Special Needs Assisting and Intellectual Disability Studies

QQI Level 5 in Intellectual Disability Practice 5M1761
Accredited Training in

  • Lámh Sign Language Programme
  • Occupational First Aid
  • Túsla Child Protection Online Training
  • People Moving and Handling

Are you looking to work as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) in primary or post-primary schools, or other care settings? Our one-year QQI Level 5 course in Intellectual Disability Practice 5M1761 can help you gain the knowledge and skills required for this role.
Upon successful completion of our course, you will have the opportunity to progress to the QQI Level 6 course in Advanced Training in Special Needs Assisting and Inclusion in Sallynoggin College of Further Education.

“I would highly recommend Sallynoggin College of Further Education for everybody. It is an inclusive College where everyone is most welcome and where students mix well and interact with each other. I started my life as a student a month before my 60th birthday and the experience has been absolutely fantastic and has changed my life. I completed three different full-time courses in Sallynoggin which were inter-linked. It is not just a learning environment, it is a community also and I really enjoyed my time there.”
Eileen Young – (Graduate, 2020)

Employment Opportunities

  • Primary Schools as a Special Needs Assistant
  • Secondary Schools as a Special Needs Assistant
  • Further Education Colleges as a Personal Assistant
  • Public and private health sectors for children and adults with additional needs
  • Community care services

Duration: 4 days a week between 9am and 1.15pm. September to May (Note: This is a full-time course).

Coordinator: Claire Conlan

Email: claireconlan@scfe.ie

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Course content

  • Special Needs Assisting
  • Understanding Special Needs
  • Work Experience
  • Intellectual Disability Studies
  • Community Inclusion
  • Empowering the Individual
  • Facilitating Learning
  • Communications

Course features and facilities

  • You will have the opportunity to gain practical experience as an SNA by working in a suitable service
  • Educational field trips
  • Opportunity to participate in an Erasmus+ programme to Malaga
  • Specialist Workshop and Guest Speakers
  • Guest Speakers
  • Accredited Training in Lámh Sign Language Programme
  • Occupational First Aid
  • People Moving and Handling Certificate
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Entry requirements

  • Leaving Certificate, LCA or equivalent, or relevant industry experience
  • Interview
  • Mature applicants welcome
  • Applicants may be accepted without meeting formal entry requirements
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Other courses

Education progression

Below are some examples of progression options with this QQI level 5 award in Intellectual Disability Practice 5M1761
TU Dublin Blanch/Tallaght Early Childhood Care &Education G Level 7 TU790

For a more detailed list of progression options please www.cao.ie

For more progression options

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TU Dublin Blanch/Tallaght Early Childhood Care &Education G Level 8 TU989
TU Dublin Blanchardstown Applied Social Studies in Social Care G Level 7 TU791
TU Dublin Blanchardstown Applied Social Studies in Social Care G Level 8 TU991
TU Dublin Blanchardstown Community and Youth Development G Level 7 TU792
TU Dublin Blanchardstown Community Dev. & Youth Work G Level 8 TU992
TU Dublin Tallaght Applied Social Care G Level 8 TU997
Marino Institute of Education Early Childhood Education Level 8 CM020
UCD Social Sciences Level 8 DN700
UCD Social Policy and Sociology Level 8 DN750
UCD Psychology Level 8 DN720
DCU Education and Training G Level 8 DC235
DCU Early Childhood Education G Level 8 DC001
DCU Law and Society Level 8 DC232
DCU Arts- Politics Level 8 DC295
IADT Applied Psychology Level 8 DL825
NCI Psychology € Level 8 NC010
NCI Early Childhood Education & Care G Level 8 NC030
Maynooth University Psychology Level 8 MH106
Maynooth University Social Science Level 8 MH107
Maynooth University Law Level 8 MH501
Maynooth University Law (Options) Level 8 MH502
Maynooth University Community and Youth Work G+ Level 8 MH116
Maynooth University Arts Level 8 MH101
Dundalk IT Community Youth Work G+ Level 7 DK767
Dundalk IT Social Care G Level 8 DK862
UCC Social Science Level 8 CK102
UCC Social Science-Youth & Comm. G+AE Level 8 CK114
South East TU Social Science Level 8 WD187
South East TU Psychology Level 8 WD163
South East TU Early Childhood Care and Education G Level 8 WD231
South East TU Applied Social Care G Level 7 WD018
South East TU Social Care Practice G Level 8 WD192
Private Colleges (Fees Payable)</strong?
DBS Applied Social Care G Level 7 DB528
DBS Applied Social Care G Level 8 DB527
DBS Social Science Level 8 DB566
DBS Psychology Level 8 DB562
€ Fees Payable + Questionnaire/ Skills Test and Interview G Garda Vetting Required A Age Requirement E Experience Requirement Garda Vetting may be required.

Course modules are reviewed annually and may be subject to change