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Training for teachers and teaching assistants in the UK

Dr. Kate Saunders British Dyslexia Association

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British Dyslexia Association

• 40 years• 2009, Rose Review. English government

funded 3,600 teachers on BDA accredited courses

• Highest level dyslexia specialist teachers can now diagnose dyslexia.

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Qualifications • There are several different levels of training

that end in a different qualification • For Teachers –

– Associate Member of British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA)

– Accredited Teacher Status (ATS)• For non Qualified Teachers

– Accredited Practitioner Status (APS) • For teaching assistants

– Accredited Learning Support Assistant (ALSA)

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Qualifications

• Other professionals with appropriate professional qualifications and experience can also study/apply for ATS/AMBDA.

– speech and language therapists – occupational therapists– educational psychologists – other psychologistsThey must show they have covered the same range of criteria.

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AMBDA (Associate Member of the BDA)• This is a diploma and is the highest level • Requirements:

– Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for 2 years– 2 years teaching experience – satisfactory completion of accredited course no

more than 5 years before applying • AMBDA FE/HE for those whose experience is

post 16• AMBDA Individual Merit

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AMBDA

• This qualifies a teacher to: – Teach pupils with dyslexia (classroom or 1:1)– Support Mentor and coach colleagues in day to

day teaching of dyslexic pupils– Carry out diagnostic assessments for

Dyslexia/SpLD – Suggest provision of special arrangements for

pupils e.g exam concessions. Can apply for Assessment Practising Certificates - required for HE assessments.

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ATS (Approved Teacher Status)/ APS (Approved Practitioner

Status)• This is a certificate and is the 2nd highest level• Requirements ATS

– QTS for 2 years, 2 years experience teaching, accredited course

– The accredited course is shorter • Requirements APS

– Same as ATS but no QTS needed

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ATS/APS

• Qualified to assess (but not IQ) for setting teaching programmes, teach, coach and mentor colleagues and assess for exam conditions (school level, not HE)

• Can not diagnose

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ALSA (Accredited Learning Support Assistant)

• A training course for support workers• Trains to facilitate effectively the learning of

pupils with specific learning difficulties • Enhances the supportive role. Doesn’t mean

assistant should function independently. Ideally supervised by dyslexia specialist teacher who sets the teaching programme, monitors progress etc.

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Courses • The BDA stresses the importance of the

practical content of specialist training courses.• We strongly advocate a structured, sequential,

multisensory approach for reading, writing, spelling and numeracy

• The BDA has set criteria for AMBDA, ATS/APS and ALSA courses. These are on the BDA website www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

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• Course providers write courses to meet these criteria and then apply for BDA accreditation of the course.

• The courses is validated by a University or equivalent.

• ATS and AMBDA courses are postgraduate level.

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BDA Accreditation Board

• Experts in Dyslexia from across the UK

• For many years BDA has accredited some courses abroad and this is now carried out by a committee from the BDA Accreditation Board:

The BDA International Accreditation Board.

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Courses ATS/APSATS and APS course should provide• An understanding of the nature of dyslexia • Knowledge of teaching good practice• Ability to identify learner with dyslexia/SpLD• Ability to make assessment appraisals for

setting teaching programmes, including information from observation and reports from professionals

• Create and evaluate teaching programmes to meet specific learning needs

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Courses ATS/APSThe course must involve:• 40 hours of lectures plus seminars, tutorials

and study time• 20 hours evaluated specialist

teaching/support (10 hours must be with the same child)

• 1 hour teaching/support observed and assessed by AMBDA tutor

• Students keeping up-to date with research and to be able to review and evaluate it

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Course AMBDAAMBDA course should provide all in ATS/APS course and:• An understanding and critical appraisal: current

research, theory and practice of psychometrics and its relationship to assessment

• Ability to prepare and disseminate technical reports including provision of advice and recommendations to meet specific purposes

• Ability to diagnose dyslexia• Ability to design, produce, deliver and critically

evaluate appropriate programmes for assessed needs of dyslexic pupils

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Course AMBDA • The course must involve:• 90 hours of lectures, seminars and guided

learning plus study time• 30 hours of evaluated specialist teaching (12

hours must be with same pupil)• 3 hours of teaching observed by AMBDA tutor• 3 diagnostic assessment reports from 3

different assessments under supervision ( 1 hour under supervision of AMBDA tutor)

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Course ALSA

ALSA course should provide:• awareness of theories of teaching and learning for

SpLD • knowledge and understanding of how SpLDs are

manifested in the classroom• ability to employ a range of approaches and

resources suitable for the support • ability to select and/or construct suitable materials• ability to record and report pupils' response to

support

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Course ALSA

This course must include:• 24 hours of lectures and seminars (BDA

recommends at least 30 hours) plus private study

• 20 hours recorded support time.

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Training

• We also provide many one day training courses– Practical Solutions for Dyslexia – Practical Solutions Plus– Screening for Dyslexia– Dealing with Dyscalculia– Dyscalculia Plus

• Some can be put together for a lower level qualification in Dyslexia Awareness, Support and Screening

• 500 a year• Bespoke INSET and training – in UK and abroad

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• Bespoke INSET and training – in UK and abroad