OCR Diploma Level 7 course in assessing and teaching learners with specific learning difficulties (Dyslexia)

Diploma Level 7 is a year long course beginning on 8th October 2009 with completion expected in July 2010, practical work continuing through the second half of the summer term. All written assignments, except the essay, will be completed by end of June 2010. The essay is to be submitted no later than 15th August 2010.

The Level 7 Diploma is designed to accredit skills and knowledge at Level 7 of the National Qualifications Framework and to be equivalent in demand to NVQ Level 7. This Level 7 Diploma provides continuing professional development building on the skills acquired in Level 5; there is a major focus on assessment of learners with Specific Learning Difficulties, as well as liaising skills for working with other colleagues and working in more than one context e.g. across a specific age range or across a range of SpLDs.

The Diploma is designed to allow teachers to broaden their knowledge and understanding of Specific Learning Difficulties through extended research. As well as completing Diploma Level 7 units, candidates can specialise in study based on their own interests and areas of work.

The Level 7 Certificate and Diploma now appear on JCQ’s list of ‘Approved qualifications for the provision of supporting evidence on behalf of examination candidates with learning difficulties’. This means that candidates who achieve are qualified to provide reports and evidence for learners requiring special arrangements for examinations and assessments.

The JCQ list can be found at the back of their publication ‘Regulations and Guidance Relating to candidates with Particular Requirements’.

Target Group

This qualification is suitable for those who are involved or wish to be involved in assessment of pupils and advising and supporting classroom teachers and learning support assistants in teaching programmes. Diploma candidates are likely to be specialist teachers working within advisory, training or managerial roles and responsibilities and who wish to extend their knowledge of theory and practice relating to SpLDs in more than one context.

Although OCR promotes open access to all qualifications, in practice, students who do not have a professional background in providing learning support may find it difficult to access opportunities to generate the full range of evidence required to achieve the full qualification.

Students should possess an appropriate level of learning support experience and should have a relevant qualification at Level 5 or its equivalent. It is anticipated that students will have a high level of skill and be working at or above the equivalent of Level 5 in the following key skill areas: literacy, numeracy, ICT, working with others, improving own learning and problem solving.

Structure of Diploma Level 7

NB: Candidates who have completed a recent OCR Certificate Level 5 may have exemption from Unit 5 through accreditation for prior learning.

The course consists of 7 units of equal weight. Each unit is designed to be delivered in approximately 60 guided hours. Therefore, 420 guided learning hours are recommended for delivery of the complete Diploma or 360 hours for those progressing from Certificate Level 5.

The QCA definition of a ‘guided learning hour’ is: ‘A notional measure of the substance of a qualification. It includes an estimate of the time that might be allocated to direct teaching or instruction together with the other structured learning time such as directed assignments, assessments on the job or supported individual study and practice. It excludes ‘learner-initiated private study’.

The main types of teaching for this course will include the following: lectures, tutorials, workshops, discussion groups, presentations, directed study and research, and practical activities.

In exceptional circumstances, candidates with extensive training and experience in SpLD, may be considered for a place on Level 7 Certificate even though they do not have a Level 5 qualification. Further charges will apply in this case.

In such circumstances, candidates should in the first instance, submit a detailed CV with their application, after which they will be called for interview. Candidates are advised that they will be required to work independently, in their own time, to provide the evidence for the equivalent Level 5 Units.

Assessment

Students will be observed carrying out a formal assessment; this evidence may be required on video. Written work for Units will be marked by the student’s tutor and both internally verified by the Centre’s Internal Verifier and externally verified by the External Verifier appointed by OCR. Teaching practice for Units 5 and 7 will be observed. Observations will be followed by tutorials giving the opportunity for individual learning and discussion. In addition, candidates must write an extended essay (5000 words), keep a record of their own continuing professional development, and work with an individual learner with specific learning difficulties in one of the following contexts:

A learner with literacy difficulties in a different phase of education (primary, secondary, post-16) from that of the learners taught in Unit 5.
A learner with different and particular underlying difficulties from the learners taught in Unit 5 e.g. dyspraxia, ADHD, speech or language impairments, autistic spectrum disorders.
A learner in a different context of learning from the learners in Unit 5, e.g. English as an additional language, pupil referral unit or penal institution.
A learner within the context of learning maths, music or foreign languages. Choice may be restricted according to tutor availability.

Progression

Students may be able to progress to M.Ed level and other higher level qualifications in education.

Assessment Pattern

All Units are internally assessed and verified, and then externally verified by OCR.

All candidates will be expected to complete the course in the academic year in which they are registered. For candidates who need to re-take whole or part units where criteria have not previously been met, a fee of £85 per hour is charged for tutor support.

For further information contact Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre or download a pdf brochure of our full course prospectus
Telephone Number for all enquiries: 01252 792 400
Email General Enquiries: enquiries@arkellcentre.org.uk
Email Course Enquiries: courses@arkellcentre.org.uk

This means that candidates who achieve are qualified to provide reports and evidence for learners requiring special arrangements for examinations and assessments.

The JCGQ list can be found at the back of their publication ‘Regulations and Guidance Relating to Candidates with Particular Requirements.’