Learning and Teaching

Learning and teaching in special educational needs and disability and inclusive provision is a specialist field concerned with supporting the learning and development of children and young people with diverse needs in educational settings. SEND encompasses a wide range of conditions, including autism, dyslexia, developmental language disorders, physical and sensory impairments, and social, emotional, and mental health difficulties, and effective SEND support requires deep knowledge of how these conditions affect learning, strong pedagogical skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with teachers, parents, specialists, and the children themselves.

At the University of Northampton, this two-year full-time Foundation Degree in Learning and Teaching is specifically designed for support staff who are already working in specialist SEND and inclusive educational settings and wish to gain a formal qualification relevant to their professional role. The programme is particularly valuable for teaching assistants and learning support assistants who want to deepen and formalise their understanding of the principles, research, and practice underpinning effective SEND and inclusive provision. You will broaden your understanding of educational development and the context in which children's learning takes place, and strengthen your capacity to support learning and development within the wider life of the setting.

You will develop analytical and reflective skills, the ability to engage with educational research and apply it to your practice, and a deeper understanding of the policies and principles that frame SEND and inclusive education. The programme encourages you to interrogate your own professional practice through a relevant academic lens.

Graduates from this programme typically work as senior teaching assistants, SENCO support workers, or learning mentors, and many go on to top up to a full honours degree or pursue further professional development in education or social care.