Year 0
You will take 5 core modules plus one optional module. Optional modules will be offered subject to cohort size and you may choose to take a module which relates to your overall degree choice.
Optional module choices are made in the second semester and become the last module taken.
However, you are not locked into the choice of overall course but may choose to change pathways at the end of the Foundation Year (Year 0). Alternatively, you may choose to take a Certificate of Completion and apply to another degree course, subject to entry criteria.
Core modules
- Introduction to Education
- Applied Literacy, Numeracy and Science Skills for Education
- Communication and Academic Skills for Higher Education
- Personal and Career Development
- Introduction to Human development through the Lifespan
Optional module
Year 1
Reflective Practice and Professional Identity
The module aims to develop your graduate skills in the context of reflective practice and professional identity, and in doing so also support your transition into studying at higher education levels. Skills for independent learning, selfreflection and time management will be explored and developed, and this will include a consideration of pre existing study skills and work experience. Regarding professional identity, essential concepts and underpinning principles for practice in the context of working with those with special educational and inclusion needs will be explored.
An Introduction to Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Studies
The aims of this module are to ensure you develop a good understanding of the issues that surround discrimination, disability and equality in our society and of the concept of inclusion with a particular focus on children, young people and adults with special educational needs, and their families. The history, psychology, economic and social dimensions of these issues will be explored, along with an analysis of their impact upon individual impact upon individuals and their families.
Health Across the Life Span
The module aims to explore the concepts of health and well-being of all individuals from conception across their lifespan.
You will analyse and evaluate the contexts of health including physical, mental/emotional, environmental and social contexts including global, international, economic, political and social aspects.
Theories of Learning
The aim of the module is to provide opportunities for you to develop an understanding of different theories of learning and critically explore the implications of relating theory to practice. The module will explore current brain research and the contribution of neuroscience on theories of teaching and learning. You will also examine theories of child development fundamental consideration of working with children and adults with additional needs.
Social and Emotional Development
The aims of this module are to introduce you to the importance of social and emotional development. The module will examine emotions and cognitive processing, and the relationship between emotional and social behaviour. The relationship between health and social and emotional development will be critically evaluated.
Physical and Sensory Development
The aims of the module are to provide a broad overview of the features of typical sensory and physical development. The module will also explore the specific difficulties that can be experienced by children and young people who experience atypical physical and/or sensory development. You will practically engage in accessibility audits in the local community. Students in previous years have visited local museums and parks.
Year 2
In year two, you will study the following core modules:
Professional Placement
The aim of the module is to provide you with practical experience of working with children with additional needs and their families, in order to develop and underpin your knowledge of theory and literature. You will primarily focus on the issues surrounding provision for children and families in a wide range of contexts within the placement setting. Examples of placement settings our student have been on include children's homes, children's hospital wards, special schools and shadowing a speech and language specialist.
From Learning to Labour
The main aim is to develop your knowledge and understanding of curriculum models within an historical, political and ideological context. You will recognise the historical progression of government policies and statutory curriculum models. You will have the opportunity to apply previous knowledge in developing a critical understanding of educational practices and encounter alternative international models and theoretical models of how children learn to identify and examine what constitutes an appropriate pedagogical approach.
You will then choose from the following list of likely optional modules:
Services for Specialist Provision for Children, Young Adults and Families
The module aims to provide a critical understanding of community provision for children and families in need of specialist support. You will consider service provision from universal to specialist, including support, education and intervention situated within the complex relationship between theory and practice (praxis), children’s agency and social policy.
Research Methods and Design
The module aims to provide you with an overview of different research traditions with a particular emphasis on the challenges of conducting research in sensitive areas or with vulnerable participants.
Speech and Language Development
This module aims to enable you to increase your understanding and awareness of typical and atypical development of speech, language and social communication. It will consider the differences between language delay and disorder.
Perspectives of Autism
This module aims to provide you with knowledge of the theoretical, clinical and person constructs underlying autism. You will become familiar with current policy and legislation and will explore through reading, direct input and discussion issues of classroom pedagogy and social inclusion.
Inclusive and Assistive Technology
The module’s aims are to develop knowledge of inclusive technology, assistive technology and the philosophical difference between the two in order to develop an understanding of the way in which technology can help people overcome elements of their impairments.
Inclusion in the Arts and Cultural Activities
This module aims to enable you to develop your knowledge of inclusive practice and education within the arts. Understanding of the philosophies of issues such as inclusion within disability arts, passive and active exclusion will be developed in the context of educational and creative environments, literature, broadcasting and digital media.
Disability, Film and Media
You will explore issues surrounding how images of disability is portrayed in film and media. Drawing from a range of material spanning across different eras, you will use your theoretical knowledge to analyse how these images impact on perception of disability.
Year 3
You will study the following core module in your third year:
Values, Justice, Participation and Society
The module aims to support your critical engagement with key theoretical perspectives, concepts, research and debates associated with social justice, inclusion and exclusion and (in)equalities as they relate to policy, education related issues and the wider contexts of children’s, young people’s and adult’s lives. You will be supported to engage with critical pedagogy and a range of political, sociological and philosophical perspectives to examine how societal systems and structures may reproduce and perpetuate social inequalities with regard to marginalised, vulnerable and excluded groups of children, young people and adults.
You will then choose from the following list of likely optional modules:
Global Perspectives on Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Studies
This module will examine global political, ideological, economic and social factors recognising global differences and embedded global inequalities.
Challenges and Opportunities in Managing the Inclusive Organization
The aims of the module are to develop your understanding of the issues surrounding diversity and inclusion in a variety of private and public sector organisations.
Specialist Independent Enquiry
You will have the opportunity to research an area of interest related to special educational needs and inclusion. From this, you will produce a high quality structured research project which may inform your future career development. Projects by recent students have included cross-cultural comparisons of SEN in the UK and Cyprus and visual impairment and accessibilty.
Cognition and Learning Difficulties
This module aims to give insight into the complexities of human cognition and learning and the impact of atypical cognition upon learning and development. It builds upon previous knowledge about theories of learning. After developing your understanding of key theory and research related to typical cognitive development, you will consider the history, classification and terminology related to children and young people whose cognition follows an atypical pathway.
Inclusion in Adulthood
This module aims to enable you to develop knowledge of inclusive practice for adults and will explore the difference between the needs of adults and children, and between people who are born with special needs and those who acquire impairments and special needs in later life.
We continually review and where appropriate, revise the range of modules on offer to reflect changes in the subject and ensure the best student experience. We will inform applicants of any changes to the course structure before enrolment.