29 Nov 2021
Key Facts
Qualification Summary
The Diploma allows learners to undertake study related to understanding special educational needs and disabilities. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes including a focus on special educational needs, care and supporting learning topics. Many learners join these types of degrees after following A level study, so the Diploma will place the Access to HE learners on a level with those who have followed A level studies.
Learners will complete mandatory units which support an introduction to special educational needs, disability, child development and safeguarding, but then they will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units including methods of learning, behavioural difficulties, producing teaching resources, supporting individuals to access healthcare, mental health and inclusive learning.
Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills.
Learners who have followed these routes may need to develop their skills in specific areas as well as learning more about subjects in which they have an interest. If the learner has gone straight into employment, they may not have studied at Level 3 and so this Access to HE Diploma will help them to build on existing skills and provide a good grounding for further academic study.
Why choose this qualification?
The Diploma allows learners to undertake study related to understanding special educational needs and disabilities. Learners will have the opportunity to develop skills which will enable progression to a range of degree level programmes including a focus on special educational needs, care and supporting learning topics. Many learners join these types of degrees after following A level study, so the diploma will place the Access to HE learners on a level with those who have followed A level studies.
Learners will complete mandatory units which support an introduction to special educational needs, disability, child development and safeguarding, but then they will be able to research an area of interest to them in more depth. They will study a range of optional units including methods of learning, behavioural difficulties, producing teaching resources, supporting individuals to access healthcare, mental health and inclusive learning.
Ungraded units include units which will support access to higher education whilst supporting study and personal skills.
Learners who have followed these routes may need to develop their skills in specific areas as well as learning more about subjects in which they have an interest. If the learner has gone straight into employment, they may not have studied at Level 3 and so this Access Diploma will help them to build on existing skills and provide a good grounding for further academic study.
Units
Learners must complete 45 credits from this group.
Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.
Research Project for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - Methodology
Research Skills for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Learners must complete 15 credits from this group.
Inclusivity and Disability in Education
Safeguarding Children, Young People and/or Vulnerable Adults
Special Educational Needs Awareness
Understanding the Importance of Physical, Intellectual and Language Development of Young Children
Learners must complete 24 credits from this group.
Assessment for Learning
Behaviour Management in a Learning Environment
Care Principles
Education Studies: Socio-Economic Factors in Educational Achievement
Equality and Inclusion in Health, Social Care or Children's and Young People's Settings
Mental Health and Education
Principles of Supporting Individuals with a Learning Disability to Access Healthcare
Teaching Resources
Understanding Communication Skills used when Supporting Individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disability
Understanding and Using Inclusive Teaching and Learning Approaches
Learners must complete 15 credits from this group.
Learners must complete 12 credits from this group.
Academic Writing Skills
Application of Number - Interpreting and Presenting Information
Being a Reflective Learner
Preparation for Higher Education
Learners must complete 3 credits from this group.
Academic Reading Skills
Communication - Speaking and Listening
Optimising Examination Performance
Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience
Study Skills
Work Placement
Intended learner groups
a) Adults who, because of social, educational or individual circumstances may have achieved few, if any, prior qualifications and wish to progress to HE
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to HE.
How this diploma meets learners' needs
The Diploma will provide them with underpinning skills to support academic study and provide a level 3 qualification linked to their proposed HE study. A broad range of knowledge will be acquired which support an understanding of special educational needs and aspects of disability and will ensure that the learner is fully prepared for progression onto the relevant degrees.
What this diploma covers
The units include a balance of special educational needs and disability units which allow the learners to keep their options open until they have fully decided on their preferred route at degree level. The ungraded units have been chosen to support both progression into higher education and also to allow the learners to develop skills relevant to the subject area.
Delivery methods
Face to face
Blended learning
It should be noted that if learners are to complete QU026202 Understanding and Using Inclusive Teaching and Learning Approaches, they will require a work placement.
Assessment methods include: Exams, case studies, presentation, timeline, academic posters, structured questions, projects, report, assessment resources, observation, short answer questions, essay, production of resources, activity planning, controlled assessment, application form, personal statement, reflective accounts.
Case studies for QU025409 Safeguarding Children, Young People and/or Vulnerable Adults unit should be relevant to the context upon which the learner is focusing for the diploma e.g. early years settings, primary or further education.
Progression routes
BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs and Disability Studies
BA (Hons) Early Years
Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons)
BA (Honours) Early Childhood
Early Years Foundation Degree FdA
BA (Hons) Early Years and Special and Inclusive Education
BA (Hons) Education Studies and Early Years
BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies
BA (Honours) Education Studies (Primary)
BA (Hons) Education
BSc (Hons) Education
BEd (Hons) Bachelor of Education Honours Degree Primary with QTS
Bachelor of Education (BEd)
In addition, progression could be onto a higher level or degree apprenticeship including:
Early Years Lead Practitioner (degree)
Early Years Senior Practitioner
Learning and Skills Teacher
Teacher
Provider approval criteria
No specific resources over and above provider approval criteria.
Progression route entry requirements
Learners will probably require a pass in maths and English at GCSE level or a Functional Skills qualification in English and Maths to progress onto a degree course.
Funding information
There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.
The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).
View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
Additional funding information for Access to HE
- Access to HE is eligible for funding as part of the legal entitlement offer.
- Access to HE is eligible for funding via Advanced Learner Loans and appears on the Advanced Learner Loans catalogues published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
- Access to HE Diplomas are designed for adult learners aged 19+ and the ESFA only funds young people on these programmes by exception, as stated in paragraph 149, page 39 of the Funding guidance for young people 2020 to 2021.
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you deliver this qualification.
Information for Access Centres
Assignment briefs
Centres approved to deliver our Access to HE Diplomas can download assignment briefs for a selection of units in this Diploma. Assignment briefs can be downloaded by logging to Prism and locating the relevant unit. More assignment briefs are being added not all units currently have assignment briefs available.
The assignment briefs can be easily adapted to suit your needs. We recommend checking the rules of combination for the Diploma and adapting the brief accordingly.
To provide a flavour of what’s available, you can download the below samples for free: