Inclusive Education: Understanding Special Educational Needs
Gain vital insights and perspectives to help you provide more inclusive support for children with special educational needs.
Duration
Approx 15 weeks3 hrs per week
Develop skills to provide inclusive support for children in care and education
This ExpertTrack from The Open University explores the changing perspectives on the care and education of children described as having special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND).
Over 15 weeks, you’ll develop your understanding of inclusion and gain key skills to recognise and meet children’s changing needs in a range of educational and care settings for those aged from 0-12 years old.
Learn how historical approaches have shaped current practice
You’ll gain insights into how the past has shaped current responses to SEND, including the use of language, labels, and legislation.
You’ll reflect on how perspectives have evolved and shaped today’s global drive towards quality inclusive education for all babies and children.
Explore theory and legislation relating to additional needs
You’ll learn about the concepts of inclusion and inclusive practice within the UK, considering barriers to inclusivity in schools and other education settings and how you can overcome them in your own context, wherever you are in the world.
Looking at different models of SEND, you’ll consider how these may influence your own responses to individual children.
You’ll also cover relevant UK legislation, and the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and how this is implemented in practice.
Look through the lens of children and their families
Throughout the courses, you’ll hear from children living with SEND to relate learning to real-life situations. Their stories will deepen your understanding of how they see their own needs and demonstrate how every child is unique.
Gain practical skills to better support children with additional needs
You’ll explore conditions including communication and interaction needs, cognition and learning differences, social, emotional, and mental health needs, and sensory or physical needs.
Furthermore, you’ll gain critical knowledge about ways to identify, assess, and plan to meet the needs of children, including how to engage with families and professionals. You’ll also explore cultural and linguistic differences and how they impact and influence care and education.
Learn from experts in inclusion and special educational needs
This ExpertTrack has been created by leading academics at The Open University, known for their inspiring teaching in inclusive education and their research to influence practice, policy, and debate worldwide.
By the end, you’ll have the skills to respond effectively to the needs of a diverse range of children, creating environments and opportunities in which they feel included.
Key skills you will learn
- Identify strategies to support individual children
- Communication and collaboration with parents, carers and other professionals
- Intercultural understanding
- Appreciation of difference and diversity
- Applying ideas into everyday practice
Learning outcomes
By the end of the ExpertTrack, you’ll be able to...
- Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of historical perspectives on contemporary approaches to inclusion in schools and other educational contexts
- Demonstrate knowledge of current policies and procedures for the identification and assessment for children described as having special educational needs and/or disability
- Reflect on inclusion within educational contexts and how to engage successfully with children, parents, carers and other professionals
- Demonstrate an understanding of the uniqueness of each child’s needs
Experience required
You don’t need any prior experience to join this course. It would be particularly suitable for:
- Those working or volunteering in care and education settings
- Anyone seeking a career in supporting children or aspiring to be teachers
- Parents and carers of children described as having special educational needs and/or a disability
To be successful on the course, you should be willing to engage with reading material and be prepared for your thinking to be challenged. The skills you gain will be useful for learners across the globe.
Getting started
The ExpertTrack is designed to develop knowledge and skills to support babies and children under the age of 12 with SEND in care and educational contexts.
It’s particularly relevant for those who want to understand past and present approaches to inclusion in schools and other educational settings; learn about policy and procedures relating to identifying, assessing and supporting children with SEND; and those who are interested in developing their understanding of children’s rights and perspectives.
ExpertTrack course overview
Course 1
Understanding Inclusive Education: The Evolving Landscapes
Discover how inclusion in care and education provision has been shaped by historical perspectives.
1 test
5 weeks
3 hours per week
Course 2
Understanding Inclusive Education: Current Approaches
Explore current policies and practices relating to children’s needs in inclusive care and learning environments.
1 test
5 weeks
3 hours per week
Course 3
Understanding Inclusive Education: Children’s Individuality
Explore inclusive education from a unique child’s viewpoint to realise the benefits of a child-centric approach.
1 test
5 weeks
3 hours per week
Prove you're job ready
Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.
- Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
- Complete each course and pass assessments.
- Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
- Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
- Make your career dreams a reality.
Download a PDF
How ExpertTracks work
Join an ExpertTrack to master new skills in your chosen specialist area. Work through a series of topic-focused courses at your own pace, and pass the final assessment to earn a digital certificate award which proves your expertise.
Decide if the ExpertTrack is right for you with free access to the full suite of courses and assessments for a week.
Pay a monthly subscription fee of $39 for as long as it takes you to complete the ExpertTrack. You can learn at your own pace and cancel at any time.
Receive a certificate for every completed course and pass the final assessment to earn a digital certificate.
Use your specialist training to progress further in your career or build expertise in areas you’re passionate about.
World-class learning with The Open University
As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.
Established
1969Location
Milton Keynes, UKWorld ranking
Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020
Meet your instructors
I am an early years consultant and lecturer. I own a small group of private day nurseries. I am really interested in special educational needs, inclusion. I have two sons and three grandchildren.
Kathryn is an educational consultant who has been working in education for over 10 years. Kathryn is completing her PhD in inequalities and inclusion in education and is a teacher specialising in SEN.
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- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
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FAQ
ExpertTracks are a series of online courses designed to help you master new skills in specialist areas. You pay a monthly subscription fee which includes access to all courses within the ExpertTrack, as well as assessments and the final digital certificate.
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