Criteria for Recognition of Teachers with Specialist Training in ...

Criteria for Recognition of Teachers with Specialist Training inMathematicsA primary concern of the BDA is that the professional help available to dyslexic people ofall ages and abilities should be of a consistent and high standard.The BDA stresses the importance of the practical content of specialist training coursessupporting the structured, sequential, multisensory approach, for numeracy, which hasbeen found to be essential for those with specific learning difficulties/dyslexia. Thesespecialist teaching skills must be transferable to the classroom and other learningenvironments.Associate membership of the British Dyslexia Association (Numeracy)(AMBDA Numeracy)This will be awarded to:• qualified teachers who hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and are recognisedby the General Teaching Council (or equivalent);• speech and language therapists with appropriate professional qualifications andexperience;• occupational therapists with appropriate professional qualifications andexperience;• educational psychologists with appropriate professional qualifications andexperience; and• other psychologists with appropriate professional qualifications and experience.Applicants must have successfully completed a BDA accredited course of 90 hourscontact time and have a minimum of two years relevant teaching experience.If you are unsure whether your qualifications and experience are suitable, please contactthe BDA office prior to commencement of the course.It is expected that an accredited course will enable them to:1 understand the nature of dyslexia and how it affects learners’ learning;2 understand how dyslexia affects maths learning (dyslexia vs dyscalculia);3 be able to identify learners with specific learning difficulties/dyslexia in maths in theclassroom;4 make a diagnostic appraisal of maths skills based on observation, assessment ofattainment tests and reports of other professionals;Page 1 of 2

5 demonstrate an understanding of structured, sequential, multisensory teachingincluding evaluation of teaching materials;6 deliver and evaluate the programme;7 review classroom organisation to facilitate individual learning within the NationalCurriculum and National Numeracy Strategy, or their equivalents;8 communicate effectively with parents, teachers and other professionals by verbal andwritten reports on a learner’s needs and achievements in relation to maths and makerecommendations for remediation;9 accurately observe and assess the cognitive abilities and learning styles of individuallearners and the difficulties faced by learners who fail to become competent innumeracy;10 critically appraise a range of numeracy teaching programmes;11 show familiarity with appropriate research and an understanding of the prerequisitesto learning maths;12 design and evaluate appropriate programmes, including those which could be usedin the National Numeracy Strategy framework, in relation to the assessed needs of arange of students; and13 be conversant with the potential offered by ICT in the teaching of specific learningdifficulties/dyslexia, in particular in relation to maths, and of the range of relevanttechnical aids to teaching.There is an expectation that such a course will provide a minimum of 90 hours of lecturesand seminars, plus private study time. At least three hours of teaching and one hour ofdiagnostic assessment must be observed and assessed by the course tutor, but use ofvideo/audiotaped recording of lessons is permissible.The BDA considers these criteria to be essential in establishing Associate Membership ofthe BDA (Numeracy). However, it does not presume to insist upon specific aspects ofcourse structure or the academic aspects of assessment procedures, nor does it seek toact as a secondary examining body in these respects. Courses or individuals whosetraining procedures differ from those outlined above, but who otherwise meet the setcriteria, are invited to seek accreditation.Any candidate wishing to seek BDA accreditation who has not fulfilled the practicalcomponents specified above will be required to attend and fulfil this within the frameworkof a BDA accredited course.Please note that while AMBDA is an accepted qualification for the provision ofsupport evidence on behalf of examination candidates with learning difficulties,AMBDA Numeracy is not recognised in this way.A suggested programme to accompany these criteria is also available from the BDAEducation Department. Tel: 01344 381 560, Fax: 0845 251 9005Email: accreditation@bdadyslexia.org.uk.© BDA. February 2003Copies may be made provided the source and date are quoted and the content is unchanged.Registered Charity No. 289243. Company Ltd. No. 1830587Page 2 of 2