Special Educational Needs (SEN) Level 3 Diploma

This special educational needs (SEN) career pathway is new for 2014. It provides a progression route for people who want to develop a career working with children or adults who have learning difficulties and or disabilities.

It gives you the chance to apply new skills in a vocational setting and develop specialist skills to enhance your employability.

You attend College for two days a week and spend the rest of the week in the workplace in a specialist setting.

In College you learn about supporting learning, communication, different conditions that can affect development, ethics, and professional behaviors.

The course provides you with substantial work experience, where you will be able to apply the skills and knowledge you gain.

You will have the opportunity to complete a PTLLS course (preparing to teach in the lifelong learning sector).

English and maths will be embedded into the course. You will be taught within a peer group and there will be opportunity to share practice with other professionals. The course is based on continuous assessment and the successful achievement of vocational competencies.

You gain an enhanced vocational experience and specialist input on accredited units related to working with children/adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

You develop professional practice and build your CV with relevant employability skills. At the end of the course you will have access to employers who may be recruiting, and you’ll have a professional reference too.

To do this course you need to have successfully completed a Level 3 or equivalent qualification. You should have good communication skills and the desire to develop excellent professional behaviours and skills related to this sector. A clear DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) is essential.

Successful completion could enhanced your direct entry into employment within a relevant sector, e.g. working as a teaching assistant/learning support assistant in a school, working in adult day care, or working in sheltered employment.

You may choose to further your training and progress to a foundation degree or degree. We’ll help you to explore the best options for your future.