Education, Mental Health and SEND BA (Hons)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Leeds Trinity University

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Education, Mental Health and SEND at Leeds Trinity University offers a distinctive, vocationally oriented approach to inclusive education — blending study of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with child and adolescent mental health, education, and social justice. It suits students who care deeply about supporting children and young people’s wellbeing, inclusion, and learning, and who aspire to work in education, health, social care or community support roles.

Curriculum structure:

Year 1:
Students begin with foundational modules including Academic Skills, Personal and Professional Development, Safeguarding and Child Protection, Supporting Children’s Mental Health in Education, Special Educational Needs and Disability in Practice, and Children’s Learning and Development. Through these students build academic and professional readiness, learn the legal and ethical frameworks around safeguarding children and young people, understand foundational theories of child development and learning, and start to explore key ideas in SEND, inclusion, and mental health within an educational context — for example, understanding neurodiversity, inclusive practice, and the developmental, social and emotional needs of children and young people.

Year 2:
In the second year, students deepen their understanding with modules such as Trauma‑informed and Responsive Practices, Research Methods and Evidence‑Based Practice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusive Educational Practice, Contemporary Challenges in Education, and a Professional Placement. In doing so they learn how to recognise and respond to trauma in children and young people, apply research and evidence-based methods to real-world issues, examine issues of diversity, social justice, equality and inclusion in education, and critically reflect on contemporary systemic and educational challenges. The placement gives real‑world experience working in education, health or social care settings — putting theory into practice and developing practical skills in supporting children, families, and diverse learners.

Year 3:
In the final year, students study advanced and specialised topics including Inclusive Practice in Education, Family Support and Leading Interventions in Education, Therapeutic Practices in Education, Research Project, and Professional Learning Through Work. Through these, they learn how to design and coordinate tailored, evidence‑based SEND provision and reasonable adjustments for children and young people; work collaboratively with families to support children’s education and wellbeing; apply therapeutic and psycho‑educational practices to support mental health, resilience, emotional wellbeing and social‑emotional development; and carry out an independent research project exploring a topic of interest — preparing them for professional practice or further study.

Focus areas:
Inclusive education; special educational needs and disability; child and adolescent mental health; trauma‑informed practice; inclusive pedagogy; safeguarding and child protection; diversity, equality and social justice in education; therapeutic interventions; family support; research and evidence‑based practice; professional placements

Learning outcomes:
Graduates will be able to critically understand theories and practices of SEND, inclusion and mental health in educational settings; design and implement inclusive, equitable, trauma‑aware, and responsive strategies for supporting young people’s learning and wellbeing; apply therapeutic and intervention approaches; conduct research in education and mental health; collaborate ethically with families, educators and social‑care professionals; and demonstrate readiness for professional roles in education, social care, health or community sectors working with children and young people.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
The programme combines education and health‑studies subject codes and is formally recognised as a BA (Hons) degree. Its structure and professional placement opportunities prepare students for roles such as Education and Mental Health Practitioner, Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner, family support, pastoral or therapeutic roles in education, health or social care settings — aligning with national standards for inclusive education and SEND practice.

Reputation (employability, recognition):
The degree is offered by Leeds Trinity University, well‑regarded for its inclusive education and childhood studies provision. Many graduates from this course go on to meaningful careers in education, health and social care sectors, or progress to postgraduate study, owing to the degree’s strong professional orientation, placement experience and emphasis on mental health, SEND and social justice.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

From the very beginning, this programme immerses students in real‑world practice — blending academic learning with meaningful work placements and practical exposure to modern inclusive education, mental health support, and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) provision. Students don’t just learn about theory; they regularly apply it in settings where children and young people receive education, mental health support, or social care. Expert staff — practitioners and researchers in mental health and SEND — guide the learning, ensuring students build genuine professional skills.

Practical learning opportunities and institutional support include:

Professional work placements across a variety of settings: placements may be arranged in mainstream primary or secondary schools, alternative provision settings, SEND‑specific institutions, health or social care contexts, community or charity settings — and possibly even outside Leeds or abroad.
Structured blended learning: on‑campus teaching combined with digital learning materials permits a flexible, modern learning experience — supporting both theory and reflective practice.
Exposure to current inclusive‑practice theory and mental‑health frameworks: modules engage with trauma‑informed and responsive practices, inclusive pedagogy, neurodiversity and SEND models, social justice, equality and diversity — giving strong theoretical grounding paired with practical relevance.
A final‑year independent research project: students carry out their own research — either original or drawing on existing data — enabling them to deepen knowledge in a chosen area (e.g., SEND interventions, mental‑health in education, inclusive learning strategies) and build research skills useful for further study or practice.
Optional vocational micro‑credentials and professional‑development opportunities: depending on student interest, it's possible to take extra qualifications (for example, in trauma‑informed practice, inclusion support, mental health first aid, or communication support) — strengthening employability and opening pathways into a wider range of specialist settings.

Why This Programme at Leeds Trinity Stands Out

It’s a truly inclusive education degree — combining education theory with deep understanding of mental health, SEND, and social justice. Graduates are prepared not just to teach, but to support vulnerable or marginalized children and young people in holistic, compassionate, evidence‑based ways.
Teaching is led by professionals and researchers who actively work in mental health and SEND — so what students learn is current, relevant, and closely aligned with real‑world needs and challenges.
The degree keeps future options open: after graduating, a student could move into roles such as education support, mental‑health or wellbeing support for children and families, youth and community work, charity or social care, or continue with postgraduate training (such as teacher training, counselling, social work, or SEND-specialist further study).
Strong employability support: the university’s Careers and Placements services help students secure placements, build professional contacts, gain references, and support applications for both jobs and further study — helping bridge academics and real-life career opportunities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of this programme are well-positioned for meaningful careers in inclusive education, mental‑health support, social care or family/youth work: typical roles include Education & Mental Health Practitioner, Children’s Wellbeing or Family Support Worker, SEND Support Coordinator or Pastoral Support Officer in schools or community settings. They also gain a strong foundation for further study or more specialised professional qualifications. In short: the degree opens multiple career pathways in education, health and social care, while giving a solid academic base for progression.

Support from University Services: Leeds Trinity’s Careers and Placements service helps students arrange professional work placements (in schools, health and social‑care settings, or community organisations), provides mentoring, CV/interview support, and access to employability events — giving real-world experience before graduation.
Vocationally Relevant Training: The course embeds practical skills through modules such as trauma‑informed practice, therapeutic interventions, inclusive educational practice and family support — meaning graduates leave with applied knowledge valued by employers in education and social care.
Flexible Career Outcomes: Possible graduate roles include: Education and Mental Health Practitioner, Children’s/Young People’s Wellbeing or Support Worker (including in health, social care or charity sector), SEND support roles in mainstream or special‑needs schools, youth/community outreach or local government support work.
Social Impact and Inclusivity Focus: The degree’s strong grounding in inclusion, social justice, mental health awareness and SEND gives graduates a socially meaningful vocation, preparing them to support vulnerable children and young people, and contribute to positive change in education and care settings.
Graduation & Employability Outlook: Even though the course is relatively new and specific graduate‑outcome data for this exact degree are limited, broader institutional statistics indicate high employability — many graduates from related courses go on to work or further study within 15 months after graduation.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BA (Hons), a graduate could opt to pursue a postgraduate degree — for example a master’s in childhood & education, mental health in children and young people, social work or a related field — to deepen expertise and open doors to specialist or leadership roles.