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

Course Description & Details:

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 the following DE Circulars
  • DE Circular 007/2019 [Circular to the Management Authorities of all Mainstream Primary Schools Special Education Teaching Allocation]
  • DE Circular 008/2019 [Circular to the Management Authorities of all Post Primary Schools: Secondary, Community and Comprehensive Schools and the Chief Executive Officers of the Education and Training Boards]
  • DE Circular 0080/2024 [Circular to the Management Authorities of all Post Primary Schools: Secondary, Community and Comprehensive Schools and the Chief Executive Officers of the Education and Training Boards - Special Education Teaching Allocation]
  • DE Circular 0002/2024 [The Special Education Teacher (SET) allocation model and the calculation of the SET allocation for each school from the 2024/25 school year until further notice]
    • Above Circular 0002/2024 should be read above in conjunction with Circular 0064/2024 [The operation/application and deployment of Special Education Teacher resources]
• 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 SEN 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 SEN 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, LAOS (Primary/Special Schools) and SSE process, particularly in the areas of Learning & teaching and Leadership and management. All this knowledge and understanding will enhance teaching and learning.