Learning and Teaching with SEND

Learning and teaching with special educational needs and disabilities is a specialist degree for those who work in or are interested in supporting learning across a wide range of educational contexts. It recognises that understanding how people with SEND learn is not a narrow specialism but a discipline with broad applicability, relevant in schools and nurseries, further and higher education, the voluntary sector, libraries, and museums. The programme draws on educational theory, psychology, policy, and practice to develop practitioners who can support diverse learners effectively.

At Leeds, this programme is studied part-time, designed specifically for people interested in or currently supporting learning and teaching in educational settings. You will develop theoretical knowledge of how disability and special educational needs are understood, categorised, and responded to in educational systems, alongside practical strategies for supporting learning across different populations and contexts. The programme develops your reflective practice, your capacity to evaluate evidence, and your ability to apply research findings to real professional challenges.

Graduates of learning and teaching with SEND programmes are well placed for roles as specialist support workers, SENCOs, learning support assistants, teaching assistants, and professionals in local authority SEND services. Many also move into educational management, advisory roles, or research. The degree provides a strong academic foundation for those who want to develop specialist expertise in SEND education, and it supports continuing professional development for those already working in the field.

Postgraduate study in special education, educational psychology, or inclusive practice is a natural next step for those who want to deepen their specialist knowledge.