Special Educational Needs Disability & Inclusion

Special educational needs, disability, and inclusion is a field that addresses one of the most important questions in education: how do we ensure that every learner, regardless of their learning profile, disability, or background, has the opportunity to achieve and develop to their individual potential? It draws on education, psychology, sociology, and law to understand the barriers that exclude or disadvantage learners with diverse needs, and to develop the knowledge and professional skills needed to challenge those barriers in practice.

At Nottingham Trent University, this three-year full-time BA is designed for students who want to make a real difference to the lives of learners of all ages with special educational needs and disabilities. You will explore the role of education in promoting inclusion, engaging with the policy, legal, and ethical frameworks that shape how SEND provision is organised in the UK, alongside the specialist knowledge needed to support learners with a wide range of conditions and learning profiles. The programme develops your practical skills through experience in diverse educational settings, preparing you for professional roles across primary, secondary, and further education, as well as the broader range of settings where inclusion expertise is needed.

With a typical entry tariff of 120 UCAS points, the programme is accessible to students with a commitment to this important area.

Graduates from special educational needs, disability, and inclusion degrees are well placed for careers in schools, early years settings, further education colleges, community education, local authority SEND teams, and voluntary and charity organisations working with disabled people and their families. Teaching assistant and SENCO roles are common first steps, and many graduates go on to qualified teacher status through subsequent training. The specialist knowledge and practical experience the degree develops are also relevant to roles in education policy, research, and advocacy.

Postgraduate study in education, educational psychology, or SEND provides a route for those who wish to deepen their expertise.