Patoss working alongside the University of Chester present an exciting course.
This course is a 'top up' course for those who hold a specialist dyslexia teacher qualification and a psychometrics based qualification (please see the eligibility criteria below). On successful completion of the Diagnosing Dyslexia: Assessment Practice and Reporting (DDAPR) course, you will be eligible to apply for an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) (SASC Approved).
Do something great!
- Explore your understanding of dyslexia
- Develop your existing professional practice skills, knowledge and understanding as a specialist teacher and access arrangements assessor into those of the specialist teacher/assessor
- Develop and underpin diagnostic assessment skills and qualify for an APC
What will I learn?
Through a combination of compulsory ‘live’ taught online sessions, 1:1 tutorials, networking groups and self-directed study, you will gain the knowledge, understanding and professional practice skills to assess for dyslexia.
Course structure
Module 1: Understanding Dyslexia: Associated Traits, Barriers to Learning and Causation Theories (20 credits at Level 7)
This module is delivered by the University of Chester and will provide the theoretical underpinning to Module 2.
Module 2: Professional Practice
This module is delivered by Patoss and focusses on the development of professional practice skills in assessment and reporting to enable and facilitate the diagnostic assessment of dyslexia.
Both modules need to be successfully completed to pass the course.
On successful course completion, you will be eligible to apply for an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC).
Course duration and delivery dates for 2024
This is a 12-month course developed to support those working part time or full time within an educational setting and who wish to gain an additional professional qualification. This course would also be suitable for those who are self-employed and/ or work on a freelance basis. Please note attendance is compulsory for all online sessions detailed below.
Module 1 Delivered by the University of Chester
Session 1: Wednesday 10 January 2024, 5.00-8.00pm
Session 2: Wednesday 17 January 2024, 5.00-8.00pm
Session 3: Wednesday 31 January 2024, 5.00-8.00pm
Session 4: Wednesday 7 February 2024, 5.00-8.00pm
Module 2 Delivered by Patoss
Session 1: Tuesday 27 February 2024, 6.00-8.00pm
Session 2: Tuesday 5 March 2024, 6.00-8.00pm
Session 3: Tuesday 12 March 2024, 6.00-8.00pm
Session 4: Tuesday 19 March 2024, 6.00-8.00pm
Session 5: Tuesday 16 April 2024, 6.00-8.00pm
Session 6: Tuesday 23 April 2024, 6.00-8.00pm
Session 7: Tuesday 30 April 2024, 6.00-8.00pm
Session 8: Tuesday 7 May 2024, 6.00-8.00pm
Session 9: Tuesday 14 May 2024, 6.00- 8.00pm
Session 10: Saturday 18 May 2024, 10.30am-4.00pm
Session 11: Tuesday 10 September 2024, 6.00-8.00pm
How will I be assessed?
Module 1 - assessed by the University of Chester
Portfolio demonstrating a theoretical understanding that underpins the assessment of dyslexia.
Module 2 - assessed by Patoss
Professional Practice Portfolio which includes three case studies.
Please note, Case Study 1 will draw on evidence from your previous qualifications at ATS/ APS and AAA, PAPAA or CCET, CPT3a or ETAAC.
Both modules must be successfully completed to pass the course.
Good to Know.
There are submission deadlines throughout the course, and these must be strictly adhered to. For your information, the main deadlines are as follows:
University of Chester academic module submission deadline:
Thursday 14 March 2024
Patoss Professional Practice Module submission deadlines:
Wednesday 6 March 2024
Wednesday 17 April 2024
Wednesday 5 June 2024
Wednesday 10 July 2024
Wednesday 18 September 2024
Wednesday 30 October 2024
Wednesday 4 December 2024
How will I be taught?
The course is taught via an online platform, including a series of online taught sessions, workshops, networking groups and essential online activities. Students will be expected to engage with independent study, including wider reading. One-to-one online tutorials will be available to support learning.
Facilities and resources
Where is the course taught?
The course is delivered as live online taught sessions. Students are responsible for ensuring they have the resources available to access online learning.
Resources
You will have access to:
- Online library (via University of Chester)
- Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
Please note when you apply, you will need to confirm that you have access to relevant test materials. We do not provide access to psychometric tests. Please refer to the SpLD Test Evaluation Committee (STEC) Pre and Post 16 test lists which can be accessed on the SASC website (www.sasc.org.uk) in the Downloads section. Please email ddapr@patoss-dyslexia.org if you wish to discuss this prior to your application.
In addition, for the purposes of completing the assessed case studies, you will also need access to at least two students who are at risk of dyslexia. It is your responsibility, not the responsibility of Patoss, to find suitable students and suitable assessment spaces to support the completion of the course.
Opportunities/careers
The DDAPR course is designed for those working in education who have met the eligibility criteria, and who wish to develop their professional practice skills to conduct full diagnostic assessments for SpLD Dyslexia for children, young people and/ or adults.
We are entering a period of significant educational reform with the proposed National Standards for SEN, this qualification may help you to provide guidance to an educational setting(s) with respect to the identification and assessment of students with dyslexia.
Course fees
Jan 2024 entry
UK students: £2350
International students: Please email ddapr@patoss-dyslexia.org for further information.
Jan 2025 entry
UK students: To be published.
International students: To be published.
Jan 2026 entry
UK students: To be published.
International students: To be published.
Please note the fees for application for an APC are not included in the course fee. Application is made by individual students on successful course completion to their relevant professional organisation.
Interested in applying?
What we look for in potential students.
You will have completed:
- an undergraduate degree (minimum second-class honours) in an education related field.
- A specialist dyslexia teacher qualification approved at Accredited Teacher Status (ATS) or Accredited Practitioner Status (APS). Please note, specialist dyslexia teacher qualifications listed on the Patoss website that are eligible for Associate Membership are also accepted.
and either
- Patoss: Assessing for Access Arrangements (AAA) OR
- Communicate-ed: Postgraduate Award of Proficiency in Assessment for Access Arrangements (PAPAA) OR
- Real Training: Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) or Certificate in Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements (CPT3a), OR
- Education Elephant: Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing (CCET) or Educational Testing & Access Arrangements Certificate (ETAAC)
There are two phases to the application process:
Phase 1
Please complete the application form on the Patoss website.
Before applying you will need access to your certificates and details of an employer or academic referee who will provide a reference for the course.
Please note, you must be competent in administering and scoring psychometric tests, and have access to students and appropriate test materials for pre and/ or post 16 assessments (please refer to the Resources section above). This will need to be evidenced in your application.
You will be notified by email within 10 days of your application if you have been successful. If you have been successful, details will be sent regarding phase 2 of the application process. Please ensure your contact details are correct, including your email address as this will be used in all future communications.
Phase 2
You will apply directly to the University of Chester for the academic module. A link for this will be supplied following your successful completion of Phase 1.
Both phases must be completed successfully before an offer of a place is made. Please note, where an applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria they will be notified by email and will not be able to progress to phase 2 of the application process.
Want to apply for the 2024 course?
The application closing date is Friday 3 November 2023.
Please note, places are limited and if the course is full prior to the application deadline date course applications will be closed and this will be noted on the website. To avoid disappointment, we recommend that you apply as soon as possible. Late applications will not be considered.
Contact us
DDAPR Course Leader: Sarah Reay
email: ddapr@patoss-dyslexia.org
Related courses
Patoss Assessing for Access Arrangements (AAA)
University of Chester: Dyscalculia Research and Practice leading to both ATS/APS and AMBDA