Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
This course provides students with the knowledge, practical skills and qualifications required to pursue a career as a Special Needs Assistant in a variety of educational contexts and community care settings.
This course qualifies participants to work as SNAs in a creche, playgroup, primary and secondary school classrooms or special schools. Learners will attain the knowledge and skills necessary to support children in their learning environment. The course is suitable for both school leavers and mature students seeking a formal qualification.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
-
Understanding and Assisting Children with Additional Needs
Special Needs Assisting
Professional Practice Placement in ELC (150 hours compulsory work experience)
Early Childhood Growth and Development
Holistic Care of Children
Curriculum Play & Creative Studies
Children’s Rights Legislation
Additional Qualifications:
Manual Handling
Children First E-Learning Programme
Special Needs Training Workshops
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a possible progression route, click below:
| QQI Code |
| 5M21473 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
Successful graduates can progress directly into the world of work as an SNA in primary and secondary school classrooms or special schools, or work as an AIM Assistant in an Early Years Setting.