Special Educational Needs and Disability Studies

Special educational needs and disability studies is a discipline concerned with understanding the diverse ways in which children and young people learn, develop and experience education, and with developing the knowledge, skills and values needed to support those whose needs fall outside the mainstream. It draws on developmental psychology, education policy, sociology, inclusive education theory and professional practice to address questions about how educational systems can better meet the needs of all learners, and how practitioners can develop the understanding and skills to make that happen.

This three-year full-time degree at the University of St Mark and St John prepares graduates to work with children and young people who have special educational needs and disabilities, developing both academic understanding and the professional and personal standards that work with this population requires. You will study the theoretical and legislative frameworks that govern SEND provision, the specific needs and learning profiles associated with different conditions, inclusive curriculum and pedagogy, and the multi-agency working that effective SEND support demands. The programme requires all students to share a commitment to safeguarding and to the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, recognising the vulnerability of the children and young people with whom graduates will work.

Graduates work in special schools, mainstream schools with SEND roles, local authority SEND teams, educational psychology services, early intervention programmes, youth and community settings and voluntary organisations supporting disabled children and their families. The degree provides a foundation for further professional qualification and specialisation, including training as a specialist teacher, SENCO, educational psychologist or support professional in a range of disability and inclusion contexts. Further postgraduate study in special educational needs, inclusive education or educational psychology is a common route for those seeking specialist expertise.