Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Practice Foundation degree

Reasons to choose Kingston

• You will be able to earn as you learn, combining workplace learning with part-time academic study at Kingston University.

• You will develop a deeper understanding of SEND to enhance children's learning and development in your workplace and the wider community.

• 96.1% of students thought staff supported their learning (NSS 2023).

• Once you complete this foundation degree, you can take a further year's study and top-up your qualification to a BA (Hons) degree at Kingston University.

• Our commitment to high quality teaching has been recognised with a Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold rating. The University has received an overall rating of Gold, as well as securing a Gold award in the framework's two new student experience and student outcomes categories.

About this course
Do you want to make a difference to the lives of children and young people up to the age of 25 years who have special educational needs and disabilities? Are you looking for a course that allows you to earn while you learn?

This two-year work-based foundation degree will enable you to develop your practice, become part of a strong network, and complete the first two years of an undergraduate degree, which you can top up to a full degree with the Special Educational Needs & Inclusive Practice BA (Hons) top-up.

This course enables you to combine academic study with work-based learning. During the course, you will need to be working or volunteering 16 hours per week within in a early years setting, school, college or alternative provision.

You will explore the requirements of the Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice and consider the voice and needs of the child or young person. You'll study developmental theories, systems to support learning, legislative frameworks that govern practice, multi-professional perspectives and working with families and carers. You'll develop reflective skills to enable you to consider how to improve practice.

This course is taught at either our Kingston Hill campus, one session per week (1.30 - 6.30pm) or at REACH Multi-Academy Trust in Feltham (4 - 9pm).

Future Skills
Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.

As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.

At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.

Career opportunities
This qualification is valued by employers and is considered a mark of professional excellence and expertise. Afterwards, you’ll be able to progress to a BA (Hons) top-up degree, which can, in turn, lead to postgraduate opportunities.

Example modules

-Inclusive Practice
-Child Protection in the Field of Special Educational Needs
-International Systems to Support Learning.

For a full list of modules please visit the Kingston university course webpage.

Teaching includes lectures, work-based learning activities, tutorials, online learning, workshops and seminars. In addition you will be supported by a work-based professional advocate.

Progress is measured through assignments, demonstration of professional competence in work-based situations, and practical demonstrations that apply the knowledge you have gained. There are no written exams.