AMBDA
AMBDA stands for Associate Membership of the British Dyslexia Association. The Joint Council for Qualifications approves AMBDA. This means that it is an accepted qualification giving teachers the right to assess and make recommendations for provisions for external examinations.
AMBDA Application Forms
To apply for AMBDA accreditation you will need to view the following:
And complete the following documents:
- Candidate form
- Tutor form (completed by the AMBDA holding tutor who observed your teaching practice and assessment work)
Please send your paperwork in triplicate.
All documents would then need to be posted to Debbie Rautenbach at Unit 8, Bracknell Beeches, Old Bracknell Lane, Bracknell, RG12 7BW, along with your payment of £70.00. Your application will be acknowledged upon receipt.
Upcoming Accreditation Board Meetings:
September 2010 - Deadline 16 August for applications to be presented at the meeting.
January 2011 - Deadline 22 November for applications to be presented at the meeting.
May 2011- Deadline 6 April for applications to be presented at the meeting.
Please note that the final decision on all applications rests with the BDA Accreditation Board.
AMBDA Information
AMBDA may be awarded to:
- qualified teachers who hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and are recognised by the General Teaching Council (or equivalent);
- speech and language therapists with appropriate professional qualifications and experience;
- occupational therapists with appropriate professional qualifications and experience;
- educational psychologists with appropriate professional qualifications and experience; and
- other psychologists with appropriate professional qualifications and experience.
Candidates must have two years teaching experience.
Candidates must apply for AMBDA within five years of successful completion of a BDA accredited course. Any candidate who completed a course more than five years ago should contact the BDA office for further advice, please email Debbie Rautenbach at accreditation@bdadyslexia.org.uk.
AMBDA Level Competencies a course should provide:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of dyslexia and identify children with specific learning difficulties in the classroom.
- Make a diagnostic appraisal based on observation, assessment of attainment test findings, and demonstrate an understanding of the reports of other professionals.
- Demonstrate an understanding of structured, sequential, multisensory teaching, and design a teaching programme to meet specific individual needs at a basic level in learning, literacy and numeracy. Social and behavioural difficulties should be taken into account for each of the pupils in their specific teaching.
- Construct, deliver and evaluate such a programme.
- Review classroom organisation to facilitate individual learning within the National Curriculum framework or equivalent.
- Communicate effectively with teachers, parents and other professionals by verbal and written reports on the needs and achievements of learners with dyslexia.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the contribution of ICT in the screening and teaching of specific learning difficulties/dyslexia and a knowledge of the range of relevant technical aids to teaching.
- Understand and critically appraise current research in specific learning difficulties/dyslexia and its relevance for teaching and learning.
- Competently observe and assess the cognitive abilities and difficulties of students who fail to become competent in literacy and/or numeracy and to report appropriately on their needs and the provisions required.
- Competently prepare and disseminate technical reports to specialist teachers and other professionals.
- Critically appraise and reflect on a range of learning and structured, sequential, multisensory language and numeracy teaching programmes.
- Design and evaluate appropriate programmes in relation to the assessed needs of a range of dyslexic learners.
- Produce and critically evaluate appropriate programmes in relation to the assessed needs of a range of dyslexic learners, making reference to current research.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and professional issues that affect dyslexic students.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the implications of social, emotional and community issues for dyslexic learners and their families.
The course must provide a minimum of:
- 90 hours of lectures, seminars and guided learning hours plus private study time. It should include 12 hours of lectures and tutor led seminars devoted to the study of psychometric testing.
- 30 hours of evaluated specialist teaching, a minimum of 12 hours of which must be with the same pupil. The remaining 18 hours may be with two different pupils, one of which could be taught in a group.
- 3 hours of teaching to be observed and assessed by a course tutor who holds AMBDA.
- 3 diagnostic assessment reports stemming from three different assessments carried out under supervision and demonstrating a range of assessment experience. These must include: supporting assessment plans; working papers; and related tutors’ reports
- 1 hour of one of the above diagnostic assessments must be observed and assessed by a course tutor who holds AMBDA.
Use of lessons and assessments recorded on video/DVD is allowed subject to the procedures outlined below and must be in accordance with the BDA Video/DVD guidelines.
