Dyslexia – Professional Report Writing

Develop professional expertise

• Put yourself in a pole position to apply for the SpLD Assessment Practising Certificate (APC).
• Understand the key dyslexia assessments that need to be used to help each individual.
• Further, develop your understanding of specific learning difficulties with a focus on dyslexia.
• Develop dyslexia assessment tools that enable you to write reports to the APC standard.
• Significantly enhance the quality of your assessment of each individual, whether or not each assessment leads to a diagnosis.
• Obtain a comprehensive understanding of the academic debates in this area, changes in relation to definitions and terminology over time and the role of discrepancy analysis.
• Familiarise yourself with the key components of a rigorous and professional dyslexia assessment.
• Put your enhanced conceptual understanding of dyslexia into practice.
• Learn how to conduct a full professional assessment and make the best possible judgment.
• Develop your broader practice, knowledge, and skills through reflection.

Add real value to your school

Our Dyslexia: Professional Report Writing module will enable your school/setting to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of dyslexia and the real needs of dyslexic students.
• Identify individuals who require additional support.
• Produce and use a rigorous, evidence-based framework for assessment and reporting.
• Foster and develop knowledge and skills that enable you to create a clear learning path for those with dyslexia, based on a holistic analysis of their strengths and key areas for future development.

Learn on the job

• Harness your day-to-day professional experience and work with your tutor to develop your skills.
• Explore aspects of your own and others’ practice using theories, reflection, and activities to help you.

Engage with flexible e-learning

• Study online and integrate your learning into your working day.
• Work at a time and pace that suits you.
• Take part in a flexible module that draws on a broad range of learning tasks and practical experience.
• Work closely with your peers and dedicated tutors online.
• Access our sophisticated online learning platform and utilise the latest technologies: video and multimedia content, access to two thousand full-text journals, case studies and problem-based scenarios, directed reading, structured learning logs, online discussion, online questionnaires, peer evaluation, student forum and occasional webinars (with tutors and guest lecturers).

Accrue credits towards your Master of Education (MEd)

This module is designed, delivered, and assessed by Real Training and quality assured and awarded by Middlesex University.

• Attain 30 Masters-level (M-level) credits when you successfully complete the Dyslexia Professional Report Writing module. 
• Obtain a PGCert or PGDip or MEd in SEND by combining this module with others from any of our Masters programmes. 
• If you have successfully completed the Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET), you will be able to apply to join one of our Masters Programmes with an additional 30 credits.
• Complete an additional 120 credits – this includes a 60-credit dissertation module and the MEd is yours.

Connect with your peers

• Obtain exclusive access to Campus OnlineTM.
• Interact with your peers using our advanced learning platform and our unique student forum.

Please note we will ensure that you never feel lonely or unsupported in your studies.

Liaise with experienced tutors

• Enjoy dedicated specialist support from a broad range of experienced tutors.
• Work with a professional tutor and receive dedicated support from the module team – made up of experienced EPs and specialist teachers with an APC and AMBDA.

Our SENCOs and EPs know the education sector inside out.

Choose a start date that suits you

Cohorts begin in January, May, or September.

Strand one: Understanding the concept of SpLD and the history of dyslexia identification

• Critically explore the history and concepts behind specific learning difficulties with a primary focus on dyslexia and co-occurring conditions such as dyspraxia and ADHD.
• Focus on synthesising information from the literature and research in this area from professional publications and guidance relating to the understanding of SpLD and its assessment.
• Create a timeline outlining and summarising the most significant publications, developments and changes in dyslexia; while also considering the impact and implications of these progressive developments on your understanding of SpLD in teaching and learning.
• Take part in lively critical discussions on SpLD via our interactive forum in Campus Online.
• Start to create an assessment checklist consisting of a list of key questions that an SpLD assessment must address. You will develop this throughout the module and it will form the basis of a comprehensive assessment that takes into account a broad range of factors relevant to the identification of dyslexia.

Strand two: The components of a thorough dyslexia assessment

• Consider the important components of a rigorous and professional dyslexia assessment, enabling you to put into practice the conceptual understanding of dyslexia that you gleaned from the first strand.
• Consider the use of psychometric tests and a range of wider assessment techniques, including ability, attainment and diagnostic tests of specific cognitive skill.
• Undertake a focused evaluation of two tests and consider their particular contribution within a dyslexia assessment.
• Examine the statistical analysis of test data and critically consider the notion of statistically significant differences between test scores.
• Refine the assessment checklist that you started in the first strand and consider and notes down the appropriate tools and assessment procedures for answering the questions that you have formulated.
• Consider the meaning and interpretation of a set of given test results provided as a case study on Campus OnlineTM; discuss your interpretation with other delegates in the discussion forum.
• Complete a multiple-choice questionnaire testing the accuracy of your statistical analysis of test data.
• Compare and contrast existing professional dyslexia reports, evaluating their approach, style and content.

Strand three: Conducting rigorous assessments and writing professional reports

• Consolidate the skills and knowledge that you gained in the first and second strands in the consideration of the wider factors involved in conducting a full professional assessment and in making good judgements.
• Reflect on your developing practise, knowledge and skills.
• Draw up a plan for a full dyslexia assessment – gather background information; consider specific hypotheses and questions that inform the assessment; consider issues of confidentiality and data protection; clarify the purpose of and rationale for the assessment.

• You will develop your professional knowledge and understanding through practice – it’s the best way to learn.
• Campus OnlineTM will support you with content that complements your learning every step of the way.
• Study with some of the finest practitioners around.
• Engage with outstanding content and practical activities that truly enhance your professional development.

• A written assignment analysing and critiquing the history of the identification of dyslexia including the discrepancy model (1,500 words).
• A case study analysis, for which background information and test results are provided (1,500 words).
• Three written example reports (2,500 words each) stemming from a full SpLD assessment, outlining the rationale and evidence for the identification of a specific learning difficulty.
• A short learning log of practice change over the duration of the module and comparative analysis of pre-and post-module style and skills (500 words).
• A video submission (DVD or file upload) demonstrating competencies in the direct assessment of a client.

You need to have:

• Either Associate Membership of The Dyslexia Guild (ADG), a British Dyslexia Association accredited Approved Teacher Status (ATS) or Approved Practitioner Status (APS) qualification, or hold level 5 or 7 SpLD specialist teacher/practitioner qualifications which would make you eligible for ADG/ATS/APS.

Please note: if you do not hold a membership, you will need to demonstrate eligibility prior to joining the course.

In addition to this, you will also need to:

• Have completed Real Training’s Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET).
• Be registered on the British Psychological Society’s (BPS’s) Register of Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU) and have gained the BPS’s Test User Educational Qualification.
• Demonstrated that your registration has been maintained if you have already attained the BPS’s Test User Educational Qualification.

You should also:

• Possess an undergraduate degree.
• Work in or have access to an education setting.
• Have access to a wide range of psychometric tests – the choice of tests will vary according to the age of children you work with, but you will need tests that fit these categories: cognitive ability including verbal ability, and visual non-verbal ability | working memory | phonological processing | processing speed | reading accuracy | reading efficiency | reading comprehension | spelling | writing | possible additional test for maths. The SASC-approved tests lists show the tests that can be used. As a Real Training delegate, you will receive a 10% discount on assessments and other items in the Dyslexia Action Shop.

Are you based in an international setting?

This course is available online and can, therefore, be completed anywhere in the world. Please click here for advice on payment options and other information relevant to those studying outside of the UK.

Delegates completing Dyslexia Professional Report Writing will require access to tests that assess a range of domains, as set out by SASC.

Please visit our tests webpage for further information and guidance.

Real Group runs the Dyslexia Action Shop which sells many of the most popular tests from the main test publishers in the UK and USA. We offer delegates a 10% discount off most products.

Please note: we have no control over the rules that publishers use to decide who is eligible to buy their tests and we will need to follow their guidance when selling tests. We may need you to provide information regarding qualifications for us to check your eligibility.

Cohorts begin in January, May and September.

The next cohort begins on 15 September 2024. Book and enrol before 15 September 2024 to join our next cohort.

As always, we can offer you a flexible range of fees to suit your finances:

• Single payment of £2,125 + VAT.
• Three monthly instalments of £733 + VAT.
• Ten monthly instalments of £225 + VAT.

For further information please visit the payment FAQ page found here.

Speak to us (01273 35 80 80) or make a booking.