Level 5 Diploma in Specialist Teaching (DIST)

The Level 5 Diploma in Specialist Teaching for Literacy-Related Difficulties (DIST) is a unique, online SpLD training qualification that trains teachers, teaching assistants and support tutors to become qualified specialist SpLD teachers (for those who hold QTS/PGCE) or SpLD practitioners (for those without QTS/PGCE). The programme is comprehensive, flexible and undertaken part-time.

Who is the Diploma for?

A wide range of teachers, practitioners and specialists who are interested in studying aspects of linguistics, phonetics and morphology in some depth and would like to learn specialist literacy techniques. Delegates are usually:

• Qualified teachers at all key stages
• Special educational needs teachers and coordinators (SENCOs)
• Teaching and Learning Support assistants
• Tutors and support staff in Further and Higher Education and other adult educational settings

What will I learn?

The Level 5 Diploma course will enable you to:

• Acquire a comprehensive understanding of literacy acquisition and gain the technical knowledge to foster language awareness in learners with literacy difficulties (including dyslexia)
• Get to grips with a literacy skills audit tool and use it to plan a bespoke literacy intervention programme
• Develop the expertise to use the Dyslexia Action Literacy Programme (DALP) which endorses a multifaceted approach to literacy teaching. Learning points cover knowledge of phoneme-grapheme correspondences, parts of speech, basic punctuation, suffixing skills and working with polysyllabic words
• Plan comprehensive individualised literacy sessions that are structured, cumulative and multisensory
• Analyse learners’ literacy performance with precision and accuracy using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
• Develop the skills to mentor and advise non-specialist staff on effective strategies for supporting learners with literacy challenges within your educational setting.

Which route is suitable for me?

Which level SpLD Teaching programme should I choose?

Level 5 Diploma in Specialist Teaching for Literacy-Related Difficulties (DIST) Routes

Graduate ‘Fast Track’ route

• For graduates holding a degree qualification (foundation degrees are not eligible)
• Who have at least two years recent and relevant experience in a school or college setting working with learners with literacy difficulties/dyslexia/SpLD
• Who work in primary or secondary, those supporting adults or those based overseas
• Who can commit to 13 (notional) hours of study per week for one year
• This qualification does not carry level 7* masters credits so cannot be used towards an MEd in the future but can be used in the pathway to gaining an APC

*You can opt to study the L5 Diploma (DIST) graduate route or our Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate: Specialist Teaching for Literacy-Related Difficulties route (offers 60 credits at masters level). You do not have to complete the L5 Diploma (DIST) route before moving to the Level 7 teaching certificate if you meet the entry requirements for the Level 7 programme in the first instance.

CPD Pathway route

• For non-graduates and graduates
• Who have at least one year of recent and relevant experience in a school or college setting working with learners with literacy difficulties/dyslexia/SpLD
• Who work in primary or secondary, those supporting adults or those based overseas
• Who can commit to 3-5 (notional) hours of study per week in the first year, and 13 (notional) hours study in the second year
• This qualification does not carry level 7 masters credits so cannot be used towards an MEd in the future but can be used in the pathway to gaining an APC

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) route

This route is for qualified specialist teachers who already hold a Level 5 or Level 7 SpLD teacher/practitioner qualification that would like to gain an introduction and practical experience of the Dyslexia Action Literacy Programme (DALP)

For detailed information about the DIST programme APL route, please refer to the syllabus document above. Please note, application conditions apply. Please contact trainingcourses@dyslexiaaction.org.uk with a copy of your L5/L7 CPD Certificate and an up to date CV for further guidance and to check if you are eligible.

Accreditation

Dyslexia Action courses have been in existence for over 50 years and have a respected profile in specialist teacher/practitioner-assessor training and support. Our courses meet several accreditation criteria reflecting the importance we place on the quality of our courses and high standards of teaching and learning which are intrinsic to our programmes.

The Level 5 Diploma (DIST) confers eligibility for Associate (ADG) membership of The Dyslexia Guild recognised as the first grade of professional membership for a specialist SpLD teacher/practitioner. It is approved by The CPD Standards Office and the British Dyslexia Association (subject to accreditation) for Approved Teacher Status or Approved Practitioner Status (ATS/APS) and PATOSS for Associate membership.