**Coming Soon** Special Purpose Award –
QQI Level 7 Major Award*

The Special Purpose Award in Special Education is aimed at those already working in education or considering working in education whether as teachers, educators, tutors, lecturers, leadership, support workers, or as Special Needs Assistants (SNA) to help support student engagement with their education, learning, and care needs.

The course will also significantly benefit those in the social care sector who can benefit from the principles and practices required to navigate in this field. It will enhance the professionals ability to understand and put into practice the key theories and ideas in the work environment.

The award will suit professionals working, or aiming to work, in each sector of the education system including but not limited to:

• Early Childhood Education and Care
• Primary School
• Secondary School
• Further Education, Community, and Training
• Third Level College or University
• Special Schools
• Autism Classes

*Pending QQI validation

Each module aims to equip future and current educators and student support professionals with the tools to navigate the landscape of special education provision in Ireland; the tools and dispositions to provide the best practice and care for the children and students they engage with, and to think critically about their roles as professionals within the communities in which they will work.

In every module a combination of core special education and care competencies and skills to support children, adolescents, and adults with special education needs and physical or intellectual disabilities in any educational setting.

The programme is designed to arc back on itself to allow the learner to deepen and apply critical thinking and skills to concepts, theories, and techniques already encountered in the previous studies or experience.

Contemporary Special Education & Inclusive Practice – This module aims to introduce the learner to contemporary special education provision and inclusive practice, within the Irish education system and offers them the opportunity to further develop their understanding and enhance their knowledge of equality, diversity, and inclusivity. Learners will also examine their own understandings of inclusion, equality, disability, and accessibility and their role as an Educator, Special Needs Assistant, or Student Support Professional. The medical and social models of disability are examined as well as effective communications and building relationships.

A rights-based approach to Special Education provision – This module aims to give the learner an insight into the rights and dignities who persons with disabilities and how to apply strengths-based, person first language and afford students dignity in their educational experience. It also aims to provide an overview of the types of needs and educational approaches to those needs over the person’s lifetime. Learners will explore a broad overview of different categories of disabilities, conditions, and educational or medical needs and identify methods, techniques, and aids in the classroom or educational setting to help the student engage in a way that is strengths-based and recognises the person first. This module looks across the lifespan of the student and considers the impacts of transitions, supports, biological factors such as puberty, old age etc., as well as the intersection of gender, cultural, and societal factors. Learners will be introduced to medical assessments and how to interpret them accordingly.

Inclusive Support Strategies in an Education Setting – This module aims to provide leaners with the appropriate skills and tools to assess, analyse, plan, and communicate with students with educational needs in the classroom.  Learners are taught how children, adolescents, and adults learn, and how to break down tasks to small, concrete manageable steps to support the students in their learning, social, and care needs. Assistive technologies will be introduced and used as part of the module to illustrate the universal accessibility available

QQI Level 7 “Special Purpose Award” in Special Education

Application for access to the programme is open to Special Needs Assistant’s (qualified to Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications – NFQ) and who wish to progress their knowledge, skills, and competencies in their field to NFQ Level 7.

We will also assess applicants for entry to the course who can demonstrate that they are suitably qualified with demonstrated work experience in a cognate area. These applicants will be considered for access on a case-by-case basis through established Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanism.

TBA

Garda Vetting is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 for the vetting of persons carrying out work with children or vulnerable persons.

Students must complete the Garda Vetting process before commencing work placement.

Students who have spent more than 6 months living outside of Ireland will need to provide a copy of their Police Clearance Certification for all international addresses that they have lived at, before starting placement.