Inclusive Education Practice - Advanced Entry

Start Date: 6th May 2023

Course Price
Per academic year.
€2,500.00

Exam Body Reg. Fee
Per academic year.
€335.00

Entry to this course is by direct application to the college.

This degree BA (Ord) Inclusive Education Practice explores how the learning and behaviour of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can be supported by you for these children to fulfil their potential. With a QQI Level 6 Early Childhood Care and Education, you can avail of 3 subject exemptions.

The knowledge, skills and practical experience delivered during the 2 years of this programme develop competence and confidence in you, to enhance your learning and to approach challenging behaviours from a reflexive, professional and restorative approach.

The emphasis throughout the modules of this degree is on practical application in an inclusive environment with the main perspectives of behaviour explored. We seek to equip you, with the ability to de-centre behaviour from the child and support the child to achieve positive regulation skills.

You are required to undertake a practical placement in each year of the 2 academic years of this programme. The placement can be completed in an ELC setting which is availing of the level 7 AIM support, in a special education early year setting, in a primary or secondary school. The placement hours (100 hours each academic year) can be taken as a block or on a weekly basis to suit your needs if you are combining work and studies. If you are employed in an inclusive support role, you can do the placement at your place of work.

The personal and professional development achieved during this programme equips you to reflect on how you transfer knowledge, skills and abilities considering the individual needs of children, promoting their well-being, and learning, while working collaboratively with parents and other professionals in an inclusive educational environment.

Further Study Pathways

You can progress, with one further academic year of study, to a level 8 BA (Hons) Inclusive Education with Portobello Institute upon completion of this level 7 degree.

Portobello Institute also offers the opportunity to continue to Masters level with an MA Inclusive Education and SEND, also available through blended learning.

Who will recognise my qualification?
Upon successful completion of this programme, you will be awarded a BA (Ord) in Inclusive Education Practice from the University of Essex. This award is mapped and aligns at level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

You will be registered as an undergraduate student for the duration of your studies with the University of Essex.

Qualifications Frameworks in Ireland and the UK

The Irish and UK qualifications authorities have collaborated on initiatives that promote the transparency, recognition and mobility of qualifications between our respective jurisdictions. The qualifications authorities in the UK and Ireland have agreed the qualifications frameworks in operation, Brexit will not impact this agreement. Further guidance on this framework is available at https://www.qqi.ie/.

Read More: Will Brexit Affect My Early Years Qualification and Recognition?
https://blog.portobelloinstitute.com/will-brexit-affect-my-early-years-qualification-and-recognition

This programme will provide you with specialised knowledge and skills to respond to challenges of high quality provision in a context increasing diversity in early childhood education settings, primary, post-primary schools and community care settings. You will reflect on the complex nature of inclusion and engage with philosophical, political, cultural and ethical aspect of education for learners who are vulnerable to exclusion and underachievement due to special education needs and disability.

You will consider a range of local and international perspectives including children’s rights, children’s health and well-being, pedagogical and curriculum approaches, diversity, and inclusion and disability in society.

You will explore a range of disciplines such as psychology, sociology and social policy, education, and health. Learning the links between theory and practice is key to your development as a professional Inclusive Educator.

Year 1
Approaches to Inclusive Education
Becoming an Educator, Academic & Professional Skills
Development in Middle Childhood & Adolescence

Year 2
Leadership Skills for Inclusive Practice
Disability in Society
Leading & Managing Services for Children
Psychology of Learning and Behaviour
Developing Professional Practice - Placement Portfolio

Delivery Mode
This Level 7 BA (Ord) Inclusive Education Practice has been specifically designed for delivery by blended learning. It is suited to you if you are working full-time with limited spare time, yet you want to achieve your degree qualification. This programme was designed considering our 20-years+ experience of delivering programmes for those working in the field of special educational needs and is underpinned by our staff’s knowledge about teaching and learning strategies and educational design combined with insights and feedback from our past and current students.

The delivery schedule of this course is specifically designed for the many applicants holding a QQI Level 6 Early Childhood Care and Education. The exempted modules are not shown on the delivery schedule to avoid confusion. For further information – see below “How do I apply”

Before the induction webinar, you will be given your log-in details to the online portal, ePortobello. Here you will find course notes, reading lists, podcasts, articles of interest and assessment guidelines. The content is structured in an easy format divided into sessions which you can cover at your own pace. You will need basic computer skills such as searching the internet and typing a word document.

Each module commences with an induction workshop, and you will meet your lead tutor during this session. Tutors also organise short webinars and question and answer sessions in the evenings focusing on specific assignments throughout the term. The workshops and webinars are recorded so you may review these later should you be unable to attend at the scheduled time or want to revisit the session again. Before you submit the final version of your assessments, you will have opportunities to receive formative feedback from tutors on whether you are on the right track with your assignment.

Some modules will involve group assignments – this will give help you build closer relationships with colleagues, develop your team-working skills as well as learn from your peers. You will be introduced to fellow practitioners studying the programme in your region and we will support you to set-up study groups with the network of practitioners in your region.

This programme includes placement-based modules each year. You will create a portfolio of work which will be based on reflections on learning and its application in your placement or place of work and will showcase your professional practice. You will be able to use this portfolio after you complete the course, and it will support your professional development throughout the course and beyond.

SMART assessments – we use a range of assessments for each module designed to support a broad range of learning styles, giving you the opportunity to excel.

Assessments for this degree are not exam based. Instead, the assessments vary from essays which will demonstrate your knowledge of theory to practice-focused assignments such as child studies and observations, audits, development plans, presentations showcasing your practical skills.

We will encourage you to explore and support you to complete several innovative assessment formats such as presentations, posters, portfolios, podcasts, blogs, which further support development of your creative and digital skills and will give you confidence to share your knowledge with colleagues, parents, and other professionals.

Group assignments will add another dimension to your learning experience – they will help you to break up the isolation of studying online and will provide you with benefits of peer learning.

All these methods are seeking to support you to combine theory with scenario-based learning and encourage implementation into your everyday practice.

Tel: +(353) 1 892 0000
Email: info@portobelloinstitute.ie