Education: Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Wellbeing BA (Hons)
Subject and course type
- Education and teaching
- Undergraduate
If you aspire to support the education, wellbeing, mental health, and inclusion of children and young people with additional needs, our BA (Hons) Education: Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Wellbeing is designed for you. Whether you are already working in the special educational needs sector or hope to enter it, this degree equips you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to make a meaningful difference.
Please note: this course was previously called Education: Supporting Inclusion and Wellbeing BA (Hons). The delivery and content of the course remain the same.
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Support the mental wellbeing of children and young people
Make a difference to the lives of people aged under 25 by working in the special educational needs sector.
This inspiring course will empower you to apply the specialist knowledge and skills to help and support children and young people with additional needs and disabilities. You will explore vital topics such as equality, diversity, mental health and wellbeing. You will examine how education and other professionals can support these in practice alongside developing essential knowledge and skills to understand and support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing across different situations
Throughout the course, you will explore how to support children and young people with a wide range of additional needs and disabilities. You will develop a strong understanding of the different curricula used across educational settings and learn evidence‑informed tools and strategies that help learners make progress and thrive.
You will also examine how to foster communication, independence, life skills, and social and emotional development, gaining the insight required to create supportive and inclusive learning environments. By the end of your degree, you will be prepared to contribute confidently to inclusive practice and to enhance the educational experiences of the children and young people you work with.
Our Education: Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Wellbeing BA (Hons) course offers the flexibility to balance study with your work-life commitments. You will have the unique opportunity to use your newly acquired knowledge, skills and understanding in practice. Practical experience is integral to the learning process. Students need to work or volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per week in an appropriate setting and we will help and support you in placement.
You will study one afternoon/evening a week for three years at our Kingston Hill campus, balancing academic learning with real-world practice.
Graduates are well-prepared for careers in education, advocacy, or inclusion roles within schools, charities, social care, health and local government. They will contribute to meaningful change and support the learning and development of future generations.
Education and teaching at Kingston University
Our students are making big changes to small peoples' lives. Hear how you could develop the skills you need to play a pivotal role in the lives of children and young people.
Why choose this course
Kingston University is an outstanding place to study this education degree. Our commitment to high-quality teaching was recognised with a TEF Gold rating in 2023. The University achieved an overall Gold rating, along with Gold awards in the new student experience and student outcomes categories.
The tutors on this course are experienced practitioners, actively involved in research and education-related activities, ensuring you benefit from up-to-date knowledge and real-world insights.
The Nightingale Centre library has a vast collection of teaching resources. These include children’s books, historical artefacts, and kits for various subjects, supporting your lesson planning and enhancing your learning experience.
Course content
The course covers inclusion and wellbeing, personal and professional development, developmental theories, current legislative frameworks governing practice, multi-professional perspectives, and working with children and young people, families and carers.
Year 1
In Year 1, you will build on your existing knowledge and experience of working with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and develop your academic writing and research skills. You will develop your knowledge of effective practice working with children and young people with special educational needs. You will reflect on the environment and society that our children and young adults learn in.
Core modules
30 credits
In this module you will explore the development of children from birth to 25 years of age. You will examine and challenge existing theories, approaches, legislation and policies, and relate these specifically to practice. You will have the opportunity to explore different theories of development (both seminal and emerging) and to reflect on their use within the English educational system. Through discussion and debate within organised seminars and group workshops, you will develop positioning and reasoning for advocacy and practical application of published perspectives. Furthermore, this module will enable you to reflect on how developmental theories can influence key policies and guidance.
30 credits
In this module you will have the chance to explore sustainability by exploring the interconnectedness of various systems – natural, social, and economic. Education for sustainability promotes a sense of individual and collective responsibility towards the environment and society. It promotes a deeper contextual reflection about the role of education as a catalyst to make informed choices. The module requires you to become an agent of change, promoting action that contributes to an ethos of sustainability within an educational context.
30 credits
This module will introduce you to the key principles of inclusive practice and its importance in supporting children with additional needs in the English education system. This module also encourages you to investigate how inclusive practice is evidenced in other settings. You will examine the principles of inclusion and their implications for practice. In addition, this module will explore the evolution of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) policies, inviting you to assess their influence on current educational approaches and the lived experiences of individuals with additional needs.
30 credits
This module examines what it means to be a professional in the context of both early education and inclusive teaching and learning. This module is designed to enable you to engage in reflective practice by drawing on a range of theoretical models, literature and work-based experiences. You are encouraged to take charge of your own learning, reflecting on your professional knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviours (KASBs). This module will also introduce you to Future Skills through engagement with Navigate workshops and module resources. You will be guided to use the reflections from the Navigate workshops to identify career development pathways and how you can be supported to achieve these with the guidance of those more experienced than you. This will include utilising supervision mechanisms within the work environment as well as the support of mentors and communities of practice to enhance personal and professional practice.
Year 2
In Year 2, you will further your professional practice, knowledge and expertise, learning about children’s rights in a local and global society. You will develop your knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion in educational practice. You will also learn about collaborating with other professionals offering strategies and interventions to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young adults with special educational needs.
Core modules
30 credits
This module provides an in-depth exploration of the rights of babies, children and young people lensed through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (UNICEF, 1989). You will evaluate the various rights afforded to children, the importance of safeguarding these rights, and the challenges faced in implementing rights-based approaches and initiatives locally and globally. It is essential that a range of issues within care and education are critically evaluated through the lenses of the UNCRC and rights-based philosophies to ensure that you are well informed about your professional role as advocates for children and their families. An exploration of relevant legislation, policies, curriculum frameworks and initiatives provides students with further opportunities to interrogate and critique the intentions, values and principles that underpin the range of provision within the UK, Europe and the Global South.
30 credits
This module will centre on the current constructs of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through the lenses of education. It will explore contemporary issues related to equity and equality. There will be opportunity to explore positive and limiting practices within educational settings, which promote or inhibit an inclusive culture between stakeholders and within stakeholder groups. In this module you will review educational approaches that can provide empowerment for marginalised, under-served or underrepresented groups within the community. You will examine your own dispositions, personal beliefs and values and how these impact on practice approaches and ethical decision-making. Intersectionality factors that influence and underpin the lived experiences of babies, children and young people will also be evaluated with a view to making suggested improvements to current practice approaches that promote an inclusive and equitable culture.
30 credits
This module provides the opportunity to explore and engage at a deeper level with the theories and models that promote collaboration and reflection in professional working contexts. You are encouraged to take an active role in shaping your personal, professional and pedagogical progress through engagement with the Future Skills Explore activities. The collaborative nature of working within the module will inform your subject knowledge as well as a range of transferable skills that are essential for a graduate to work effectively within and beyond the sector.
30 credits
This module explores the intersection of mental health and well-being within the context of children and families, emphasising the importance of multi-professional collaboration. You will explore theories, interventions, and strategies tailored to support the mental health needs of children and families including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The module content will explore factors that promote and impede positive mental health and well-being. This element will be a key focus, equipping you with the knowledge to identify and address barriers to positive mental health outcomes. You will have the opportunity to explore practice-based approaches and consider how you can work effectively with other educators, mental health professionals, parents and community members.
Year 3
In Year 3, you will build on your knowledge of contemporary issues around the health and wellbeing or children and young adults (0-25 years) with special educational needs. You will study leadership and management in settings for those children and young adults. You will learn about collaboration and ethics when planning a research project.
Core modules
30 credits
This module explores key issues related to health and wellbeing in educational settings. The teaching content frames health and wellbeing issues through various lenses including neuroscience, sociology, psychology, policy and guidance. The roles and responsibilities of adults that work with the children, young people, families and communities will be explored and you will consider factors which promote or impede holistic development. This will provide you with a critical appreciation of the complexities of addressing practice-based contemporary issues that support the holistic development of children and young people within health and wellbeing.
30 credits
This module will give you the opportunity to critically reflect upon leadership models and approaches. The module content will lead you to appreciate the crucial role played by inclusive practitioner leaders in supporting change and how leadership can facilitate best special educational needs and inclusive practices for children and young people, parents, carers, practitioners and other professionals. There will be the opportunity to explore the importance of respectful partnership with these stakeholders.
You will be led to explore educational issues related to the special educational needs and inclusion sector through sociological, political, psychological, economic, philosophical and political lenses. The voice of the child and young person will be a central focus in the proposed change management process. You will be encouraged to evaluate methods, strategies and approaches that you use to manage yourself and others. You will reflect through experiential learning opportunities on your existing areas of strength and identify areas for further development.
30 credits
The module expands on the professional graduate skills developed across the first two years of study. You will refine and critically evaluate professional reflections in relation to your own professional identity and specific subject pedagogy. You will become an expert in your subject and evolve leadership and advocacy through personal reflective tasks and collaboration with others in a range of professional contexts. You will retain active engagement with continued professional learning activities and apply new knowledge to your own professionalism whilst reflecting on your evolving personal skillset. Reflection around skills to excel in your career after graduation forms an essential element to this module. Therefore, you are encouraged to explore a range of career opportunities and network with other professionals in readiness for the next stage in your professional journey. The Future Skills Apply Learning Outcomes are delivered in this module.
30 credits
This module will support you to think critically about planning a small-scale enquiry that requires the collaborative participation of other stakeholders. You will explore the ethical implications as well as the methodological approach that underpins your proposed enquiry. You will examine evidence-based approaches that are currently drawn on in the field of education and beyond. You will critically reflect on challenges and ethically sound practices that promote meaningful collaboration.
International students: direct application
Are you an international student? Have you decided Kingston is the place for you? If so, you can apply for this course directly, rather than having to go through UCAS.
What career opportunities does this course offer?
Many students return to Kingston University for postgraduate and continuing professional development studies. These include Early Years Initial Teacher Training, which leads to Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). The university also offers the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), which leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Additionally, students can pursue master’s qualifications, such as the Education MA, subject to meeting course requirements.
Future Skills
Our Future Skills programme is embedded within all our undergraduate courses and throughout the whole Kingston experience. These skills will help you to become a future-proof graduate by equipping you with the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency and adaptability.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills. You’ll also understand how to demonstrate and articulate to employers how these future skills give you the edge.
Teaching and assessment
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking coursework assignments, and preparing and giving presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, support you throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- Year 1: 59% scheduled learning and teaching (including mandatory work placement)
- Year 2: 59% scheduled learning and teaching (including mandatory work placement)
- Year 3: 59% scheduled learning and teaching (including mandatory work placement)
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Assessment typically comprises coursework such as essays, reports, presentations, poster exhibitions and research project.
Types of assessment
- Year 1: Coursework 100%
- Year 2: Coursework 100%
- Year 3: Coursework 100%
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback to you on your assessments within 20 working days.
Your class will be at the Kingston Hill campus one afternoon a week. Students studying will be able to access their timetable on My Kingston.
Fees and funding
| Fee Category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £10,050* |
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course.
Your annual tuition fee covers your first attempt at all modules required for that academic year. Any re-study or repeat of modules will incur additional charges, calculated according to the number of credits taken.
Home students (UK): Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
| Fee Category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,790* |
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course.
Your annual tuition fee covers your first attempt at all modules required for that academic year. Any re-study or repeat of modules will incur additional charges, calculated according to the number of credits taken.
Home students (UK): Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
| Fee Category | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | £9,535* |
*For full-time programmes lasting more than one academic year, a tuition fee is payable for each academic year of the course. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
Placement travel costs will vary depending on your location and mode of transport.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying this course at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
Key information
The scrolling banner below displays some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
