Education - Special Educational Needs

Teachers will be released from their schools for 8 weeks during the academic year to attend lectures and seminars at the University. In addition, teachers will be supervised in their schools during the portion of the academic year when they return to their teaching duties. Teachers will also be required to undertake action research and case study work in their schools, all of which will form an integral part of the programme.

Programme Requirements
Attendance: Satisfactory attendance at lectures, workshops and seminars is required.

Examination: In order to be eligible for admission to the University Examination for the Postgraduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs, a candidate must have satisfactorily pursued the prescribed programme of study, and satisfactorily undertaken a supervised school practicum, evaluated by the School of Education staff, on a Pass/Fail basis.

Students take 60 credits as follows:

ED6201 Special Educational Needs - School Organisation and Practice (10 credits)
ED6202 Assessment for and of Individual Pupil Learning and Attainment (10 credits)
ED6203 Curriculum Provision and Teaching Methodologies for Pupils with Special Educational Needs (10 credits)
ED6204 Supporting Pupils with Additional Learning Needs (10 credits)
ED6205 Contemporary Issues in Special Educational Needs (10 credits)
ED6206 Developing Inclusive Practice and Provision (10 credits)

a) Primary

Teachers will be required to forward a copy of their Registration Certificate or Confirmation of Registration letter from the Teaching Council when submitting their application form. If the "Education Sector(s)" field is blank, teachers will be required to provide evidence that they have qualifications suitable either to teach in the mainstream primary sector or to teach students with special educational needs.

Applicants from Primary Schools should have successfully completed their probationary period in accordance with the requirements as set out by the Teaching Council in their publication Procedures for Induction and Procedures and Criteria for Probation and hold a position in a sanctioned post in an area of special education or be taking up such posts in September 2023. For the purpose of the course, teachers will need to deliver a range of programmes related to the learning and teaching of students with special educational needs. Teachers’ timetables must also include periods during which they are working with small groups of students. Collaborative practices, such as team-teaching, can also form a part of these arrangements.

b) Post Primary

Teachers will be required to forward a copy of their Registration Certificate or Confirmation of Registration letter from the Teaching Council when submitting their application form. If the "Education Sector(s)" field is blank, teachers will be required to provide evidence that they have qualifications suitable either to teach in the mainstream post-primary sector or to teach students with special educational needs in the post-primary sector.

Applicants from Post-Primary Schools should have successfully completed their Induction and Post Qualification Employment (PQE).

Applications are invited from recognised second-level schools/centres that have been allocated special education teaching supports or officially sanctioned special classes. The person nominated must be a teacher eligible to hold a permanent post in recognised second-level schools. In order to be eligible for the programme, teachers must spend a minimum of 11 hours per week including in-class support working with students who have special educational needs. For the purpose of the course, teachers will need to deliver a range of programmes related to the learning and teaching of students with special educational needs. Teachers’ timetables must also include periods during which they are working with small groups of students. Collaborative practices, such as team-teaching, can also form a part of these arrangements. At least four class periods should be allocated to teaching individuals or groups of not more than six students. Additional time should also be made available for consultation with parents/guardians and colleagues. Together with work in numeracy, assigned hours must include at least 4 class periods per week of literacy work (maintaining a focus on developing pupils’ literacy skills related to reading, writing, listening and speaking).

c) Special Schools

Teachers will be required to forward a copy of their Registration Certificate or Confirmation of Registration letter from the Teaching Council, when submitting their application form. If the "Education Sector(s)" field is blank teachers will be required to provide evidence that they have qualifications suitable either to teach in the mainstream primary or post-primary sectors or to teach students with special educational needs in the primary or post-primary sector or to teach in special school settings.

Applicants from Special Schools should have successfully completed their probationary period in accordance with the requirements as set out by the Teaching Council in their publication Procedures for Induction and Procedures and Criteria for Probation and hold a sanctioned post in a Special School or be taking up such posts in the September of the year of course commencement.

d) Other Educational Service

Teachers will be required to forward a copy of their Registration Certificate or Confirmation of Registration letter from the Teaching Council, when submitting their application form. If the "Education Sector(s)" field is blank teachers will be required to provide evidence that they have qualifications suitable to teach either in the mainstream primary or post-primary sectors or to teach students with special educational needs in the primary or post-primary sectors.

Applicants must have successfully completed their Induction and probationary period/PQE in accordance with Teaching Council requirements and be recognised as being eligible for permanent appointment in a primary, post-primary or special school. Applications are invited from qualified teachers employed by ETBs as literacy and/or numeracy tutors in Youthreach, Community Projects or in the Prison Service and who are assigned to Special Education work for a minimum of 11 hours per week. At least four class periods should be allocated to teaching individuals or groups of not more than six students. Additional time should also be made available for consultation with parents/guardians and colleagues. Together with work in numeracy, assigned Special Education hours must include at least 4 class periods per week of literacy work.

Closing Date
Closing date will be published on the Department of Education website during January/February 2024

In order to be eligible for admission to the University Examination for the Postgraduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs, a candidate must have satisfactorily pursued the prescribed programme of study, and satisfactorily undertaken a supervised school practicum, evaluated by the School of Education staff, on a Pass/Fail basis.

This programme is open to all serving teachers who are employed in a position funded by the Department of Education and Skills and who provide Special Education Teaching in recognised Primary schools, Post-Primary schools, and other recognised Educational Services. Teachers serving in special schools and special classes are also eligible to apply. The programme is designed specifically to assist teachers in meeting the learning and teaching needs of students with special educational needs. Potential applicants must therefore have a teaching role in relation to students with special educational needs. Please refer to the circulars listed in Appendix 1 of DES PDSN Circular for information on the qualifications necessary for Special Education Teaching posts at Primary and Post-Primary levels and qualifications necessary to teach in Special Schools.

Please note that all teacher applicants must be registered in accordance with Section 31 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001. Please refer to the Teaching Council www.teachingcouncil.ie for further information. Evidence of having completed Garda vetting is required for participation in the course.

Please note that in order for teachers to be eligible to take up a place or continue on the course the necessary hours and facilities to enable full participation must be provided in their own school setting. It is particularly important that teachers participating in the Programme are given a work-load which will permit them to benefit fully from the continuing professional development being offered.

9 months full-time.

The fee for this course is Funded by the Dept. of Education & Skills.

Start Date 9 September 2024

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

Return to School or Centre, teach and co-ordinate special educational needs provision.
Apply course materials in contexts.
Function as a resource person for other teachers in advising on learning support/SEN issues.
Monitor and appraise developments in the provision of test materials.
Act as a liaison between the School and outside agencies in relation to special educational needs provision.