Supporting Additional Educational Needs within Inclusive Education (2025 - Group 1) - EPV Approved Online Summer Course

NB: This course qualifies for EPV Days. The course can be pre-booked and is available to participants from Monday 1st July, 2025. To qualify for EPV days, the course must be fully completed on or before 5pm on Friday, 22nd August, 2025.

Course Description & Details:

Although this is a new online course, it’s previous iteration (a face-to-face course hosted by Mayo Education Centre) was favourably inspected by the Department of Education. Click HERE or on the Department of Education logo to read the Inspectorate’s Report (course content has been updated and enhanced since).

Participants in this course will gain the skills outlined below that will enhance their professional practice particularly in relation to teaching, learning and assessment:

• Provide knowledge and understanding of conditions such as autism (ASD, APA, 2013) ADHD, Dyslexia etc.
• How teachers can support SEN students in the learning environment and ensure they reach their potential
• How these conditions may affect the student in the learning environment
• Information on evidence-based strategies to support students with SEN
• An examination of assessments that can be used to assist teachers to determine the strengths and needs of the student
• An examination of how ICT can be used to assist the inclusion process
• An examination of Circulars 007/2019, 008/2019, 0080/2024, 0002/2024 (read in conjunction with Circular 0064/2024)
• The steps in compiling a student support plan (SSP) and what should be recorded in the student support file (SSF)
• How the above DE circulars, guidelines and NEPS continuum of support can assist school self-evaluation (SSE)
• An in-depth examination of the problem-solving process as outlined in the DE Guidelines
• Examine the language of inclusion
• An examination of universal design for learning (UDL) and how this can assist the inclusion process

Teachers will gain an understanding of using a UDL approach to lesson planning. They will gain a more in-depth understanding of the NEPS continuum of support and the importance of the collaborative approach to classroom and whole school planning. The course includes an examination of assessments to gain a baseline of skills for SEN students. The course will examine evidence-based strategies and approaches and teachers will gain a more in-depth understanding of how these can be adapted to support individual students. To compile a Student Support Plan (SSP), teachers will require an understanding of how to assess the strengths and needs of students. From this baseline, teachers can compile a SSP with targeted supports that take account of the students’ strengths and needs. An examination of the DE and NEPS documents will provide teachers with knowledge and understanding of the assessment process. This will assist teachers in understanding how to provide targeted support at each tier of the continuum. Teachers will gain an understanding of Cosán, SSE and LAOS process, particularly in the areas of Learning & teaching and Leadership and management. All this knowledge and understanding will enhance teaching and learning.