This course is designed to develop the skills of special education teachers who work in primary, post-primary and special school or specialist unit settings, in all aspects of theory and practice related to teaching pupils with additional educational needs.

 

The ethos of the course is that of maximizing inclusion of pupils while providing students with the skills and knowledge to support the most challenged and most challenging pupils within the education system within the most appropriate setting for those pupils.   

 

It develops students’ knowledge and skills in identification and assessment of pupils with additional educational needs and in planning, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of, interventions  for such pupils

 

This professional full-time course is delivered over an academic year, with two four-week periods of fulltime attendance at college, supplemented by attendance on four Saturdays spread throughout the year.  The vast majority of students on the course are funded by the Department of Education and full substitution cover is funded by the Department of Education while those students attend college.

 

When not attending college, students on the course are otherwise teaching in their own schools, where they are supported by site visits from UCD tutors.  The format of delivery combines lectures, tutorials, workshops and visits to other schools considered to be centres of excellence.

 

UCD School of Education also invites applications from self-financed applicants to complete the course.