About This Course
Are you ready to take the next step in your specialist practice and become an Assessor?
Our Practical Assessment of Learners with Literacy Difficulties and Dyslexia (SpLD) module is designed for experienced practitioners who want to deepen their expertise and expand their professional opportunities in the field of literacy difficulties and dyslexia.
This module provides comprehensive training in diagnostic assessment for dyslexia, assessment for screening and literacy interventions, Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) assessments, and access arrangements, equipping you with the skills and confidence to work across a wide range of educational contexts.
This module forms an essential part of our accredited Specialist Teacher Assessor Qualification at Level 7 with the modules:
- Specialist Teaching Practitioner
- The Science of Literacy Difficulties for Intervention and Assessment
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.
Successful completion of our Specialist Teaching Practitioner module is required to register for an ATS or APS 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 must have completed the Specialist Teaching Practitioner and The Science of Literacy Difficulties for Intervention modules or be nearing their completion. Candidates that have undertaken courses with other providers should contact us to ensure this is the right module for them.
Why study this course
This module enables 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. Candidates will be able to carry out screenings for literacy difficulties to identify learners requiring additional interventions, literacy assessments, assessments for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA), access arrangements for exams and diagnostic assessments.
Main learning objectives:
- To understand and critically appraise the relationship between cognitive strengths and difficulties of learners from assessment data.
- To understand and critically appraise psychometric assessment and educational testing.
- To competently prepare technical reports that meet the current SASC Assessment Practising Certificate Report criteria.
- To develop and demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to observe diagnostically and assess the cognitive abilities and difficulties of learners with literacy difficulties.
This is a level 7 module and will require the academic skills necessary to study at this level.
On completion of this module, practitioners may choose to progress to further specialist training, which can lead to assessment work with adults, including assessment for education settings and exploration of co‑occurring difficulties such as attention and motor control.
Successful completion of the module will give the option to register for an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) with SASC (SpLD Assessment Standards Committee) from a Professional body such as PATOSS, BDA, and Dyslexia Guild.
How long does this course take to complete?
This professionally accredited, intensive module is delivered over 6 months with an additional 3 months to complete the assignments. The module is designed to fit alongside professional practice.
Candidates should expect to commit approximately 12 hours per week to self‑directed study in order to meet the module requirements. This study time is in addition to live teaching sessions, lectures, and assessment‑focused training.
We recognise the demands of work and professional life, so flexibility is built into the programme. Candidates are given additional time to complete the practical assessment components, with up to 9 months available to complete the module if needed. This extended completion window gives you greater flexibility, autonomy, and control over your learning, while maintaining the rigour and high standards expected of a Level 7 qualification.
The next start date is September 2027. Apply now to secure your place. This professionally accredited, intensive module is delivered over 6 months with an additional 3 months to complete the assignments. The module is designed to fit alongside professional practice.
Candidates should expect to commit approximately 12 hours per week to self‑directed study in order to meet the module requirements. This study time is in addition to live teaching sessions, lectures, and assessment‑focused training.
We recognise the demands of work and professional life, so flexibility is built into the programme. Candidates are given additional time to complete the practical assessment components, with up to 9 months available to complete the module if needed. This extended completion window gives you greater flexibility, autonomy, and control over your learning, while maintaining the rigour and high standards expected of a Level 7 qualification.
The next start date is September 2027. Apply now to secure your place.
Information about any assessments
Assessment on this module is designed to develop and demonstrate both theoretical understanding and the practical assessment and report‑writing skills required for successful course completion.
Assessment methods include a range of activities, such as:
- Written assignments exploring the theoretical frameworks underpinning assessment
- Online assessments and quizzes to consolidate core knowledge
- Reflective reports supporting critical, ethical, and professional practice
- Filmed evidence demonstrating assessment and professional interaction skills
- Practice diagnostic assessment reports (DAR)
- Practical psychometric assessment tasks, including administration, scoring, and interpretation
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 candidates have 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 children 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.
Course Content
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.
Candidates who own their own assessment tools can complete the module fully online. The assessment tools will need to be the same as those used on the module.
Candidates who choose to loan the Miles Dyslexia Centre assessment tools will need to attend two face to face sessions at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ. There is a charge for the loan of assessment materials and the assessment room. These assessments can only be used in the Miles Dyslexia Centre at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ.
Teaching and assessment are available in both Welsh and English, with flexibility to complete the teaching intervention in either language. Formal assessment reports must be submitted in English to meet the requirements of the awarding bodies.
Course Cost
£1850 when booked with the Science of Literacy Difficulties for Intervention and Assessment module or Specialist practitioner: teaching learners with literacy difficulties and Dyslexia (SpLD)
£1950 when booked as an individual module
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have:
- completed the module The Science of Literacy Difficulties for Intervention and Assessment and be near completion of the Specialist Teaching Practitioner for professional accreditation. Or an alternative equivalent course.
- 2 years of work experience with children and young people in education or therapy.
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.
Reading, writing, and oral language skills will need to be fluent to cope with the demands of the module.
This is equivalent to an IELTS score or 6.0 for English language learners.
Optional: Fluency in Welsh writing and oral language for those wishing to investigate Welsh language difficulties, assess, and submit assignments through the medium of Welsh. Candidates may wish to submit some elements of the module through the medium of Welsh and other through the medium of English. We welcome Welsh learners and will support them to engage in Welsh medium activities.