About This Course
Explore key debates on inclusion and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) across school and Further Education (FE) settings. This module blends theory with best practice, encouraging critical reflection on ALN policy and classroom application. Students will develop inclusive strategies, engage in collaborative learning, and evaluate real-world approaches to supporting diverse learner needs
Who is this course suitable for?
Practitioners currently working within the education sector. This may include, but is not restricted to:
- Senior leaders
- Teachers
- Teaching assistants
- ALNCos
- Practitioners working in the local authority
- School improvement partners
- Estyn staff
Why study this course
By the end of the module the student should be able to:
- Critically engage with debates around inclusion in education, including those pertaining to more able learners
- Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of ALN policy in their context.
- Analyse key challenges that create barriers to supporting the needs of learners with ALN and how they should be addressed in the classroom.
- Critically and creatively challenge current practice based on their knowledge and understanding of factors affecting ALN.
- Explore effective collaboration others to best support learners in the classroom.
How long does this course take to complete?
This short course runs over eleven weeks. Students will be expected to work through self-guided workbooks and attend two 7-hour online weekend teaching days.
Information about any assessments
This module requires students to create a 4000 word ‘toolbox’ to support inclusive classroom practice and a reflection of its effectiveness in the classroom.
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
This module offers a critical exploration of Additional Learning Needs (ALN) and inclusive practice across educational contexts, from schools to further education. Learners will engage with current debates and examine the evolving policy landscape in Wales, gaining insight into how inclusive strategies can be applied meaningfully within their own settings.
Through the study of key theories and up-to-date research, students will develop a nuanced understanding of ALN, including how policy, theory, and practice intersect. The module supports students in analysing the strengths and limitations of current ALN provision, with particular focus on identifying and addressing classroom barriers that impact learners with additional needs—including more able learners.
Collaboration and professional dialogue form a central part of the learning experience, allowing students to share best practices and critically evaluate real-world approaches. By examining case studies and drawing from international and national perspectives, students will be encouraged to creatively challenge current practices and develop strategies to enhance inclusive teaching.
By the end of the module, learners will be equipped to critically reflect on their own practice, work collaboratively to support diverse learners, and implement informed, inclusive approaches that respond to the complex realities of the classroom.
Further information
All online workbooks are available bilingually. Where possible, online synchronous sessions will be offered in both Welsh and English. However, please note that if there are insufficient Welsh-speaking participants to enable meaningful discussion, you may be invited to join an English-medium session.
Course Cost
- The fee for the 2026/27 academic year will be £1056.00 (including VAT).
- Please see our Postgraduate Fees and Finance page for further information.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in any subject. They must also hold a current role within the education sector to complete reflective activities in the workbooks and assignments.
Level of English language skills
Fluent
Level of Welsh language skills
Not required if you are completing the course via the English Medium.
Application
How to Apply
Please make sure you read and follow the step-by-step application guide as this will specify which sections of the application form are compulsory for the type of course you want to apply for and save you time.
Please prepare the following information (in a Word document):
- Current employment details;
- Years of experience, and employment history (where relevant)
- Name of staff member and organisation that have approved your funding for this module.
This will speed up the process of completing the application form.
To apply for this course, you need to create an account in our
You will need access to the email address you specify while creating your account to confirm it.
After creating an account, you will see a homepage with several tabs:
- Personal
- Programme
- Info
- Contact
- Education
- Employment
- Language
- Finance
You need to complete all sections before submitting your application.
When a section is complete, a ‘tick’ symbol will appear below it.
- Click on ‘Non-graduating applications / Stand alone Modules’, then select ‘Non-graduating Postgraduate ,Level 7.
- In the next section, select Non-Graduating Taught Modules in Education (NGGT/EDU) Click Save and Continue.
- On the next page, the default for the first question is Full Time. You need to change this to ‘Part time’:
- You now need to input the module code. Inclusive classroom practice : the code is XME-4304; XMC-4304 (depending on language medium). This section must be completed for your application to be processed.
- You also need to state the start date. Please make your selection, then click ‘Save and Continue’.
- IMPORTANT: You do not need to write a personal statement to apply for this course. Instead, please upload the document including employment, experience and education information that you have created prior to starting the application that contains the name of your current employer, the number of years of experience you have, and your highest qualification to date. Click Save and continue.
You only need to enter the details of your highest qualification to date, e.g. if you have a postgraduate qualification, please only only include this.
You will be asked for evidence of the qualification. Please either upload a copy of your qualification if it's easily accessible, or upload the Word document again (that you prepared earlier).
Please scroll to the bottom of the page and click on ‘I have no employment history’ (as you have already provided this in your Word document).
If you are funded, please answer the questions as follows:
- How will you finance your studies? Sponsored
- Exact name of funding authority:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Give details of the amount of the award? Fully funded.
- Sponsorship will cover: Tuition Fees
- Have you been awarded this funding? Please select ‘yes’ * Note that you will be required to upload evidence of the funding. If you wish to confirm ‘yes’ to this question, but do not have any written confirmation to upload, you can upload your Word document here again.
If you are self-funding, please provide all details as appropriate.