Special Needs Assistant – Special and Mainstream Education
Certification
QQI Level 5Reference
5M2786Places
25Fees
€50.00This one year course trains students to work as Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in the care of the child or adult with a mental or physical disability, and as SNA's in Primary and Secondary School Classrooms. Liberties College has offered courses in the training of SNAs since 1991. This is a joint training programme offered by the Central Remedial Clinic Clontarf and Liberties College.
PRINCIPAL AREAS OF STUDY
- Special Needs Assisting
- Understanding Special Needs
- Equality and Disability
- Work Experience
- Communications
- Intellectual Disability
- Care Provision and Practice
- Safety and Health at Work
- Human Growth and Development
(Modules offered may be subject to change).
FEATURES OF THE COURSE
- Lectures/Classes three days per week in Liberties College
- Two–day placement each week in classrooms in Special Schools or Mainstream Education.
- Training in typical SNA duties:
- Assisting children with everyday practical tasks – e.g. clothing, feeding, toileting and hygiene
- Educational assistance e.g. helping the child with writing or typing
- LÁMH Module – Students are trained in the use of LÁMH, a manual sign system used by children with intellectual disability & Communication needs.
- Lundy, NDA – Disability Awareness Training, TULSA – Child Protection Training, HSA online training course, Manual Handling & First Aid
- Garda vetting for work experience.
“This course has helped me decide what career path I want to take. I have learned a lot from children with disabilities and gained a lot of experience in my work place. I will share my knowledge and experience when I go back to my own country Mauritius.”
Nathalie
PROGRESSION
- 6M2218 Level 6 Social & Vocational Integration – Liberties College
- TU791 L7 Applied Social Studies in Social Care – TU Blanchardstown
- PC404 L7 Applied Social Studies – Professional Social Care St. Patricks College, Carlow
- TU794 L7 Early Childhood Care & Education – TU Blanchardstown
- MH107 Social Science – Maynooth University
EMPLOYMENT
- Special Needs Assistant in Special Schools, Mainstream, Primary & Secondary schools
- Day Care centres and Clinics
- Personal Assistants