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This course is designed to develop Leaders in Inclusive Education with a specialist expertise in SEND practice. Developed in collaboration between the University, Leadership Experts and SEND Specialists, you have the opportunity to learn from the most experienced and advanced Inclusion trainers in the world.
This MA is a fully online, high-quality and interactive programme delivered in partnership with industry specialist, the SENsible SENCO, Abigail Hawkins. The experts lecturing throughout this course have supported thousands of schools and SENCOs, and their mission is to help SENCOs advance, either within the world of SEND or to utilise what they have gained to transition into other fields.
This master’s aim is to enable teachers to develop their leadership competency and SEND knowledge through critical evaluation of research and scholarship, and to integrate this with their own practice. You will be able to analyse, engage in and reflect on these educational issues and on the implications for their own educational setting.
You will learn how to integrate theory and practice to support the development of these roles and in turn, learn how to improve positive outcomes for pupils with SEND.
This course is available to those in the UK or abroad who wish to develop their SEND knowledge and practice. The course lead and tutors are skilled at tailoring content to meet the needs of international colleagues, whilst also ensuring fidelity to the course programme.
Course highlights
- This is a work based, flexible and practical programme carefully crafted to support new and aspiring Inclusive SEND Leaders into developing critical, reflective and effective practices in their role.
- We advocate inclusive practice and support SEND leaders in using critical reflection, research and tasks to improve provision and outcomes for vulnerable pupils.
- You will be taught and supported by a highly skilled course leader, tutors and supervisors who are experts in SEND provision.
Course breakdown
The course runs across three years to enable students to have a break between completing the Diploma and starting your dissertation.
Termly, online support is provided from an experienced tutor.
Teaching methods
This master’s is designed to be work-based, flexible and a practical programme. The course is delivered through a combination of seminars and tutorials with input from SEND and Leadership experts.
You will receive a week-by-week guide which will cover a range of different teaching methods including Webinars, Films, Readings and Independent Study. Trainees will meet virtually with their supervisor and engage in five reflective tasks to support understanding and application of the most effective and inclusive practice as a SENCO. You will be fully supported to develop your writing at Level 7 (Masters) standard and will receive training both in theory, developing practice and developing Leadership.
Assessment methods
All work can be completed through distance learning and is supported by online resources via the University’s Moodle platform. An emphasis is put on students to be self-managed, completing work-based reflective tasks in relation to effectiveness in the role of a SEND Leader. You will complete an assessment at master’s level and professional reflections.
You will also critically engage with scholarship, which will inform your assessments, and you will learn about different SEND and Leadership theories along with related strategies. You will be expected to read around your subject area but will also be provided with a large number of relevant resources to help you work through the course.
Students will be fully supported through training to be able to complete assessments throughout the three modules of the course. A breakdown of the modules can be found in the Curriculum Handbook. Assessment methods include:
- A dissertation (12,000-15,000 words) that enables you to specialise in a particular area of policy and/or practice. You will be supported in all aspects of research, literature review and the writing up.
- A reflective essay.
- A Professional SEND Development Portfolio (Moodle), where the focus is on the student to reflect on their own practice within their education institution in order to have met the SEND learning outcomes.
- Five reflective tasks, each of 1,500 words.
- An assignment of 8,000 to 10,000 words.