Diploma Teachers of Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties
Queen’s Register of Support Providers
OCR Level 5 Diploma Teachers of Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties: Information for 2016/17
If you are interested in becoming a Dyslexia Tutor, the prerequisite OCR (Oxford Cambridge RSA) Level 5 Diploma in Teachers of Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) is now available through two local providers, namely the NI Dyslexia Centre and Dyslexia Support. Please see below for course information and contact details.
NI Dyslexia Centre
The OCR Level 5 Diploma in Teaching Learners with Specific Learning Difficulties is co-ordinated at the NI Dyslexia Centre by John Clarke. It is a fully professional postgraduate course and qualifies successful candidates to assess the needs of dyslexic learners and to design / deliver appropriate programmes of learning support for them. The diploma course is open to a range of people and whilst previous teaching experience is recommended, it is not essential.
The course has a firm underpinning of theoretical and academic knowledge, coupled with considerable practical application through the identification and teaching of two learners with demonstrably different needs. This comprises a total of 20 hours over the year and candidates must choose their preferred area ie primary, secondary or adult. There is also a focus on the candidate’s self-assessment of their own work and learning. In addition, candidates are required to produce two reports based on other professionals' assessments plus a 3000 word essay on the history / application of SEN legislation in Northern Ireland and the provision made for the learners in the candidates' chosen area.
The course is delivered on a part-time basis from mid September and although the teaching element normally concludes by the end of June, candidates are given a full twelve months to complete the programme. The course extends over a minimum of 70 hours of lectures, seminars and workshops and is comprised of four units: Special Educational Needs Policy and Context; Assessing Learners with Dyslexia; Planning and Teaching Individual Learners with Dyslexia/SpLD and Evaluation of Teaching and Learning Programmes.
The course commences September and classes are held ononeevening per week (normally Wednesdays) from 5 – 7.30 pm. For details of the fee for the year plus the cost of the registration/certification fee to the OCR, please contact NI Dyslexia Centre directly (see below).
For further information please contact John Clarke, NI Dyslexia Centre, 17a Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, ; ; 90 654670 and/or see
Dyslexia Support
This Level 5 Diploma course in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties is delivered by former Belfast Metropolitan College tutors Joe Higgins and Brenda Degan. The course team has achieved ‘recognised centre’ status from the OCR, the awarding body that accredits the course.
Below is a description of the OCR Level 5 Diploma in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia/Specific Learning Difficulties and the requirements for successful completion.
The taught sessions and assessments are conducted by the course team, all of whom support dyslexic learners on a regular basis. Classes and individual tutorials take place in a central Belfast location on one evening per week.
The course is designed for professionals who have access to and an interest in supporting learners who have dyslexia or who have dyslexic-like difficulties with reading and writing. The course is a nationally recognised qualification for those wishing to support or teach dyslexic learners. It is also a necessary stepping stone to the Level 7 Diploma in Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia – a qualification which, among other things, enables holders to write Access Arrangement Reports.
The course is a taught course and commences in early September 2016. The finish date for all work is mid June 2017. Because of the internal and external verification constraints, work cannot be accepted after this time.
Candidates will receive a programme at the beginning of the course. This programme will include start and end dates, teaching sessions and target dates for assessment. These dates have been selected to spread the work over the period of the course and to make the assessment demands as manageable as possible. Candidates are strongly encouraged to adhere to these dates. Experience with previous classes has shown that those who present work on time are much more likely to be successful and enjoy the learning experience. Please note that there is a 90% attendance requirement for teaching sessions and tutorials.
In order to complete the course, it is essential to have access to two learners who have dyslexic-like difficulties. These learners must be in the same phase of education i.e. primary, secondary or post-16. They also need to be at different levels. For instance, in primary this would be Key Stage 1 and 2; secondary, Key Stage 3 and 4. In post-16 we will give you advice on how to meet this criterion.
Candidates are required to complete a short period of supervised teaching practice with each of two learners. At least one session with each learner will be observed. Dyslexia Support does not provide placements. It is the candidates’ responsibility to obtain permission to work with the learners from the relevant education/training institution and parents, if necessary.
Assignments are submitted as email attachments and marked and returned by course tutors in the same way. Candidates must therefore have a basic understanding of email and word processing applications and be able to use the Internet for research purposes. Candidates are also expected to have excellent written and oral communication skills.
Course Units
The course consists of four mandatory units:
Unit 1Understanding Special Educational Needs policy and context in relation to dyslexia/specific learning difficulties. In this unit candidates are expected to:
- Produce a report demonstrating knowledge of local and national policies in relation to special educational needs.
- Produce two separate reports showing how they use specialist reports to inform their own understanding of learners’ needs.
Unit 2Assessing the needs of individuals with dyslexia/specific learning difficulties. In this unit candidates are expected to:
- Carry out assessments on two learners (one of whom has literacy difficulties and one of whom has literacy and numeracy difficulties)
- Produce a detailed profile of both learners.
Unit 3Planning and teaching learning programmes for individuals with dyslexia/specific learning difficulties. In this unit candidates are expected to:
- Draw up long-term aims and short-term targets for teaching and learning programmes.
- Produce lesson plans for two teaching and learning programmes (12 – 14 hours delivered over a minimum of 6 weeks and 6 – 8 hours over a minimum of 4 weeks).
NOTE One teaching session for each candidate will be observed by a course tutor.
Unit 4Evaluation of teaching and learning programmes for individuals with dyslexia/specific learning difficulties. In this unit candidates are expected to:
- Produce a detailed overall evaluation of their teaching practice
- Produce outline plans for further blocks of teaching for both learners.
The Course Tutors
Course team: Brenda, Kelli, Joe and Lisa.
Joe holds primary degrees in English and in Social Science and has a Master’s in Applied Linguistics. He has post graduate qualifications in SEN, Reading Development, and Psychometric Testing. He is a qualified teacher with experience of working in primary and secondary schools and in the post-16 sector. He has also worked in an Education and Library Board as a Field Officer for Literacy.
Joe has substantial experience of tutor education and has developed and delivered CPD modules for further education and the training sector. At present he is an External Verifier for OCR’s diplomas in dyslexia/specific learning difficulties.
Brenda has a degree in Mathematics from Queen’s University and a PGCE from the University of Ulster. She is a qualified teacher and has completed the OCR level 5 and level 7 diplomas in teaching and assessing learners with dyslexia/specific learning difficulties.
Brenda has considerable experience of supporting children and adults with specific learning difficulties. She worked for many years in a management position in a further education college where she was responsible for basic education programmes. She has, in the past, worked as a consultant, specialising in designing and delivering courses in dyscalculia. She also has experience of training numeracy teachers to work in the post-16 sector and has developed materials for active learning in mathematics
Kelli holds a primary degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Criminology from Queen’s University Belfast. She also obtained a qualification in Restorative Practices from the University of Ulster. She is a qualified youth worker and has completed the OCR level 5 and level 7 diplomas in teaching and assessing learners with dyslexia/specific learning difficulties.
Kellihas experience of supporting offenders and currently co-ordinates a project working with young offenders and ‘at risk’ youth. She has been working in this field for 14 years, during which time she gained experience in supporting young people with special educational needs and dyslexia/specific learning difficulties. She presently provides dyslexia support in UUB, has assessed and taught both primary and secondary school-aged children with specific learning difficulties, and has delivered literacy-based courses for parents of children with specific learning difficulties.
Contact
The first point of contact for an application form is the course administer, Lisa. She may be contacted at . Anyone wishing to discuss the diploma with a course tutor may email Joe at or Brenda at .
Cost
The cost of the Level 5 for this year is £1495.