Respond to a real-world challenge posed by a SEND service, organisation, or educational setting by designing an evidence-informed solution. Present your response as a recorded video of your professional multi-media pitch aimed at a non-academic audience. Your proposal should be underpinned by relevant research, policy, and practice, and demonstrate innovation, feasibility, and inclusive thinking.

This module has a key focus on employability within the working world. It aims to prepare students to consider how their knowledge, understanding and experiences of working in a SEND context have informed their personal philosophy. Core themes and questions to be explored on this module include:

What is distinct about SEND practice? To what extent is SEND practice unique and specialized? To what extent should it inform and challenge educational practice in the mainstream?

What is a “SEND professional”? What makes for “good” SEND leadership?

What philosophies and values guide practice in the field of SEND?

1. Apply SEND theory, policy, and research to design innovative and inclusive solutions to real-world practice challenges.

Programme Learning Outcome: Application and problem-solving Critical reasoning and collaboration

2. Communicate specialist knowledge effectively through a professional, multi-media pitch that demonstrates employability and entrepreneurial skills.

Programme Learning Outcome: Communication, Digital literacy

The teaching, learning and assessment strategy for this module has been carefully developed to reflect diverse ways of learning and to promote inclusive, future-focused practice. It recognises that you bring valuable practical experience and contextual knowledge, which will be used to stimulate discussion, debate, and critical reflection. You will be an active participant in your learning, engaging with online content, face-to-face sessions, group activities, simulations, and independent tasks. You will be encouraged to think critically, apply your learning in academic and professional contexts, and draw on both digital and traditional research methods to inform your understanding. Some sessions will require prior reading and independent inquiry.

A digitally enabled approach will support flexible, accessible engagement across virtual and face-to-face environments. University workshops will draw upon your experience and help you interpret it in relation to current thinking on teaching, learning, assessment, literacy, and numeracy. You will apply ideas explored in sessions to your future practice and collaborate with peers to prepare and present your work. This collaborative, practice-based approach supports the development of employability skills, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and reflective professionalism.

The methods used in this module are designed to provide practical and sustainable contexts for analysing contemporary issues. A range of strategies will be adopted to ensure a supportive learning environment and varied learning opportunities:

Work-Related Learning – You will reflect on values, practices, assumptions, and workplace policies during taught sessions. Class-based simulated activities, as well as workplace tasks where applicable, will enable you to make meaningful connections between professional practice and the issues explored on the programme, building sustainable approaches to long-term professional development.

Lectures – Delivered face-to-face or digitally, lectures will provide theoretical underpinning of key educational concepts and current debates.

Tutorials – Small-group and individual tutorials will provide the opportunity to discuss work-related and academic concerns. These sessions will support the development of theoretical understanding and reflective practice.

Guided reading and supported self-study – You will be provided with reading lists and research tasks to help you engage critically with relevant debates and strengthen your academic, digital, and research skills.

This module will also provide opportunities to:
* Work collaboratively with others
* Develop interpersonal and communication skills
* Plan, share goals, and work effectively as part of a team
* Communicate and present oral and written arguments
* Build professional attributes that contribute to long-term employability and sustainable practice

SEND Specific Research Journals
Live briefs from local SEND services and partners

Choudry, S. (2021) Equitable Education: What Everyone Working in Education Should Know about Closing the Attainment Gap for All Pupils. 1st edn. St Albans: Critical Publishing.

Hodkinson, A. (2024) Key issues in special educational needs, disability and inclusion. 4th ed. London: Sage.

Both texts cover relatable issues and debates that students will face in their careers

Ready to have an impact and be integral to a solution focused SEND service? This module helps you to explore what it means to practice in the field of Special Educational Needs and Disability in today's working world. Over the course of your studies, you will investigate and learn to articulate your own personal philosophy, solutions and values around what constitutes valuable SEND practice with a view to your next steps in the world of work.