Level 7 Diploma

Level 7 Diploma in Teaching and Assessing Learners with Dyslexia, Specific Learning Differences and Barriers to Literacy

This course is recognised by the BDA, PATOSS, The Dyslexia Guild and ADSHE.

Pricing
Eligibilty
Length
Location
Delivery

About this Level 7 Diploma

This Level 7 Diploma provides both theoretical and practical approaches to becoming a specialist teacher and assessor, developing knowledge and understanding of the Special Educational Needs sector and the ability to assess and deliver effective teaching sessions to learners with dyslexia/specific learning difficulties. It is a nationally and professionally recognised, accredited Ofqual qualification that was co-authored by the Directors of Dyslexia Matters’ themselves.

About Dyslexia Matters

Dyslexia Matters has been recognised for many years as providers of excellent training. Liz and Julia, Directors, are co-authors of the Gateway nationally recognised qualification, accredited by the BDA and Patoss. Feedback from awarding bodies and candidate reviews reflect the quality of the training. Dyslexia Matters has successfully trained more than 500 specialist teachers.

Pricing

The total cost of this course is: £4,550 (Inc. VAT)

Costing explained

The course fees cover the cost of an assessor who will guide and mark all of your work and be a point of contact through-out the whole time you study with us. As well as this, they also cover the cost of all of your registration fees through-out your course.

Funding

Unfortunately, there are not any central funding options available at the moment. We are regularly checking for updates on funding opportunities. Local charities and/or churches are worth exploring for funding opportunities in their particular area. We have had several candidates obtain funding this way. Dorset Community Foundation is an example of a localised charity offering support (https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/who-we-help/). We have had several candidates obtain funding this way.

Several of our candidates have been fully funded or in part by their school or educational setting. It is worth a conversation with your school or educational setting to discuss potential opportunities that are mutually beneficial.

MOD Funding

We are a registered ELCAS (Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Services) course, provider. So anyone applying from the MOD has the opportunity to apply for funding this way. For more information please visit: https://www.enhancedlearningcredits.com/

VAT

All of our courses are VAT deductible, so if a school or charity is paying for the course, the VAT (20%) can be offset.

Eligibility

Who is it for?

Anyone with a Level 5 Diploma in teaching learners with dyslexia, specific learning differences and barriers to literacy. To find out more about the demands of the course, here is a link to ‘Studying at Lvl 7′(Click Here).

Becoming eligible

If you don’t currently hold a Level 5 qualification Level 5 Diploma in teaching learners with dyslexia, specific learning differences and barriers to literacy, we do offer this course: Level 5 Diploma(Click Here).

Background

We are fortunate enough to have trained over 500 Specialist Teachers. However, not all of those were from a teaching background to start with. Here are a few examples of their backgrounds prior to becoming a specialist teacher with us:

    • Teacher assistants
    • Speech and Language Therapists
    • Occupational Therapists
    • Tutors
    • SENDCOs 
    • A parent who would like to make a difference
    • Anyone looking for a new career!
DBS

There is a requirement to hold a valid DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service). However this is not an immediate requirement, you will have time to apply for this once you start the course. For more information on this please visit:(https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service)

Time commitment

This course requires a time commitment of approximately one day a week outside of normal work. We appreciate this a very big time commitment, however, we believe that in order to properly embed your knowledge, and to continue to progress, this amount of time each week is necessary.

Technology

As this course is taught remotely – there is a requirement to have access to a computer to be able to complete the course, as well as communicate with your assessor. It will help you to have a basic understanding of using computers. For example – organising files and documents that you have completed in order to send them to your assessor either via email or via a USB (memory) stick.

Length

Total Length

The total length of this course is 24 months.

The next start date is 30th September 2023.

On completion of your course, you will be able to start your specialist teaching and assessing straight away! Course certificates can take up to 4 months after your course end date to arrive from the awarding body.

We understand that there are often unforeseen circumstances that could potentially hinder the completion of the course. We endeavour to be as flexible as possible in any situation that arises.

Location

This course is remote. 

Online Learning Platform

We provide an online learning platform for you, which you have access to throughout your course. The content includes videos and quizzes, helping you to embed your knowledge.

We also provide dedicated IT support if required. 

Communication
    • Scheduled meetings are held via Zoom during the course, ensuring candidates have an in-depth understanding and any questions are answered.
    • Regular contact is maintained through-out this course. Candidates send work via email directly to assessors
Why do we do it remotely?
    • We believe teaching remotely provides people nationally and internationally an equal opportunity to gain our qualification; giving as many learners as possible the opportunity to receive the support they require.
    • Candidates learn at different paces.
    • Candidates are available at different times.
    • Enables us to adapt and ensure the course content is 100% accurate and delivered in the best way possible.

Delivery

Role of assessor

Candidates are assigned an assessor for the duration of their course. Regular communication is maintained between assessor and candidate. Assignments are sent to and from the candidate via email. The Assessor provides feedback, guidance and where relevant signposting to develop the candidate’s skills further.

Our standards

We regularly conduct internal quality assurance exercises alongside regular external quality assurance inspections. This ensures we maintain our high standards.

Background

This course is delivered by co-authors of the course. It has been designed in a way that is realistic and practical – preparing you for real-life as a specialist teacher. The course is delivered by people who have previous experience of:

    • Working in mainstream settings
    • Founding and running a specialist school
    • Working as teachers
    • Working as headteachers in both mainstream and specialist settings
    • Supporting and training within the Public sector.
    • Working as governors.
Course progression

We start this course at a level that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their previous experience. By the end of the course, candidates will have the skills to assess, plan and execute a programme of study for learners of all ages.

Marking process

The interaction with your assessor is an ongoing dialogue and discussion. The assessor’s remit is to help candidates develop into reflective and accurate practitioners. The assessor provides feedback and comments to candidates on all activities. As it is an independent study course assessors ask questions and prompt candidates to find solutions.

Computing

As the course is delivered remotely, there is, therefore, a requirement to have access to a computer. We do provide IT Support if required.

Networking

Cohorts are limited to 12, enabling candidates to become an active member of a network of specialist teachers for the future.

Course Outline
Course Criteria
Studying at Level 7

What Awarding Bodies say about Dyslexia Matters’ training provision:

  • An ‘excellent centre’
  • It  ‘delivers courses of an exceptionally high standard turning out well-prepared teachers and assessors who are prized by the organisations for which they work’
  • Delivered ‘well respected and nationally recognised gold standard qualification for teachers and assessors of learners with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties’
  • Known as ‘a centre of excellence in the provision of these courses’
  • ‘encourages a high standard of work. Portfolios show evidence of excellent improvement coming from focussed feedback’.
  • ‘Portfolios show a high level of knowledge and understanding of the course standards and requirements. This Centre provides excellent training’
  • ‘All assessors are extremely competent, highly qualified and experience’
  • ‘End-users and employers of the trained candidates were surveyed. These evaluations and feedback demonstrate the value of this course and the high satisfaction with which they are regarded’

Testimonials

“As a manager of staff who have undertaken their training with Dyslexia Matters I can only say that staff have come away with the knowledge and understanding that they need to fulfil their roles in school. I will therefore continue to use Dyslexia Matters in the future.”

“While Dyslexia Matters maintains strict guidelines and expectations for the standards that they expect from candidates and will not compromise on these, the company ethos is all about enabling candidates to achieve and to succeed. The level of care and support given to candidates is second to none.”

“Another very important area in which Dyslexia Matters excels is in the way that assignments are planned and presented and most importantly in the feedback that candidates receive. Candidates are given very specific instructions with templates to help them to organise and structure their work. Expectations are made very clear. Those marking work are highly knowledgeable and again have the necessary skills, understanding and qualifications to complete this activity. They provide very clear information about what the candidate has done well and guidance is given which will enable the candidate to have a clear understanding of what s/he should do in order to develop work and improve.”

“Course materials provided are very clear and informative. In all aspects of the course they follow best practice in respect of optimising learning. A simple example of this is in their PowerPoint presentations. There’s nothing worse than being told that you should use a particular font style and size and then being shown an ‘all singing and dancing’ PowerPoint with lots of bright colours which is cluttered and confusing with print that is too small to read!”

“Those delivering the course are very well qualified and have an outstanding knowledge of their subject. What is more important is the fact that they have relevant experience in the field and so can talk from real-life contexts etc. This ensures that they have the necessary credibility with their candidates.”

“Many of our staff have been trained by Dyslexia Matters. Several have completed the level 5 and others are working towards or have completed the new PAPAA qualification. In so far as members of staff are concerned, the courses that they attended were well organised. The administration was effective and efficient. Course requirements were set out clearly. There was plenty of support at various levels.”

“I would most definitely recommend Dyslexia Matters. We are a specialist school for pupils with dyslexia and associated specific learning difficulties. At our school, all staff teaching literacy, as well as those doing 1 to 1 tuition must have a specialist dyslexia teaching qualification.”

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Apply now to start your journey to becoming a Specialist Assessor!

Application Form