Overview

This intellectually challenging and thought-provoking course offers you a hugely rewarding undergraduate experience here at the University of East London.

It opens up the world of Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and offers you the chance to enter the world of work with confidence. We'll equip you for a range of careers helping to bring about a more inclusive society.

Our course takes you on a fascinating journey through this complex area. You'll learn about every aspect of the subject in line with government policy. This includes autism, speech, language and communication, challenging behaviour, disabilities, dyslexia, therapeutic teaching and learning, as well as alternative educational provisions.

You'll develop a reflective approach to special education and critical thinking skills that are transferable to the workplace.

Students on this course come from all over the country because its content is so comprehensive. Many already work with children with SEND.

We'll allow you to bring your passion and experience to the course. We put an emphasis on sharing and discussing personal experiences to enrich our teaching.

Find out more

Course options

Select year

Degree

UCAS code: XC61 112 UCAS points

BA (Hons) Special Education, home applicant, full time
- Home Applicant
- Full time, 3 years
- Pound 9250 Per year. You don't need to pay this up front.
Apply through UCAS
BA (Hons) Special Education, home applicant, part time
- Home Applicant
- Part time, 6 years
- Pound 2310 Pro-rata Full time fee
Apply direct
BA (Hons) Special Education, international applicant, full time
- International Applicant
- Full time, 3 years
- Pound 14820 Per year
Apply direct

Degree with foundation year

UCAS code: XC60 48 UCAS points

BA (Hons) Special Education, home applicant, full time
- Home Applicant
- Full time, 4 years
- Pound 9250 Per year. You don't need to pay this up front.
Apply through UCAS
BA (Hons) Special Education, international applicant, full time
- International Applicant
- Full time, 4 years
- Pound 14820 Per year
Apply direct

What makes this course different

Highly rated by our students

96% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on "Teaching on my Course” in the 2023 National Student Survey. (National Student Survey 2023, Results published 10 Aug 2023)
Find out more
Foundation year

Find out more about our flexible early childhood studies, education and special needs foundation pathways.
Learn about foundation year
1st in London

Our Teacher Training courses ranked 1st in London for “Assessment and Feedback” (National Student Survey 2023, Results published 10 August 2023)
Read the survey

Course modules

Select year

Mental Wealth: Introduction to Academic and Professional Identity/Practice

Core Module

This module is the first of four rungs on the Career Passport pathway which recognises the importance of acknowledging the value of skills, competencies and experience (SCE) beyond academic subject assessment to aid the graduate in securing a job and supporting career acceleration.

The module will allow you the opportunity to acquire tangible evidence to support their employability narrative, at intervals as you progress throughout your academic studies.

Areas of focus will include intelligence and digital proficiency. Individual intelligence includes the intrapersonal ability to identify, assess, and regulate one’s own emotions and moods; to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions and where one has to make consequential decisions for oneself. These areas will be covered under four areas, emotional, social, physical and cognitive intelligences.

Digital proficiency will provide you with an environment to explore your ability to use ICT effectively; understand the implications of the proliferation of technology and access to information; and develop competencies to realise opportunities in the connected digital social and economic space. All UEL students should have access to a Digital Skills Planner (and accreditation programme) to ensure all get to the ‘Digital Competence’ level. Where degree-appropriate, a further Digital Expertise route would be available.

Introduction to Early Childhood, Special Needs and Education

Core Module

Social, Emotional and Mental Health

Core Module

The aims of this module are:

To reflect on what is meant by behaviour. In doing this, you will be encouraged to consider the effect of issues including stereotyping, expectations and language on how such ‘challenging’ behaviour might be described.
You will consider a range of views on how best to support children who may display SEMH difficulties, including the importance of working with parents/carers and specialist agencies.

Placements in Context - Play and Learning

Core Module

The aims of this module are:

To understand that young children are learning all the time at home, in the community and in whatever setting they are placed
To become familiar with different learning environments and settings that support children’s learning and development.
To understand that young children are learning all the time at home, in the community and in whatever setting they are placed
To gain an insight into how to observe children closely and to use this as the basis for planning for supporting children’s learning and development.
To consider carefully the role of language, talk and play in supporting the learning and development of children
To explore issues relating to language, cultures, needs and interests
To understand the importance of reflection in practice

Skills for Academic and Professional Writing

Core Module

The aim of this module is to prepare you for degree-level study at the University of East London, by:

Assisting you to manage your own learning and identify, reflect upon and develop your transferable skills
Providing you with the necessary study skills in the areas of academic writing, information retrieval, and presentation skills
Providing you with an understanding of theory relevant to studying early childhood, special education and education studies in higher education

Research in Practice: Live Project

Core Module

The aims of this module are:

To consolidate knowledge and understanding of topics covered across the foundation programme
To understand the importance of digital literacy and its role in employability
To gain insight into how to design a video presentation and write scripts
Plan, prepare and execute a video presentation based on a topic discussed as part of the programme.
Respond to guidance, affording opportunities for contextualisation and improvement of the representation of project work
Demonstrate confidence and professionalism in preparation, management, selection and contextualisation of practice, preparing and representing live project work using appropriate skills in communication

Mental Wealth: Academic and Professional Skills for Life 1

Core Module

This module will provide you with the opportunity to identify the skills, competencies and experiences required for youth work and a range of potential future career areas.

You will be supported to recognise the areas for your own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligence) through taught and workshop activities.

Central to the developmental process is for each student to cultivate their reflective skills, openness and self-awareness to enable themselves to assess what they are doing, identify areas for improvement and confidently receive and give constructive feedback. You will additionally develop knowledge and strategies for advancing your own emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligence and improve your health and well-being.

Exploring Social Worlds

Core Module

This module will develop your understanding of people's social and cultural experiences in a range of contexts and will prepare you to think about practical support for children's, and young people's lives and rights. You will learn about a range of theoretical perspectives that will help you understand the experiences of children, young people and young adults. As part of this module, you will present key recommendations for improvements to their lives.

Key Principles for Inclusion and Diversity

Core Module

To provide a broad and critical historical review of the development of the field of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), and the legislative frameworks underpinning its practice.
To introduce and develop awareness of concepts, terms, definitions and debates within the field
To introduce critical disability studies and consider the experience of SEN and Disability for diverse social groups
To provide a critique of the individual deficit model of disability and a critical focus of social oppression theory in the context of commitment to equal opportunities and human rights.

Emerging Research Communities

Core Module

This module will provide you with the opportunity to develop skills associated with problem-solving, critical thinking, logical reasoning and researching.

Over the space of twelve weeks, you will work with experienced researchers and academics in the Education subject area at the School of Education and Communities. You will build an active research community of your peers, which will be cultivated over your three years at the University of East London. Staff will continue to support and scaffold this community of research in Level 5, culminating in your own independent research project at Level 6.

During lectures, you will explore the most appropriate research methods within your discipline accounting for ethical, cultural and social issues. You will be introduced to the key concepts, principles and stages of the research process, engaging with real-life examples from existing and ongoing research in your field of study. During workshops and tutorials, you will work collaboratively with your peers. You will develop the ability to read and compare current and ongoing research literature in your discipline. You will determine the credibility of sources and reflect on the research process used.

The assessment for this module will be in the form of collaborative group work. It will be submitted as an e-portfolio consisting of two sections (i) an infographic/e-poster (ii) 1,500 written comparison of two pieces of academic research. You will be guided by experienced staff members to achieve the digital proficiency necessary for this assessment, skills which will be beneficial to a future career in any industry.

Practice module Part 1

Core Module

This module will introduce you to ideas about the ways children develop. You will study key theories of development and learning and learn about contemporary practices used to support children’s physical, social, cognitive and language development in the early years. You will have the opportunity to observe in early childhood settings and discuss the way theory and practice are integrated.

Practice module Part 2

Core Module

You will gain an introduction to key pedagogical theories and explore how these relate to effective teaching and learning within an early years' context. Through experiences with children's resources such as books and games, you will learn to practically apply pedagogical theories to children’s learning. There will be opportunities to apply this knowledge in practical contexts during visits to early years settings.

Mental Wealth: Academic and Professional Skills for Life 2

Core Module

This module seeks to develop the key psychological determinants of human performance which are increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial era.

This module will provide you with the opportunity to apply several of the skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in a range of potential career areas.

You will continue to build upon and advance the skills and concepts you learnt in Level 4 to further develop your emotional intelligence, emotional literacy, reflective skills, and self-awareness.

You will have the opportunity to explore the skills and knowledge involved in entrepreneurial activities by practising and engaging with self and others in analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and research.

Identity and Social Justice

Core Module

In this module, you will extend your critical understanding of theory and research from a range of social science disciplines used to explore and analyse the lives and experiences of children and young people (including education, psychology, sociology, human geography and social policy). You will explore issues of social justice, critically considering:

how these aspects are addressed within key policies, organisations (including grassroots and third sector), and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;
the micro- and macro- influences on the lives of children and young people, such as biological, social, economic, political, cultural and/or generational influences, with particular attention paid to issues of inequality and intersectionality;
the extent to which educators/practitioners influence these aspects of the lives of children and young people;
children and young people's rights and the extent to which they actively influence these aspects of their own lives.

During the module, your campus-based studies will be complemented by engagement in educational and community settings, allowing you to develop a critical awareness of current issues relating to the lives of children and young people, and to actively engage in consideration of how drawing upon research evidence from social science disciplines can enable you to affect change in the lives of the children and young people with whom you work/may work in the future.

Building Research Communities

Core Module

Building Research Communities develops knowledge and understanding of research theories, concepts and processes and the research skills required for independent, ethical and applied research. This module is rooted in the principles of research informed teaching which includes learning about research findings in their field of study; learning research processes and methodologies and learning to work in research 'mode' which builds on pedagogical principles of enquiry-based, active, collaborative and experiential learning, supporting students to engage in critique and discussion in a 'research community of practice' (Lave and Wenger, 1998).

At Level 5: Developing Research Communities focuses on developing students' understanding of research theories, concepts and processes and the research skills required for independent, ethical and applied research. The module will introduce students to key issues in research methodology and design, such as how to develop research questions, using research literature, addressing ethical issues, designing data collection tools and organising and analysing data. Students will explore a range of qualitative research techniques, including interviews, questionnaires, observational studies and documentary research. Students will also be encouraged to reflect on wider questions about how educational and early childhood research helps us to understand social worlds and can impact on policy and practice. This module will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out an applied research project at Level 6.

In this module students will be supported by a range of resources to develop research, analytical, and presentation skills, alongside ongoing reflective writing. The module is assessed entirely by coursework with a mixture of individual and group learning experiences. Students are assessed individually.

Contemporary Issues in Education

Core Module

During this module, you will engage in discussing and analysing contemporary issues in education and heighten their awareness of the relationship between empirical evidence and academic arguments in advancing their understanding. You will be able to develop your skills in evaluating the evidence and arguments related to contemporary debates. Also, you will be able to construct theoretical arguments in advancing public representations of educational issues.

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to evaluate and demonstrate different positions in some contemporary debates about issues in education. Also, you will be able to use a range of sources to further extend your knowledge and understanding of issues relating to education, and to critically examine contemporary debates and issues in education.

Specific Learning Difficulties

Core Module

SEND Careers

Core Module

Mental Wealth: Academic and Professional Skills for Life 3

Core Module

This module will provide you with the opportunity to apply a full range of skills, competencies and experience required for successful development in a range of potential education-related career areas.

You will advance the areas identified in your level 5 studies for their personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligence) through taught and workshop activity.

Through engagement with the Career Passport, you will reflect upon the success of the strategies that you employ to further develop your reflective skills, self-awareness, 'life style' 'self-care' approaches and where necessary improve these.

You will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with fellow students, academic staff and external stakeholders, on an applied project involving the application of key leadership and management skills. In doing so you will apply and develop cognitive, cultural and social intelligence learnt elsewhere in your studies, which will enhance your graduate employability.

Critical and Global Perspectives on Education

Core Module

To develop critical awareness of current educational policy, practices and provision relating to special and inclusive education
To develop critical awareness of the similarities and differences between contexts in terms of special and inclusive education developments in policy and practice
To consider the inclusion of children with special educational needs from an international perspective

Volunteering

Core Module

The aims of the module are to:

enable students to have their learning from volunteering accredited as part of their study
engage students with critical knowledge and understanding of the motives for voluntary action.
provide students with the opportunity to critically reflect upon their learning and development whilst undertaking voluntary activity
support students to identify their strengths and areas for development
enhance employability prospects

Communication and Interaction

Core Module

Independent Research Project

Core Module

You will have the opportunity to initiate a small-scale applied research study that addresses an issue, topic or challenge within the broad field of education, special education or early childhood. The applied research will support professional formation and contribute to knowledge within the wider community.

The module is designed to guide you towards the design, implementation and completion of an applied research project undertaken in collaboration with a relevant external organisation (the nature of which will be discussed and agreed upon with the relevant module leader). You will develop a range of theoretical, methodological, academic and practical skills and knowledge.

You will apply these in a practice context to address a real-world problem through ethical research practice, professional engagement and problem-solving leading to research dissemination.

The chosen area of applied research will be demonstrably linked to your personal interests and professional aspirations within the field of education, special education or early childhood. Through supervision, you will shape and agree on a proposal for a viable and ethical applied research project.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Your future career

We offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.

Industry links

TBC

Graduate employers

Graduates have gone onto work for London boroughs, schools and NHS trusts.

Job roles

Typical roles which our graduates have gone on to are year group/ phase leader, teaching and behaviour support worker, and inclusion development officer.

We offer postgraduate courses for further specialisation and you can explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.

Further study

We offer a wide range of masters degrees in special education, early childhood or leadership in education, should you choose to specialise further.

Without a doubt, the best thing about my course at UEL is the dedicated and knowledgeable lecturers that I've been taught by. I'm well supported in my learning. I feel valued in the classroom and inspired to learn and progress further in my field."

James Bennett

Special Education BA (Hons) undergraduate

How we support your career ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

This digital platform provides you with careers and employability resources, including:

Jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work
Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
1-2-1 career coaching services
Careers workshops and employer events
Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you've mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

See more details

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top:

Work-based projects
Networking and visits to leading organisations
Support in starting a new business
London on our doorstep

How you'll learn

You'll be taught by staff with relevant experience and practice to ensure you learn from real-life experience and research. We encourage an educational experience that is active, social, collaborative, engaging, and student-owned. You will have access to a variety of resources ensuring your learning experience goes beyond the classroom.

Guided independent study

When not attending timetabled lectures you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, Microsoft Teams, and Moodle.

Academic support

Students are supported with any academic or subject-related queries by an Academic Advisor, module leaders, and former and current UEL students. If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, our Academic Tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential.

You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater to your every need.

We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library, and well-being, to be available both face-to-face on campus and online with many of these available 24/7.

We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces, and a dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.

UEL provides also support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).

Dedicated personal tutor

Our aim is to prepare our students for a broad range of careers so that they can make amazing contributions to their communities. When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL, and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.

Workload

Your overall workload consists of class and online tutor-led sessions, individual learning, and practical activities.

Your timetable

Coursework will include assignments, self-reflective assignments, presentations, and group work.

The approximate percentages for this course are:

Year 1: 100% coursework
Year 2: 100% coursework
Year 3: 100% coursework

Class sizes

Class sizes are approximately 30.

How you'll be assessed

The approximate percentages for this course are 100% course work. Assessment tasks are mainly spread across the year to make the workload manageable. More details will be included in the student handbook and module guides. You will always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face-to-face assessments.

Campus and facilities

Our campus and the surrounding area

Our historic Stratford campus is located one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford's thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, and just 15 minutes from London's West End.

Stratford’s facilities include a state-of-the-art library and learning centre, the majestic great hall and specialist laboratories and computing services. The School of Education and Communities, and Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science are housed in new buildings. There is also a campus restaurant and bookshop, and a Students' Union café-bar.

Westfield Stratford City - Europe's largest indoor shopping mall - is just one of Stratford's attractions, alongside many other shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There are two multiscreen cinemas, a theatre, an arts centre and much more.

Water Lane, Stratford

Who teaches this course

This course is delivered by School of Education and Communities

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.

Course leader

Graham Robertson
Department of Early Childhood & Education, School Of Education And Communities

DiscoverUni

The banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).

What our students and staff say

I enjoy the variety of topics we cover on my course. They have raised my awareness of current issues and relevant theories that explicitly relate to the education sector and situations that I might face in a classroom in the future."

Diane Griffiths

Third year student

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Special Education BA (Hons)

Overview

Find out more

Course options

Degree

BA (Hons) Special Education

BA (Hons) Special Education, home applicant, full time

BA (Hons) Special Education

BA (Hons) Special Education, home applicant, part time

BA (Hons) Special Education

BA (Hons) Special Education, international applicant, full time

Degree with foundation year

BA (Hons) Special Education

BA (Hons) Special Education, home applicant, full time

BA (Hons) Special Education

BA (Hons) Special Education, international applicant, full time

Submitting your applicationPlease read and consider the entry and visa requirements for this course before you submit your application. For more information please visit our international student advice pages.

About our foundation years

What makes this course different

Highly rated by our students

Foundation year

1st in London

Course modules

Mental Wealth: Introduction to Academic and Professional Identity/Practice

Introduction to Early Childhood, Special Needs and Education

Social, Emotional and Mental Health

Placements in Context - Play and Learning

Skills for Academic and Professional Writing

Research in Practice: Live Project

Mental Wealth: Academic and Professional Skills for Life 1

Exploring Social Worlds

Key Principles for Inclusion and Diversity

Emerging Research Communities

Practice module Part 1

Practice module Part 2

Mental Wealth: Academic and Professional Skills for Life 2

Identity and Social Justice

Building Research Communities

Contemporary Issues in Education

Specific Learning Difficulties

SEND Careers

Mental Wealth: Academic and Professional Skills for Life 3

Critical and Global Perspectives on Education

Volunteering

Communication and Interaction

Independent Research Project

Download course specification

Your future career

Industry links

Graduate employers

Job roles

Further study

How we support your career ambitions

Career Zone

Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

How you'll learn

Guided independent study

Academic support

Dedicated personal tutor

Workload

Your timetable

Class sizes

How you'll be assessed

Campus and facilities

Our campus and the surrounding area

Who teaches this course

DiscoverUni

What our students and staff say

Related courses

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Modal

Terms of Admittance to the University of East London

1) Student enrolment

2) Tuition fees

3) Student ID Cards

4) Proof of qualifications

5) Non-academic entry requirements

6) Criminal convictions

7) Providing false information to UEL

Submitting your application
Please read and consider the entry and visa requirements for this course before you submit your application. For more information please visit our international student advice pages.