Two routes to specialist assessment
Course type: Postgraduate – Level 7
Method: Online distance learning, blended
Outcome: Specialist SpLD teacher/assessor
Assessment is a highly regulated area.
Please note: you should already be qualified as a Specialist SpLD teacher before you can carry out training to become a specialist full assessor.
If you have gained a level 5 or level 7 SpLD Teaching Qualification and want to study to become a full assessor? There are two options for you to consider:
Option one: Hold a level 5 or level 7 SpLD accredited qualification?
Then you can opt to study two follow on courses with our sister company Real Training – M02A and M05C (details below)
Option two: In April 2023 Dyslexia Action will be offering a Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate – Specialist Assessment for Literacy-Related Difficulties (modules DAPP21-03 & DAPP21-04). See below and for further details email pgmail@dyslexiaaction.org.uk
You would need to have studied the following:
Please note: Dyslexia Action Level 5 and 7 courses are targeted at those who are interested in learning about specialist literacy techniques and are therefore designed for literacy practitioners who can commit to studying aspects of linguistics, phonetics and morphology in some depth.
+
30 credits, level 7 (and be registered) on the British Psychological Society Register of Qualifications in Test User (BPS RQTU) as Test User. If you do not hold a degree, you may be asked to complete an entry essay for acceptance on this course.
The CCET module is running several times a year, more details can be found on the course page here.
+
30 credits, level 7. If you do not hold a degree, you may be asked to complete an entry essay for acceptance on this course.
The DPRW course runs three times a year: 15 January, 15 May and 15 September.
Please note:
In April 2023 Dyslexia Action will be offering a Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate – Specialist Assessment for Literacy-Related Difficulties (modules DAPP21-03 & DAPP21-04).
See below for entry criteria.
If you would like to follow this route you will be required to study the theoretical bridging module in addition to Modules DAPP21-01 and 02:
Please note: Credits for DAPP21-01 will not be counted towards the Certificate in Assessment.
You may then be considered for entry to the following modules:
If you would like to follow this route we may consider 30 credits – Level 7 as recognition of prior learning (RPL). You may then be considered for entry to the following modules:
Please note:
You can only refer to yourself as a specialist teacher/assessor if you already hold a teaching qualification, without a teaching qualification you would refer to yourself as a specialist practitioner/assessor.
The Dyslexia Action Postgraduate programme is a competency-assessed course at Level 7, Master’s level, which requires tutor assessment of the candidate undertaking teaching and assessment. This means that other academic programmes that have not included competency assessment or are at a lower level (e.g. Level 5 or Level 6) will not qualify for accreditation of prior learning (APL).
For further details see: Recognition of Prior Learning
Dyslexia Action and Real Training 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 Postgraduate Certificate – Specialist Assessment for Literacy-Related Difficulties confers eligibility for Member of The Dyslexia Guild (MDG) recognised as the first grade of professional membership for a specialist teacher/practitioner/assessor and is awarded and quality assured by Middlesex University. This means that you will receive a Middlesex award upon successful completion.
Both routes are eligible to gain/apply for an Assessment Practising Certificate – SASC (subject to approval).
What is an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC)?
The Department for Education (DfE) requires that specialist teachers or support tutors who undertake specialist assessments in post-16 schools, colleges, universities, workplace training establishments and local authority assessment centres are competent and qualified to do so.
An APC is effectively a licence to practise. It confirms that you have the appropriate qualifications to undertake full diagnostic assessments and that your professional practice is up-to-date and has been externally verified as continuing to meet defined competence standards.
The Dyslexia Guild is an APC awarding body issuing Assessment Practising Certificates on behalf of the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC).
Either of the above two route options are eligible for an application of an APC. For further details click here
Established in 1972 and celebrating our 50th year, Dyslexia Action Training has been supporting online Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for international schools as well as UK-based educators. We love hearing how our courses and qualifications make a difference in the lives of education professionals working with individuals with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties.
However, it is also amazing for us to receive accolades in various established industry awards, as it gives us great confidence that what we offer is valued by acclaimed leaders and experts in the education section as well.