Level 5 Diploma in Teaching Learners with Dyslexia, Specific Learning Differences and Barriers to Literacy
Who is the Level 5 Diploma course for?
We welcome applicants for our Level 5 course who are:
-
Qualified teachers at all ages/ stages with QTS or PGCE
-
SENDCos
-
Teaching & Learning Support assistants
-
Tutors and learning support staff in Further and Higher Education
-
Other professionals e.g. speech & language therapists, occupational therapists
-
Those interested in supporting their own children
As the course is online and at Level 5, applicants would need to have a good level of learning support experience, high levels of literacy and be competent in I.T.
What our attendees say about the course
My tutor knows so much and is very responsive.
I like having the materials in advance of the sessions so I can prepare, and the recordings are very helpful so I can listen again and recap when I need to.
I am really enjoying working with my tutor. She has a wealth of knowledge and is an excellent mentor.
The online sessions are great.
The course is well organised, and everything is very clear.
What will I learn?
This course will equip you with the underpinning theoretical knowledge and practical skills you will need to become a specialist teacher/practitioner and understand more about neurodiversity, dyslexia, and specific learning differences (SpLDs). You will learn about past and current theories of dyslexia and indicators of other SpLDs and find out more about the key legislation, policies, and guidance.
You will learn how to assess your learners to identify their strengths and challenges which will then inform your teaching. You will develop an understanding of specialist teachers’ and educational psychologists’ reports and how you can use them to develop a learning programme.
With your tutor’s support you will plan and deliver two ten hour specialist teaching programmes where you will be working with two learners, one in the context of literacy and the other in the context of literacy and numeracy. At least two sessions will be observed.
You will find out about evidence-based intervention programmes and assistive technology that you can use to support learning and will make games to use with your learner/s.
There are 4 Units that you will complete to gain your Level 5 qualification
How will I learn?
Our Level 5 course is held online and includes live online interactive sessions, workshops, tutorials, discussion groups, recorded lectures and directed study tasks. The live online sessions are held at the weekend or twilight (6-8 pm). These sessions will enable you to meet fellow students who may be working in different settings so you can learn and work collaboratively together. We would encourage you to attend these but, if you are not able to join us you can view them later online.
You will have access to our Virtual Learning Environment and a discussion forum and receive regular tutor support throughout the course.
Our tutors are qualified and experienced specialist teacher/ assessor who will mark your work and provide feedback and guidance.
You will be given a thorough induction and clear guidance from the course leader. There is a course handbook, and dates and deadlines are provided before the course starts
Course handbooks can be downloaded well before each session and recordings are available so you can revisit the sessions to recap.
If you’d like to know more about studying with us, book an online chat with the course leader:
Book an online chat with a course leader
Training with Us
Training with Dyslexia Herts and gaining the Level 5 Diploma can lead you to many rewarding careers and opportunities including:
-
Work as a specialist teacher
-
Develop and deliver learning programmes
-
Work more flexibly as a freelance specialist tutor
On successful completion of this course, candidates will also be able to progress to Dyslexia Herts’ Level 7 Diploma in Teaching & Assessing Learners with Dyslexia, Specific Learning Differences & Barriers to Literacy course
Course Outline
To become a specialist teacher/practitioner you need to successfully complete four units which give you the underpinning knowledge you need about barriers to learning, neurodiversity, and specific learning differences . You will also learn how to plan and deliver specialist teaching programmes:
-
Legislation & guidance relating to special educational needs & equality in relation to dyslexia/ specific learning differences
-
Major theories related to dyslexia and barriers to learning and their impact
-
Evidence-based approaches to overcoming barriers to learning including ICT and assistive technology
-
Assess the needs of learners with dyslexia/ specific learning differences and barriers to literacy/numeracy and know when to refer on to other professionals
-
Analyse test results and observe test behaviour and responses
-
Draw conclusions to inform a learning programme
-
Understand how legislation, policies and procedures affect your own practice
-
Plan lessons for individuals with specific learning differences and barriers to literacy
-
Communicate planned programmes to others involved with the learner/s
-
Deliver specialist teaching programmes
-
Draw up short term aims and long term targets for teaching and learning programme
-
Produce lesson plans for 2 x 10 hour teaching and learning programmes.
-
Produce one purpose made resource which supports learning targets
-
Use both assistive and contextual technology:
-
Accessibility tools on a PC or Mac
-
A minimum of 2 commercial assistive technologies e.g. text to speech/ speech to text
-
When?
The course runs over three terms and is held online with a blend of live interactive sessions, recorded webinars, and tutorial support. The live sessions are held on Saturdays or Twilight sessions ( 6-8 pm).
Our next start date will be January 2025. We are open for applications.
Where?
Session are held online:
-
Live sessions
-
Webinars (recorded)
-
Discussion forums
-
Tutorials
Time commitment
We would suggest you allow at least one day a week for your studies. Of course, we all work and learn in different ways, and this will vary from one person to the next.
We know that there are times when things do not go as planned and circumstances mean a student cannot complete the course within timescales. We will be flexible and discuss alternatives with you which could be an additional term for completion.
Fees & Funding
Fees for 2025 are £3750 plus VAT
Candidates are either fully or partially funded by their school/college, local authority, or self-fund. We are able to split the cost into 4 instalments spread over the year. Payments can also be made by Debit/Credit card.
If a school/ college is paying for the course the VAT (20%) can be offset
Interested?
To find out more please book an appointment or contact us by email
To apply please complete our course application form. We will get in touch to arrange to meet you.
Reading list
If you are interested in joining here are some key texts from our reading lists:
- Muter, V., (2021). Understanding and Supporting Children with Literacy Difficulties: a Practitioners’ Guide, London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers
- Kirby, P, & Snowling , M.J., (2022). Dyslexia: A History, Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University press
- Reid, G., (2016). Dyslexia A Practitioner’s Handbook, Chichester: John Wiley & Sons
- Cottrell, S., (2024). The Study Skills Handbook 6th Edition, London: Bloomsbury Publishing
- Kelly, K., and Phillips, S., (2022). Teaching Literacy to Learners with Dyslexia: A Multisensory Approach. 3rd Edition, London: Sage