Specialist Diploma in Teaching And Supporting Children With Special Needs

Course details

The programme has been designed for :

participants with the aspirations of becoming educators for children with special needs
professionals who wish to improve their skills in working with children with special needs in their work areas such as in pre-schools, primary and secondary schools, health and social services.
responsive parents and adults who have no experience in caring for children with special needs
The programme provides participants with :
an entry level qualification in teaching children with special needs
a well-developed knowledge of child behavior particularly for those who require special attention
a scientific overview of the different types of necessity in order to develop the uniqueness of each individual child
The programme aims to:
provide a basic knowledge in identifying and empathizing with children focusing on supporting their special needs
provide training in working with children with special needs using well-rounded methods
familiarize each participant with the importance of understanding emotional and behavioral problems of childhood
introduce the ethical issues behind the intervention and strategies for supporting children with special needs
Teaching Methods and Assessment
The program will be delivered through classroom lectures, lecturers-students active learning, audio-visual presentations, self-studies and case-study discussions and presentations.

Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admissions to the course, applicants must fulfil the following conditions:

diploma holders in any field
be at least 18 years of age
mature applicants not meeting the admission requirements are invited to apply as the program recognises relevant life experiences that students bring with them
application will be considered on a case-by-case basis; in some circumstances, interview might be needed
Graduation Requirements
Student must achieve at least 75% attendance for all modules, a minimum passing mark of 50 for all assignments and a minimum passing mark of 50 for the examinations to be awarded the Specialist Diploma.

Course Modules

The areas of study include :

Child Development - Introduction to the theories of development
- Early Childhood and Late Childhood
- Cognitive Development and Moral Development
- Socio-Emotional Development
- Psycho-sexual Development
- Childhood Developmental Tasks and Hazards - Ms Karen Sciberras
Developmental & Learning Disorders - Developmental Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Down's Syndrome, and Mental Retardation)
- Autism and Asperger's Disorder
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Dyslexia and Other Reading Disorders
- Other Learning Disorders (Auditory Processing, Language Disorders, Discalcula, and Non-Verbal Disability)
- Gifted Children - Ms Karen Sciberras
Emotional and Behavioural Disorders - Eating Disorders of Childhood
- Aggression and Conduct Disorders
- Self Mutilation and Selective Mutism
- Childhood Depression
- Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Attachment Disorders
- Child Abuse and Trauma
- Suicide and Psychotic Disorders in childhood - Ms Karen Sciberras
. Interventions and Strategies for Support - Introduction to counselling with Ethics
- Play Therapy 1
- Play Therapy 2
- Expressive Therapies 1
- Expressive Therapies 2
- Cognitive Therapy 1
- Cognitive Therapy 2
- Behavioural Therapy 1
- Behavioural Therapy 2 - Ms Karen Sciberras