Childcare/Special Needs Assistant

Course details

This Course will aim to prepare participants for work with young children in the rapidly expanding world of childcare, and crèche supervision/management. The childcare worker needs the social,communication and caring skills to work with individuals and groups. Childcare will lay a foundation for these skills and provide the work experience to put learning into practice. This course will serve as training for crèche/community care/healthcare industries or as a link to childcare or early childhood education courses in many IT colleges throughout the country. This programme is ideal for both school leaversand experienced mature persons seeking a formal education. There is now a FETAC Level 6 Certificate available in this area.

Course Content:

A theoretical approach to childcare and special needs assisting will be complemented by practical experience. The following modules will be offered in 2015/2016 subject to availability and demand:

Child Development

• Child Health & Wellbeing
• Special Needs Assisting
• Early Care & Education Practice Communications
• Early Childhood Education & Play
• Nutrition
• Children With Additional Needs
• Word Processing
• Certification - FETAC Level 5 in Early Childhood Care & Education 5M2009

Career Opportunities

Graduates may pursue a diploma or degree in many of the IT colleges around the country or, alternatively, may seek immediate employment in a range of childcare centres, classrooms or community initiatives. There are now a large range of certificates, ordinary and honours degree courses available to graduates on the newly expanded FETAC links programme. For example there are places in NUI Maynooth, DIT, DCU, IT Blanchardstown, IT Dundalk, UL and UCC. In fact all the IT colleges allow access on to their certificate and degree course in Early Childhood Studies / Social Care.

Entry Requirements:

• Leaving Cert,
• CVP or
• CA
• Mature Students of all backgrounds
• Other equivalent qualification