Special Needs Assisting Combined Programme (QQI Level 5 & 6) – SNA Programme
Special Needs Assisting Combined Programme (QQI Level 5 & 6) – SNA Programme
Below is information regarding our online SNA Programme. Please click here for information regarding our classroom based SNA Programme.
Summary of online SNA course:
At Aspire Training, we are excited to offer learners the opportunity to complete both the QQI Level 5 Minor Award in Special Needs Assisting (QQI Code: 5N1786) and the Level 6 Minor Award in Special Needs Assisting (QQI Code: 6N1957) together and online via distance learning. Completing this online SNA course can enhance employment opportunities in a variety of places such as mainstream schools, special schools, and areas within general community care or advocacy.
Programme Profile and Timeframe:
This online SNA course is designed to enable learners to work effectively as Special Needs Assistants and gain an understanding of the skills required to ensure that the children they are working with become independent learners. They will learn to work under the direction of the teacher and work as part of the multidisciplinary team.
See the learning outcomes and assessment breakdown for QQI Level 5 here.
See the learning outcomes and assessment breakdown for QQI Level 6 here.
This programme is currently run online and is very similar to physical classes, where a group of learners will attend a tutor-led online class once a week. Classes are live, and not recorded, therefore you will not have access to classes outside of the designated class time. There are 6 classes per module, via one weekly 3-hour zoom session for 6 consecutive weeks accumulating to 18 hours in total. As this is a QQI accredited course, learners must attend 80% of these hours in order to receive their QQI certificate.
Dates for the next QQI Level 5 & 6 Special Needs Assisting Combined Programme have been announced. It will commence on August 14th and will run for 12 weeks in total (6 weeks for each level). The 12 sessions are scheduled to run from 7PM – 10PM online via zoom every Wednesday, for the 12 weeks.
For any learners who have previously completed a level 5 SNA module, we can take you on for our next Level 6 module which also commences Wednesday, September 25th 7pm – 10pm.
Click here to see a more in-depth schedule for our current and upcoming SNA courses.
Who Should Complete This Course:
Those who wish to pursue a career as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) in a childcare setting, primary school or secondary school.
Teachers, childcare workers, childcare supervisors and others who work with children with special needs.
People who wish to gain an accredited qualification and do not have the time to attend location-based classes.
Entry Requirements:
Learners must be aged 16 and above.
Fluent English is required and it is recommended that participants will have some relevant work or life experience in working with children with special needs.
Learner Admissions Policy
Click here to view our Learner Admissions Policy
Access, Transfer and Progression
Access
Aspire Training Ltd is committed to doing as much as we can to facilitate learners’ entry and successful participation in our programmes. Access to our programmes is based on the learner having achieved a certification on the National Framework of Qualifications which is no lower than one level below the level of the training programme for which they are registering. If they cannot readily evidence achievement of this level then they may consider Recognition of Prior Learning.
Transfer
Many of our programmes involve minor awards which are components of major awards. Minor awards achieved with Aspire Training may be used towards major awards with other providers, and we will assist learners to identify such transfer opportunities on request.
Progression
Some minor awards at one level on the National Framework of Qualifications may be prerequisites for progression to programmes at a higher level on the framework. We will assist learners with the identification of such progression opportunities on request.
IT Requirements
As this is currently an online SNA course, there are some IT requirements necessary:
– Basic working knowledge of how to use a computer, with access to the internet is required for this course. This includes how to send videos via e-mail to your tutor.
– How to use Zoom
– How to use Microsoft Word/Google Documents. This includes how to type, save, edit and send documents and e-mails.
– Learners must have access to a computer with sound and a working microphone
Work Experience:
There are 20 hours of work experience required per module, so 40 hours in total for the combined Level 5 & 6 SNA Programme. Learners are responsible for securing their own work experience. If any learner is having difficulty securing somewhere to complete their work experience, please let us know and we will try to assist. You will be given more information on work experience by your tutor. Please do not start work experience before you start the course.
Course Materials:
All course materials are provided by Aspire Training and will be available through various online platforms.
Learners may wish to purchase the book: ‘Supporting Special Educational Needs: an SNA handbook’ by Eilis Flood and Deirdre Murphy. Which can be purchased at the link below.
https://www.borupress.ie/bookshop/94bexca6amvzd9ji99i49jjw71ctd1
Tutors:
All tutors on this programme are qualified in their specific fields to a minimum level of two above that of which they are teaching. Our tutors also have practical experience in their individual fields along with experience and qualifications in adult training and development.
Fees:
Learners completing both Level 5 and 6 Special Needs Assisting can avail of a discounted price of €695.00.
Payment is made, direct to our bank account or via card payment, in two installments as follows:
Payment 1: €347.50, a 50% Booking deposit, which is payable when booking to secure your place.
Payment 2: €347.50, the remaining balance is due 3 weeks after your start date.
For learners who wish to complete individual modules, for example just Level 5 or just Level 6 (having previously completed their Level 5) the cost will be €375.00 per module.
In this case, payment 1 will be €187.50, and payment 2 will be €187.50.
Please note that deposits/fees paid are non-refundable unless the course is cancelled by us.
Funding:
If you are in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection, on a CE Scheme or participating in activation schemes you may be eligible for some funding. Please contact the office or your local employment office for further advice in relation to this.
More information on funding is available here
Next Steps Following Course Completion
This course leads to a level 5 and level 6 minor award on the National Frameworks of Qualifications. On successful completion of the course, participants will be qualified to work as SNAs in primary, post-primary, and special school settings.
Learners who completed either their SNA level 5, level 6 or both, can also use the credits towards completing their QQI Major Award in Level 5 5M2009 Early Childhood Care & Education and/or Level 6 6M2007 Early Childhood Care & Education.
Learners can also choose to further develop their skills and their understanding of Special Needs Assisting by completing a QQI Level 7 Certificate in Special Educational Needs for Special Needs Assistants. The programme is accredited by NUI, Galway and is a recognised Department of Education and Skills (DES) qualification.
Protection for Learners
Protection of Enrolled Learners (PEL) is a legal requirement for providers, to ensure that if a programme of education and training ceases prematurely, learners will receive either training with an alternate provider, or a refund. Aspire Training has a PEL insurance policy in place should this ever happen.
Reasonable Accommodation
It is the responsibility of the learner to inform Aspire Training in sufficient time in order for a Reasonable Accommodation request to be processed, reviewed and for any necessary steps to be put in place. The process for assessing and implementing Reasonable Accommodations for assessment of learners with special requirements requires the learner to:
– Inform Aspire Training, through the registration form, of any special requirement as soon as enrolment has taken place.
– Notify their tutor or administration staff of their need for special requirement(s).
– Complete a special requirements form and return this to Aspire Training with a letter from their doctor or medical professional to confirm their needs in relation to special accommodation(s).
The link for this form is available within the Learner Handbook issued by Aspire Training at the start of a programme. The completed form and the medical evidence will be reviewed by the Academic Committee and the learner will be notified of the outcome.
Upcoming and Current SNA Timetable
Course: | Dates: |
November, 2024 QQI Level 5 & 6 Special Needs Assisting Combined Programme Location: Online Tutor: Aisling Mortell – Beglan | Level 5 Dates: Wednesday, November 13th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, November 20th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, November 27th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, December 4th : 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, December 11th : 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, December 18th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. |
Level 6 Dates: Wednesday, January 8th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, January 15th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, January 22nd: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, January 29th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, February 5th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, February 12th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday, February 19th: 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. |
Course: | Dates: |
October, 2024 QQI Level 5 & 6 Special Needs Assisting Combined Programme Location: Online | Level 5 Dates: Tuesday, October, 22nd: 7 pm – 10 pm Tuesday, October 29th: 7 pm – 10 pm Tuesday, November 5th : 7 pm – 10pm Tuesday, November 12th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, November 19th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, November 26th: 7pm – 10pm |
Level 6 Dates: Tuesday, December 3rd : 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, December 10th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, December 17th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, December 24th: No Class Tuesday, December 31st: No Class Tuesday, January 7th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, January 14th: 7pm – 10pm |
Course: | Dates: |
September, 2024 QQI Level 5 & 6 Special Needs Assisting Combined Programme Location: Online | Level 5 Dates: Tuesday, September 17th : 7 pm – 10 pm Tuesday, September 24th: 7 pm – 10 pm Tuesday, October 1st : 7 pm – 10pm Tuesday, October 8th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, October 15th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, October 22nd: 7pm – 10pm |
Level 6 Dates: Tuesday, October 29th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, November 5th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, November 12th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, November 19th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, November 26th: 7pm – 10pm Tuesday, December 3rd: 7pm – 10pm |
Course: | Dates: |
August, 2024 QQI Level 5 & 6 Special Needs Assisting Combined Programme Tutor: Aisling Mortell-Beglan Location: Online | Level 5 Dates: Wednesday, August 14th: 7 pm – 10 pm Wednesday, August 21st : 7 pm – 10 pm Wednesday, August 28th: 7 pm – 10 pm Wednesday, September 4th: 7 pm – 10pm Wednesday, September 11th: 7pm – 10pm Wednesday, September 18th: 7pm – 10pm |
Level 6 Dates: Wednesday, October 2nd:7pm – 10pm Wednesday, October 9th: 7pm – 10pm Wednesday, October 16th: 7pm – 10pm Wednesday, October 23rd:7pm – 10pm Wednesday, October 30th:7pm – 10pm Wednesday, November 6th: 7pm – 10pm |
Course: | Dates: |
July, 2024 QQI Level 5 & 6 Special Needs Assisting Combined Programme Tutor: Aisling Mortell-Beglan Location: Online | Level 5 Dates: Monday, July 1st: 7 pm – 10 pm Monday, July 8th: 7 pm – 10 pm Monday, July 15th: 7 pm – 10 pm Monday, July 22nd: 7 pm – 10pm Monday, July 29th: 7pm – 10pm Monday, August 5th: Bank Holiday – No Class Monday, August 12th: 7pm – 10pm |
Level 6 Dates: Monday, August 19th: 7pm – 10pm Monday, August 26th: 7pm – 10pm Monday, Sept 2nd : 7pm – 10pm Monday, Sept 9th : 7pm – 10pm Monday, Sept 16th: 7pm – 10pm Monday, Sept 23rd: 7pm – 10pm |