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Are you ready to take the next step in your specialist practice or just want to learn more about literacy difficulties and assessment?

Our The Science of Literacy Difficulties for Intervention and Assessment module is for practitioners who want to deepen their understanding of literacy difficulties. This module [CS1.1] will let you delve into the theory and the assessments to identify potential causes of difficulties and their impact on reading and writing. This can expand professional opportunities in the field of education, literacy difficulties, and dyslexia.

This module links science to assessments to practical intervention. This course focuses on the theory, linking to our practical teaching and assessing courses. The Science of Literacy Difficulties for Intervention and Assessment can be taken before our Specialist Teaching Practitioner module, or before our Practical Assessment of Literacy Difficulties module.

This module forms an essential part of our accredited Specialist Teacher Assessor Qualification with the modules:

• Specialist Teaching Practitioner
• Specialist Assessor: Practical Assessment of Literacy Difficulties and Dyslexia (SpLD)[CS2.1]

Successful completion of all three modules is required to register for an Assessment Practicing Certificate (APC) with a professional body such as PATOSS, BDA, or Dyslexia Guild.

Who is this course suitable for?

This course will benefit teachers, tutors, teaching support staff and assistants, speech and language therapists, and those working with learners with additional learning needs or learning differences.

Applicants are not required to have completed any previous courses to undertake this study. You should have the academic skills to be able to study at this level. For candidates who would like to go on to complete the Specialist Teaching Practitioner and Practical Assessment of Literacy Difficulties course you will need to have two years’ experience working with children and young people in an educational or therapy role for these courses.

Why study this course

This course forms part of the qualification for candidates to progress towards accreditation as specialist practitioners in the assessment of literacy difficulties and dyslexia in children and young people who experience challenges in developing their literacy skills.

You will learn about underlying cognitive strengths and limitations and how they can make it more challenging for a child or young person to develop literacy skills. The course will look at how to assess these underlying cognitive abilities using assessment tools and how these results might link to assessment results in reading and writing attainment. This information helps you to understand your learner and help identify the right support and reasonable adjustments for them at an early stage.

Main learning objectives:

• The ability to understand and critically appraise: Current research underpinning contemporary theoretical explanations of the nature of dyslexic-type difficulties and its relevance for teaching and learning.
• The ability to understand and critically appraise: The relationship of that theory to the assessment of cognitive strengths and difficulties of learners.
• The ability to understand psychometrics and educational testing.
• Understand and critically appraise the role of ICT in screening for literacy difficulties and dyslexia.
• Demonstrate[CS1.1] an understanding of the methods principles of, and an ability to deliver, staff development for an inclusive curriculum.

This is a level 7 course and will require the academic skills necessary to study at this level.

This course will support learning on the Specialist practitioner course: teaching learners with literacy difficulties and Dyslexia (SpLD), however, it is not required for professional accreditation for ATS / APS (Accredited Teacher Status / Accredited Practitioner Status).

On completion of this module, practitioners may choose to progress to our Specialist Assessor Course: Practical Assessment of Literacy Difficulties and Dyslexia or Specialist practitioner course: teaching learners with literacy difficulties and Dyslexia (SpLD).

Successful completion of our three courses will lead to an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) with SASC (SpLD Assessment Standards Committee).

How long does this course take to complete?

This module is delivered over 6 months and with additional modules can form part of a professional accreditation. It can be taken before or after our Specialist practitioner course: teaching learners with literacy difficulties, however, it should be completed before starting the Practical Assessment of Literacy Difficulties module.

Candidates should expect to commit approximately 12 hours per week to self directed study in order to meet the course requirements. This study time is in addition to live teaching sessions, lectures, and assessment focused training.

The next start date is January 2027. Apply now to secure your place.

Information about any assessments

Assessment on this module is designed to develop and evidence the theoretical understanding and the communication skills required for successful course completion.

Assessment methods include a range of activities, such as:

• Written assignments exploring the theoretical frameworks underpinning literacy difficulties.
• Online assessments and quizzes to consolidate core knowledge
• Professional Development Presentation to course members

Formative assessments are completed throughout the course to support learning and to evidence engagement with the required learning hours.

Summative assessments are completed to demonstrate that the candidate has met the professional and academic standards required to successfully pass the course and progress towards accreditation.

Tutor

Ruth Elliott

CPD lead with the Miles Dyslexia Centre 
specialist teacher and assessor of pupils and adults with literacy difficulties. She is a qualified teacher and holds AMBDA with the British Dyslexia Association. She is currently the lead for continued professional development (CPD) with the . She is also a content creator and advisor for the CA:LON project.

What will you study on this course?

The module uses a blended learning approach, combining on campus teaching at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ with online learning through pre recorded content and live sessions. Learners may choose to study fully online if they prefer.

Assignments may be completed in both Welsh and English.

£650 when booked with the Practical Assessment of Literacy Difficulties or Specialist Teaching Practitioner : teaching learners with literacy difficulties and Dyslexia

£750 when booked as an individual module

Applicants should be confident that they can study at level 7. This may come from prior learning, professional training, or experience.

Contact us if you would like to discuss if you are ready to study on this module