Level 5 Certificate in Teaching Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

What is the Level 5 Certificate in Teaching Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities?

The objective of the OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Teaching Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities is to provide the learner with the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills needed to to promote positive learning outcomes and environments for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Through the course of this qualification learners’ will explore how to analyse and implement pedagogical theories and frameworks, explore and apply specialist action learning techniques in their subject specialism and manage positive/disruptive behaviours in a learning environment to ensure purposeful learning outcomes for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Who is this qualification for?

This Level 5 certificate suits learners who hold a Level 4 qualification or equivalent experience and want second-year degree-level knowledge in teaching learners with special educational needs and disabilities.

• Study fully online with tutor support from LSIB, with no fixed timetable.
• Assessment by assignments, so you can evidence learning from your own workplace.
• Each level carries 120 credits, so you can progress one level at a time.

Entry requirements

This qualification is designed for learners who are typically aged 19 and above.

The entry profile for learners must include:

• Being 19 years old or older at the beginning of the course
• Minimum core of literacy, language, numeracy and ICT 
• A minimum of a Level 3 qualification in their own area of specialism

Or the following:

• Be mature learners (over 21) with relevant management experience (learners must check with the delivery centre regarding this experience prior to registering for the programme)

If a learner is not from a majority English-speaking country, they must provide evidence of English language competency. For more information visit the English Language Expectations page on the OTHM website.

Qualification structure and units

The OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Teaching Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities qualification consists of 3 mandatory units, 36 credits, 360 hours Total Qualification Time (TQT) and the recommended Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for this qualification is a minimum of 100 hours.

Source: OTHM qualification specification (PDF) · Ofqual qualification number 610/3490/3.

Duration and delivery

The qualification is designed to be delivered over one academic year for full-time study, but it is also flexible in its delivery in order to accommodate part-time and distance learning.

The qualification is delivered face-to-face, through lectures, tutorials, seminars, distance, online by approved centres only.

At LSIB the qualification is delivered online: you receive the unit materials, assignment briefs and tutor support through the learning platform and submit assignments when you are ready. There are no fixed lecture times, so you can start in any month.

How you are assessed

All units within this qualification are assessed and internally quality assured by the centre and externally verified by OTHM. The qualifications are criterion referenced, based on the achievement of all the specified learning outcomes.

To achieve a ‘pass’ for a unit, learners must provide evidence to demonstrate that they have fulfilled all the learning outcomes and meet the standards specified by all assessment criteria. Judgement that the learners have successfully fulfilled the assessment criteria is made by the assessor.

Specific assessment guidance and relevant marking criteria for each unit are made available in the Assignment Brief document. These are made available to centres immediately after registration of one or more learners.

The assessor should provide an audit trail showing how the judgement of the learners’ overall achievement has been arrived at.

Progression and career routes

Successful completion of the Level 5 Certificate in Teaching Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities supports progression to the next RQF level and to employment in teaching learners with special educational needs and disabilities roles.

Fees and how to apply

The enrolment fee is £10 when you submit your application. It is separate from the course fee above.

1. Apply and pay the £10 enrolment fee Use Apply now to open the application form with this programme pre-selected. Complete the form, upload your ID and qualification certificates (or a CV showing relevant experience), and pay the £10 enrolment fee to submit.
2. Application review and course-fee link Admissions review your application within one working day. If you are approved, we email you a secure link to pay the course fee in full or on an instalment plan.
3. Start your course As soon as your course fee (or first instalment, if you chose a plan) is paid, you receive your learning-platform login and can begin the first unit. There is no fixed intake date.

Progression path

1. Level 5 Certificate
2. Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

Related OTHM qualifications

• Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training
• Level 5 Diploma in Early Childhood Education
• Level 5 Extended Diploma in Early Childhood Education