Join Patoss

There are 7 categories of membership as outlined below, with rates from April 2009:

Full Member (F)

Individuals who hold a specialist qualification approved by the Board in the teaching and assessment of people with Specific Learning Difficulties shall be known as Full Members.

Approved qualifications shall be at least at post graduate level or equivalent or be accredited by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) for Associate Membership of the British Dyslexia Association (AMBDA) or recognised by SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC). These individuals are qualified to provide diagnostic assessments and teach people with Specific Learning Difficulties.

Full Members may apply for the Practising Certificate. Full members must carry Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) to be included in the Index of Tutors and Assessors.

Full Membership entitles the member to full voting rights at Annual General Meetings, the option to carry Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII), the option to be included in the Index of Tutors and Assessors, plus the range of PATOSS publications, reduced fees to PATOSS national conference and local events, access to the Legal Helpline and a range of other PATOSS services.

Annual subscription - £60.00 or £81.25 (insurance option)*
*This amount is paid directly to Patoss. Those joining as Full Members will receive information about the Professional Indemnity Insurance cover and a proposal form from the Insurers then a further amount, currently £78.75 (£75 insurance premium + £3.75 insurance premium tax), will be payable directly to the insurers.

For a downloadable application form please click here [Word format] [pdf format]

Associate Member (A)

Individuals who hold a specialist qualification approved by the Board in the teaching of people with Specific Learning Difficulties shall be known as Associate Members. Approved qualifications shall be recognised by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) for BDA Approved Teacher Status (BDA ATS). These individuals are qualified to teach and assess for establishing and reviewing a teaching programme for people with Specific Learning Difficulties.

Associate members included in the Index of Tutors and Assessors must carry Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII).

Associate Membership gives the member the option to carry Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII), the option to be included in the Index of Tutors and Assessors. Associate membership entitles the members to a range of PATOSS publications, reduced fees to PATOSS national conferences and local events, access to the Legal Helpline and a range of other PATOSS services. Associate Membership does not entitle the member to voting rights at Annual General Meetings.

Annual subscription - £60.00 or £81.25 (insurance option)*
*This amount is paid directly to Patoss. Those joining as Associate Members (A) will receive information about the Professional Indemnity Insurance cover and a proposal form from the Insurers then a further amount, currently £78.75 (£75 insurance premium + £3.75 insurance premium tax), will be payable directly to the insurers

For a downloadable application form please click here [Word format] [pdf format]

Affiliate Professional Member (AP)

Individuals who have an allied professional qualification (not SpLD) and have a professional involvement in Specific Learning Difficulties shall be known as Affiliate Professional Members. Affiliate Professional Members could be, for example an Educational, Clinical or Chartered Psychologist, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist.

This membership entitles the member to a range of PATOSS publications, reduced fees to PATOSS national conferences and local events, access to the Legal Helpline and a range of other PATOSS services. Affiliate Professional Membership does not entitle the member to voting rights at Annual General Meetings.

Affiliate Professional Members are not entitled to Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII).

Annual subscription - £50.00

For a downloadable application form please click here [Word format] [pdf format]

Student Member (S)

Individuals who are students registered on a course leading to a specialist qualification approved by the Board in the teaching or assessing of people with Specific Learning Difficulties shall be known as Student Members. This membership is available for a period of 2 years for the initial qualifying SpLD course.

This membership entitles the member to a range of PATOSS publications, reduced fees to PATOSS national conferences and local events, access to the Legal Helpline and a range of other PATOSS services. Student Membership does not entitle the member to voting rights at Annual General Meetings.

Student Members are not entitled to Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) and do not appear in the Index of Tutors and Assessors.

Annual subscription - £40.00

For a downloadable application form please click here [Word format] [pdf format]

Supporting Member (SP)

Individuals who do not meet any of the above criteria but do, however, have an interest in SpLD and wish to support the aims and activities of PATOSS shall be known as Supporting Members.

Supporting Members are entitled to a range of PATOSS publications, reduced fees to PATOSS national conferences and local events access to the Legal Helpline and a range of other PATOSS services. Supporting Membership does not entitle the member to voting rights at Annual General Meetings.

Supporting Members are not entitled to Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) and do not appear in the Index of Tutors and Assessors.

Annual subscription - £40.00

For a downloadable application form please click here [Word format] [pdf format]

Corporate Member (C)

Schools, Colleges and Universities, dyslexia associations and other organisations acceptable to the Board shall be known as Corporate Members.

Corporate Members are entitled to a range of PATOSS publications, reduced fees to PATOSS national conferences and local events for two individuals, and a range of other PATOSS services.

Corporate Members are not entitled to Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) and do not appear in the Index of Tutor and Assessors. Corporate Membership does not entitle the member to voting rights at Annual General Meetings.

Corporate Members, as such, cannot apply for SpLD Assessment Practising Certificates (SpLD APC). (SpLD APCs are available with individual membership only.)

Annual subscription - £125.00

For a downloadable application form please click here [Word format] [pdf format]

Overseas Member

Overseas Membership is available for all membership categories.

Overseas Members are entitled to the range of PATOSS publications, reduced fees to PATOSS national conferences and local events. Overseas Members are NOT covered by PATOSS Professional Indemnity Insurance or the Legal Helpline.

Overseas Membership costs the membership fee quoted for the appropriate level as noted above PLUS an additional £25.00 sterling to cover postage and handling charges.

For a downloadable application form please click here [Word format] [pdf format]

All members agree to abide by the Patoss Code of Ethics for Specialist Teachers and Assessors
Last updated: 27/04/09

What is Patoss?
Patoss is a professional association of teachers of students with specific learning difficulties, for all those concerned with the teaching and support of pupils with SpLD: dyslexic, dyspraxic, ADD, and Aspergers syndrome. Membership is open to qualified teachers in SpLD and those studying for either the certificate or the diploma in SpLD.

SpLD Specialist Teacher Training Courses