Specialist Practitioner Course: Teaching Learners with Literacy Difficulties and Dyslexia (SpLD)

Bangor University, located in the coastal city of Bangor in Wales and founded in 1884 (Royal Charter 1885), is a public institution known for combining strong research with a student-focused experience. The university enrolls around 11,000 students, including roughly 2,700 international students, and groups teaching and research across nine academic schools. With 382 programmes spanning arts, sciences and professional subjects, Bangor balances tradition and innovation while aiming to deliver high academic standards and a supportive learning environment.

Set between the mountains of Snowdonia and the Menai Strait, the campus offers an attractive natural setting alongside good connections to larger UK cities. Institutional review commends its data-driven approach to quality, partnership with students, and embedded bilingual provision. Sustainability and global citizenship are central themes, informing research, enterprise and campus life, while interdisciplinary projects and community links create practical learning pathways for students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

International students benefit from tailored support services, Welsh cultural opportunities, and a breadth of modules that suit varied career goals. Small-group teaching, research-led study and industry connections support employability, internships and further study. Prospective students seeking a welcoming campus with strong pastoral care, active student societies and clear routes into professional life will find Bangor offers rigorous academics alongside a distinctive natural and cultural setting.

This Specialist Practitioner Course is for educators who work with children and young people facing literacy challenges, including dyslexia. It's a non-degree course that takes 10 years to complete and is offered in English at Bangor University in the UK. The main advantage is gaining accredited specialist status in delivering literacy interventions.

The course covers topics like theories of dyslexia, co-occurring difficulties, and bilingualism. Participants will develop practical teaching skills through 20 hours of teaching experience and creating a teaching portfolio. This hands-on approach helps participants implement effective literacy interventions.

Graduates can pursue roles like specialist literacy teachers, tutors, or additional learning needs coordinators. They can work in schools and organizations that support learners with literacy difficulties. The skills acquired are valuable in various educational settings, particularly in Wales where this course focuses on supporting learners with SpLD in both Welsh and English.