Centre offers a free, confidential and impartial pre-entry guidance service. Our experienced staff can also talk to you about how you might meet the entry criteria and what support may be available to you.

How to apply

Apply to this course through the Lifelong Learning Centre.

We will treat all applications individually. We’ll take into account an applicant’s life experience and the circumstances in which they have gained qualifications and we encourage you to cover these things in your personal statement.

Your application will be reviewed by the Admissions team, and if you’re successful you’ll be invited to an interview which will involve a piece of writing. If you’re entering through the Alternative Entry Scheme you’ll be sent details after your interview.

Once you’re made an offer you’ll be asked to engage with KickStart. This is a pre-entry programme designed to ease your move into studying at the University of Leeds.

We will treat all applications individually. We’ll take into account an applicant’s life experience and the circumstances in which they have gained prior qualifications and we encourage you to cover these things in your personal statement.

Admissions policy

Lifelong Learning Centre Admissions Policy 2021

Fees

UK: See fees section below

International: Not open to international

UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2021 entry 
For UK full-time students starting in 2021, the fee for 2021/22 will be £9,250.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the UK government and may vary if policy changes.

EU students starting in 2021/22 
EU students starting their course in the 2021/22 academic year or later will now be classed as international students and so will need to pay the international student tuition fee.

UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2022/23 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. In other years, the government has confirmed fee levels in the summer. When the fee is confirmed we will publish an update on all course pages.

Tuition fees for new international students for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for international students are published on each individual course page. These are usually published a year in advance, so 2022 course fees should be available from September 2021.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

You will study at 67% intensity (80 credits) each year of your course. Fees for 2021/22 are £6,167 (67% of £9,250). The fee you are charged in future years will be calculated as a proportion of the full-time fee agreed for that year.

There are no upfront fees to pay. All eligible students are able to borrow the entire cost of tuition fees making study free at the point of entry, with good repayment terms. You are eligible if you are studying for 30+ credits per year on a programme which is at a higher level than any qualification already held. Previous study in Higher Education may affect your eligibility.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Depending on your circumstances, non-repayable financial support is available from the Leeds Financial Support scheme.

The Learning and Teaching (Specialist Educational Needs and Disability) Foundation degree provides you with skills to develop in your current role or access a diverse range of roles which involve supporting learners with SEND in specialist and mainstream settings. Some of these are in education but many are in other areas such as public and college libraries, voluntary sector organisations, children’s centres and hospitals. Many students go onto learning support and managerial roles in education such as managing teams of learning mentors, teaching assistants and behaviour support workers. Successful completion of the BA degree will enables you to apply for a postgraduate teacher training course.

Careers support

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.

The University and the Lifelong Learning Centre provide a range of activities to support LLC students looking to:

• explore their career options
• develop or enhance their employability skills
• gain work or voluntary experience
• prepare for promotion, review or a role change at work
• find and apply for jobs

Read more on the University’s Careers website.