³ÉÈËÊÓƵ

Develop the knowledge, specialist teaching skills and assessment expertise needed to support children and young people with literacy difficulties and dyslexia.

This flexible professional training pathway brings together three assessed CPD courses delivered by ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ’s Miles Dyslexia Centre. It takes learners from the science underpinning literacy development and difficulties, through specialist teaching practice, to diagnostic assessment and professional report writing.

The courses can also be studied individually, depending on your experience and professional development aims.

Important information about the pathway

This pathway comprises three assessed, non-credit-bearing ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ CPD courses. The courses do not carry ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ academic credit and successful completion does not result in a ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ academic qualification.

Eligible learners who successfully complete the relevant courses may apply separately for professional accreditation or status. Following successful completion of the full pathway, eligible learners may also apply for an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) through a SASC-approved issuing body.

Professional recognition is not awarded automatically by ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ and is subject to the relevant organisation’s current eligibility, membership, application and fee requirements.

About this professional training pathway

The Specialist Teacher and Assessor Professional Training Pathway is designed for professionals who support children and young people experiencing literacy difficulties, including dyslexia.

It combines current research, specialist teaching approaches and diagnostic assessment skills. Through the three courses, you will develop the knowledge and practical expertise needed to understand literacy difficulties, plan and deliver effective interventions, undertake specialist assessments and produce professional reports.

You may book the full pathway or study individual courses. The Miles Dyslexia Centre team can advise you on the most appropriate starting point based on your qualifications, experience and professional aims.

Who is this pathway for?

The pathway may be suitable for:

• teachers
• Additional Learning Needs practitioners
• teaching assistants and learning support staff
• specialist literacy tutors
• speech and language therapists
• professionals working with learners with dyslexia or literacy difficulties
• other professionals involved in assessment, intervention or learning support.

The professional recognition available will depend on your existing qualifications, professional experience and the requirements of the relevant professional body.

Why study this pathway?

The pathway provides a structured route from understanding the evidence surrounding literacy difficulties to developing specialist teaching and assessment practice.

You will have opportunities to:

• develop an evidence-informed understanding of literacy development, dyslexia and literacy difficulties
• apply specialist approaches when supporting children and young people
• plan, deliver and evaluate targeted literacy interventions
• develop practical assessment and professional report-writing skills
• learn through a combination of online and face-to-face study
• study elements of the pathway through the medium of Welsh or English
• work towards recognised professional accreditation or status, subject to eligibility and separate application.

How is the pathway delivered?

The courses use a flexible blended-learning approach, which may include:

• live online teaching
• recorded learning materials
• online learning activities
• tutor support and mentoring
• face-to-face sessions at ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ
• practical teaching and assessment activities.

Some face-to-face attendance may be required where learners need to use assessment materials provided by the Miles Dyslexia Centre. Please check the individual course pages for the delivery requirements of each course.

Most learners should plan for approximately 12 hours of independent study each week alongside scheduled teaching and practical activity.

Professional recognition

Successful completion of the Specialist Practitioner course may allow eligible learners to apply to the British Dyslexia Association for Accredited Teacher Status or Accredited Practitioner Status.

Successful completion of all three courses provides a professional training route towards specialist teacher-assessor recognition and eligibility to apply for an Assessment Practising Certificate.

Applications for professional accreditation, membership or an APC are made separately to the relevant professional organisation. Additional eligibility requirements, application processes and fees will apply.

Teaching team

The pathway is delivered by experienced specialist teachers and assessors from the Miles Dyslexia Centre.
Full information about the teaching team is available on the individual course pages.

What will you study on this course?

The pathway comprises three assessed CPD courses.

1. The Science of Literacy Difficulties for Intervention and Assessment

This course explores current research and theory relating to literacy development, literacy difficulties and dyslexia.

You will consider the cognitive processes involved in reading, writing and spelling, and how assessment information can be used to identify support needs and inform intervention planning.

This course can be studied before or after the Specialist Practitioner course, but must be completed before beginning the Specialist Assessor course.

View The Science of Literacy Difficulties for Intervention and Assessment course

2. Specialist Practitioner: Teaching Learners with Literacy Difficulties and Dyslexia

This practical course develops the specialist teaching skills needed to support children and young people with literacy difficulties.

You will plan, deliver and evaluate targeted literacy interventions while developing your understanding of multisensory teaching and evidence-informed practice.

This course can be studied before or after The Science of Literacy Difficulties course.

View the Specialist Practitioner course

3. Specialist Assessor: Practical Assessment of Learners with Literacy Difficulties and Dyslexia

This course develops specialist assessment skills, including literacy assessment, psychometric testing, diagnostic assessment and professional report writing.

You will learn to administer and interpret assessments and use the findings to make informed, evidence-based recommendations.

Applicants must have completed The Science of Literacy Difficulties course and completed, or be nearing completion of, the Specialist Practitioner course before beginning this course.

View the Specialist Assessor course

For the 2026/27 academic year, The fee is £4,750 when all three courses are booked together.

This is a discounted fee compared with booking all three courses separately. The full-pathway fee can be paid in three instalments over six months, please discuss with a member of the team.

Applicants should:

• have at least two years’ relevant experience of working with children and young people in an educational, therapeutic or learning-support role
• have the academic skills and confidence needed to undertake study and assessment at Level 7
• have strong reading, writing and communication skills
• be able to meet the practical requirements of the individual courses.

The Specialist Practitioner course requires access to a child or young person aged 6–16 who would benefit from a literacy intervention in your workplace or an associated organisation.

The Specialist Assessor course requires applicants to have completed The Science of Literacy Difficulties course and completed, or be nearing completion of, the Specialist Practitioner course. Equivalent previous study may be considered.

Please contact the Miles Dyslexia Centre if you are unsure whether your qualifications or experience meet the requirements.

To apply for the full Specialist Teacher and Assessor Professional Training Pathway, complete the application form below.

Apply for the full professional pathway

Apply for an individual course

You may also apply for each course separately using the application information on the individual course pages.

If you would like to discuss your eligibility, professional accreditation aims or the most appropriate starting point, complete the request form or contact the Miles Dyslexia Centre:

Email: mdc-training@bangor.ac.uk

Applying for a ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ CPD course is separate from applying for professional accreditation, membership or an Assessment Practising Certificate with an external professional organisation.