Abstract
This paper examines the impact of a two year postgraduate diploma in special educational needs co-ordination. It is planned and taught by Lancashire Education Authority and Edge Hill. The planning, teaching and assessment of this programme are discussed. This model of Continuing Professional Development is designed to meet the increasing professional needs of SENC0s or aspiring SENC0s. It is linked with the National Standards for SENC0s (TTA 1998). It enables SENC0s and other teachers of pupils with special educational needs to develop their own practice and to increase their own knowledge of legislation, policy and practice, to evaluate their own practice and to increase their knowledge of teaching and learning strategies.
The challenge of planning a programme which both addresses the assessment requirements of the university, that is the academic requirements, as well as those of the TTA model, that is the competence model, are examined. The individual professional needs of SENC0s are also addressed. The tensions that inevitably arise when planning and delivering a programme that demands both academic rigour and practical applications are explored. Finally the impact on practice of this joint programme is discussed by using examples from the students' varied portfolios.
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