During this course you will explore the range and breadth of SEND conditions. You will develop your knowledge and understanding needed to support children with SEND in a mainstream primary school. You will study and discuss legislation, policy and guidance related to SEND and the structures that support this in schools. You will also research a SEND topic of your choice and present this work to the group as well as undertaking assessed work. You will compile a portfolio of evidence of your learning that will prepare and support you for a paid or voluntary role in a school setting with children and young people.
Course aim
This course allows you to explore a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND); equipping you with the knowledge, skills and understanding to support pupils with SEND in a primary school setting.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This course is for a group of around 15 students studying in a live video-learning platform conference and an online digital learning environment platform from the comfort of your own home.
- This course is for improvers
- Students need a Level 1 qualification in English to join this course
- You will be expected to reflect on your own experience working with a range of children in a voluntary or employment capacity though this does not have to be directly working with children with SEND.
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Understand, recognise and describe the current regulatory framework in relation to primary aged children with SEND
- Understand the responsibilities of mainstream and special schools to meet the range and degree of SEND
- Consider and discuss the concept of inclusion when working with children with SEND
- Identify current approaches to dealing with behavioural issues, including children with SEND
- Determine and describe how to offer support to children with SEND
How will I be taught?
- The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will be expected to carry out a range of activities in your own time
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- You will be able to keep a record of your progress and achievement using photos, audio, text or documents uploaded into the WEA’s digital learning platform, WEA Canvas.
- Your tutor will provide written, text and audio feedback recorded in WEA Canvas, WEA’s digital learning platform.
- You will be able to keep a digital portfolio of your work on WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas.
- A file of work will be kept which will help to record your progress
What else do I need to know?
- What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- You will also need access to the internet outside of your sessions. You could do this using a smart phone, tablet, laptop or a desktop computer (at home or through a library etc.).
- You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- You will have access to course resources and links to wider learning through the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
- This course could lead to a range of job opportunities. Follow link to National Careers Service for more details https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/
- You could progress to Higher Education courses. Follow link to the PEARL website for information http://pearl.open.ac.uk/
- Access the WEA What Next? booklet here http://www.wea.org.uk/learn-wea/what-can-i-do-next
Download full course information sheet







