MA Education with Special Educational Needs and Disability

The area of special educational needs and disability (SEND) has seen much government interest recently. This course focuses on inclusion. You’ll be able to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and meet the aspirations of their families.

You’ll join a learning community of committed students, professionals and specialist tutors from a range of related disciplines. Here, the fields of education, health and social care and local and national government combine, as they must in the real world for the greatest outcomes. You’ll understand the perspectives and frameworks of the various stakeholders involved in supporting children and young people with SEND. That means you’ll never work in isolation.

You’ll learn about the duties of the different professionals you’ll encounter in your career, and the best practices followed. You’ll be able to see your role, and that of others, within the widest possible context. As SEND professionals, we play an important part in family life through to shaping the inclusive society we wish to see.

You’ll also develop as a specialist in your area of interest, with opportunities to build on the skills you need, alongside understanding. Your role will be to intervene, so we’ll concentrate on maximising your impact, including adopting the right strategies. We’ll help enhance your communication and inter-personal skills too.

Rather than sit exams, every assessment will advance the knowledge and skills you need in the field, from report writing to critical reflection and delivering presentations. This assessment work is well-supported; many of the professionals on this course returning to education find this extra help invaluable. Besides specialist tutors, you’ll benefit from guest lecturers and working alongside other MA Education students.

This course is offered full-time in both January and September. Applicants joining with credits from a PG Cert or PGCE can opt to take the course part-time in September.

Teaching times 2023-24 (subject to change for 2024-5)

• Full-time face to face: Monday 10am-1pm and 4-5.30pm; Tuesday 5-8pm
• Part-time face to face: either Monday morning or Tuesday evening depending on module
• Distance learning: one drop-in session every other week for each module

Course Leader: Dr Eleni Lithari