Inclusive Education: Exploring SEND Practice and Strategies

Transform your approach to inclusive education by exploring the nature of SEND

Nearly 1.5 million children in the UK have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), about 16.5% of the total student population. This makes it crucial for educators, caregivers, and family members of those with special needs to be equipped with the knowledge to support these learners effectively.

This four-week, introductory course from the University of Leeds delves into SEND, focusing on inclusive strategies and teaching methods through practical applications.

Learn practical support strategies for special education

Begin this course by exploring various support strategies tailored for special education settings. These strategies are designed to enhance learning experiences and address the specific needs of individuals with disabilities.

By exploring models of disability, you’ll learn how to approach supporting individuals with disabilities in educational contexts.

Gain insights about diverse learners from real-world experiences

Through practical case studies, you’ll deepen your understanding of SEND and the ways to support young and mature students with Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and dyslexia.

Become an advocate for learners with special educational needs 

Empower inclusive education and champion the rights of individuals with SEND by discussing legislative frameworks and policy guidelines with a dynamic learning community dedicated to fostering inclusivity.

Discover pathways for transformative learning and careers in education

You’ll wrap up this course by exploring additional SEND resources, career opportunities, and additional education programmes offered by the University of Leeds.

By the end, you’ll be prepared to help individuals with SEND thrive in educational environments by identifying and addressing their specific needs effectively.

This course is designed to help learners promote inclusive learning and equitable classroom environments through SEND applications and strategies.

It’s ideal for individuals pursuing a career in education, looking to upskill for SEND-related roles, or current educators, caregivers, or family members of those with special educational needs or disabilities.

You’ll gain a comprehensive overview of SEND principles and practices throughout this course, so no prior knowledge is needed to join.

• Introduction to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• Welcome
• People, definitions and ways of thinking about SEND
• Models of disability
• Summary
• The range of special educational needs and disabilities
• About Week 2
• Case studies: George and Vinita
• Summary
• Good practice in SEND support
• About Week 3
• SEND support practice in educational settings and at home
• Case studies: Holly and Akia
• Summary
• What's next for you?
• About Week 4
• Exploring sources of support
• Planning your next steps in SEND
• Summary