How you will learn
Yes, you'll learn the theory, but placements in schools sit at the heart of our course. Placements enable you to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to achieve Qualified Teacher Status and prepare you for a fulfilling and successful career in teaching.
The Inclusion with Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND) specialism is designed to provide a learning experience that is founded on a case study approach to pedagogy. You will be expected to engage in debate from the earliest stages, be aware of your own perceptions and how said perceptions can be influenced by a number of factors, specifically in the area of education and inclusion. This metacognitive approach will be adopted throughout the specialism in order to encourage active and independent thinkers, able to challenge, critique and debate matters pertaining to education, pedagogy and inclusion.
During the three year course, you will be encouraged to deepen your understanding of the inseparable links between classroom practice and the ethical, cultural and socio-political strands of inclusion. You will be given opportunities to reflect regularly, research in-depth and develop evidence-based practice.
There will be an opportunity for you to personalise the programme through an experiential placement in an educational setting of your choice and placements in mainstream, or specialist provision should you choose. This is all enhanced by a strong personal tutor system to support you throughout your time at the University of Cumbria. including if you choose.
How you will be assessed
Q3
Assessments take a number of forms, from written assignments and portfolios to placement reflections and class participation. Students complete short formative pieces of work, which prepares them for their summative pieces of work. The formative work may be peer-reviewed or shared in a round table discussion.
Assessments include essays, reports, lesson plans, medium-term plans, pieces of research about pupil’s individual needs, creating resources for use in the classroom, and reflections. Assessments are designed to become more open and possible to individualise in the final year and include a piece of small-scale research exploring an aspect of Education in which they are personally interested.
Q4 OR AS Q3 ABOVE
The teaching and learning strategy has been developed to be student-centred, flexible and modern whilst being challenging and stimulating. It supports learners’ needs at different stages of development to ensure equality and access to learning. Learning is promoted through the integration of:
- Academic study
- Practical activity
- Placement experiences
The programme modules utilise a full range of University of Cumbria digital resources and learning technology where suitable; for example, through the University’s virtual learning environment (Blackboard) and specialist resources. A variety of teaching and learning approaches will be used throughout the programme:
- Student-led seminars and presentations
- Debates
- Case studies
- Roleplay
- Evidence-based research (final year)
These are designed to match the learning outcomes and support your development to becoming an independent learner.
Modules use formative and summative assessment so that your progress can be evaluated in a structured and constructive way. During placement, you will be expected to be reflective and make meaningful links between theory and practice.
Placement
You will have school-based placement experiences in each year of the four-year course. During the course there will be opportunities for both Key Stage One and Key Stage Two teaching experience leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) – Primary (5-11 years); these placements are sourced by the University. You will have 32 weeks of placement experience in total; including the option to undertake one placement in a special school or specialist setting.
Initially, you will learn by observing classroom teachers and through tutorials with school-based mentors known as University Partnership Tutors. You will gradually put your knowledge and skills into action by teaching small groups initially; followed by whole classes of children as you build your confidence and expertise in promoting good progress and outcomes for children.