Scottish Sensory Centre Contracted Braille Competency Course 2024-25: Concession: Unified English Braille (UEB): Distance Learning Workbook Based Course

This is a skills-based course with written assessments using a Perkins Brailler and requires a high level of commitment and daily practise. The course runs continuously for 18 months - holidays etc are not factored into the timetable. The course is accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). On satisfactory completion of the course an SQA Certificate will be awarded.

According to the Guidance on Appropriate Qualifications for Teachers of Children and Young Persons who are Visually Impaired, published by the Scottish Government, Local Authorities ‘need to ensure that all visually impaired pupils who need to use Braille are taught by appropriately qualified teachers who have competence in Braille to Grade 2’.

This course is for sighted people working with children and young people who use, or may need to use, Contracted Unified English Braille (UEB), eg, teachers, additional needs support assistants, parents/carers, etc. It offers the opportunity to acquire competence in reading and writing Contracted UEB.

The SSC’s Braille course is based on the centre’s belief that all learners of Braille should do so by using a Perkins Braille Writer (or other paper carrying machine) and paper. Offering a Braille course that can be accessed via an electronic device may mislead a new and/or inexperienced practitioner into believing that this is also the best way to teach young children. Effective and efficient use of two hands is essential for reading and interpreting tactile diagrams and this technique can only be developed by reading a hard Braille copy, never by using a Braille display that shows only a single line at a time. For young children learning Braille the importance of developing a good, two-handed reading technique can never be over emphasised.

Detailed Description

This course offers the opportunity to acquire competence in reading and writing Contracted (Grade 2) UEB. The course is presented in 12 stages and contains writing exercises along with flat and raised braille reading material. Each stage is assessed separately by submitting an assessment to the Course Tutor for marking. Candidates must submit Stage Assessments regularly, in accordance with the timetable in the course materials; failure to do so could result in being removed from the course. The Final Assessment is undertaken as a timed, formal exam without the use of reference materials and must be invigilated by a person in authority, eg, Line Manager or some person designated by him/her.

Candidates must have access to a standard Perkins Brailler and supply their own braille paper. The SSC has a limited supply of braillers which, if available, may be hired for the duration of the course for a non-returnable fee of £50; non-return of a brailler would incur a charge for the full replacement cost.

Candidates have 18 continuous months, from receipt of the course materials, to complete the course including the Final Assessment exam. NB: it is not possible to extend the completion of the course past this length of time unless there are exceptional circumstances in line with University regulations.

Since this course is accredited by the SQA, candidates must reach a recognised standard for each stage before completing the timed Final Assessment exam.

Course Fees for 2024-25 (April):

£500 Standard fee

£325 Concession for parents/unwaged

£600 (outside UK)

Please note that the course fee is not refundable after the first month and substituting candidates is not permitted.

Applicants will only be accepted for a 1st April or a 1st September start, if places are available. Thereafter applicants will be added to a waiting list for the next April intake. The fee covers:

• complete course materials;
• tutor time (correction, assessment feedback);
• centre staff support (letter/email/telephone);
• final assessment exam materials;
• fee to SQA for course award registration and certification.

Application process:

There is space on the application form to note background information and any special support requirements - this allows the Course Tutor to plan how best to meet these needs and provide appropriate support throughout the course, as well as submitting special arrangement requests to the SQA for the Final Assessment exam; evidence will be required to meet SQA regulations, eg, copy of formal diagnosis of dyslexia, etc.

Unless self-funding a Line Manager of school/service must authorise the application and provide contact information as the person responsible for providing support and ensuring the candidate is able to complete the course. Course places are limited to 20 per year.

Applications are acknowledged by email. Acceptance onto the course rests with the Course Tutor. An email will then be sent to confirm personal details with a Candidate Agreement form which should be signed and returned to the SSC. Once all these details are processed arrangements will be made to issue the course materials in time for the start date along with a welcome letter, a countersigned copy of the Candidate Agreement, explanatory details about the course, how the assessments are to be submitted and other course related information.

Data Protection Agreement

By completing the application form candidates agree to the SSC holding personal details until the course retention period has expired for the course cohort - maximum time will be two years from the month the last candidate of a particular cohort completes the course; this archive will then be destroyed securely.

SQA Registration

Information required includes candidate's full name, date of birth and home address so that when a candidate is entered for this award the SQA can either match up personal details or create a new record. On successful completion of the Final Assessment exam, the result is passed to the SQA who issue the certificate direct to the candidate's home address. (Former pupils/students of a Scottish school/college who have undertaken National Qualification exams (since 1999) will have an SQA Candidate Number (SCN); please provide name and address applicable at that time.)

If you would like to check on how the SQA may use your information please use the following link: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/36588.html

For more information and FAQs please check the SSC website:

www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk