Criteria for AMBDA FE/HE and ATS FE/HE.

AMBDA FE/HE and ATS FE/HE will only be awarded to tutors, lecturers and learning support staff who have successfully completed a BDA accredited course and who already have a minimum of 2 years teaching or support experience in an institution of further or higher education.

It is expected that an accredited course will enable students to:

1. understand the nature of dyslexia and to identify adult learners with specific learning difficulties;
    
2. demonstrate an understanding of the affective issues observed in adult learners with specific learning difficulties;
    
3. understand the prerequisite skills and the theory concerning normal development of language, literacy and numeracy skills, and how dyslexic learners differ;
    
4. make a diagnostic appraisal based on observation, interview, assessment of attainment and reports of other professionals; and
    
5. demonstrate an understanding of the range of needs of learners at FE/HE level and design a teaching programme to meet specific individual needs incorporating study and organisational skills and methods for improving motivation and self esteem.

There is an expectation of a minimum of:

• 40 hours of lectures plus seminars, tutorials and study time.
• 20 hours evaluated specialist teaching of which 15 hours should be with one learner aged 16 over.

BDA accredited courses must require the following:

The following are essential points on observation.

Observation of the 3 hours of evaluated specialist teaching is for the purposes of both formative and summative assessment. This should be split into 1 hour segments and should take place at appropriate points during 30 hours of teaching.

Whether by direct observation or video, this observation must form a significant part of the process of developing the student’s specialist skills. Each hour should be followed by a written report to the student which should indicate how far that teaching currently meets the criteria.

Such teaching should be evaluated by formal and informal means of observation, teaching diaries and the monitoring of students' progress. The teaching programme should be discussed and approved by the supervisor or tutor and progress should be monitored with a final report on the quality of teaching.

In the case of both awards, assignments in the form of essays, case study and teaching and assessment reports should form part of the overall assessment and should be made available if required.

The BDA consider these criteria to be essential in establishing ATS FE/HE and AMBDA FE/HE. However, it does not presume to insist upon specific aspects of course structure or the academic aspects of assessment procedures, nor does it seek to act as a secondary examining body in these respects. Courses or individuals whose training procedures differ from those outlined above, but who otherwise meet the set criteria, are invited to seek accreditation. Each application will be considered on individual merits.

Any candidate wishing to seek BDA accreditation who have not fulfilled the practical components specified above will be required to attend and fulfil these within the framework of a BDA accredited course.