Access to Working with Children with Additional Support Needs (SCQF 5)

Course description

This brand new course delivered at our Sighthill campus, has been specially designed as a fast-track course that will support progression to our PDA Education Support Assistance in January 2025 with the potential to progress to HNC Childhood Practice in August 2025.

This course is designed for individuals who are focused and self-motivated to complete a dynamic and fast-paced 18-week course.  Due to the fast-track nature of this course, it is essential that you are able to undertake self-directed work within your own time, have a high level of attendance and commitment.

It is an engaging and interactive course designed to introduce students to working with children and young people, with a focus on supporting additional support needs (ASN).  Alongside studying towards SQA units in ASN, Child Development and Wellbeing, you will also develop a range of Meta-skills relating to Childhood Practice and study a range of micro-topics, that will support your personal and professional development now and in your future career.

The course also includes the key Core skills of Communications (SCQF 5) and Numeracy (SCQF 4). These units are essential to being able to successfully support children and young people's learning and development.

This course will particularly suit applicants who have achieved the Skills for Work Early Learning and Childcare National 5 award but not English or Communications at SCQF Level 5, so do not currently meet entry requirements for a Childhood Practice SCQF Level 6 course.

Previous experience will be considered and work experience in a childcare setting is desirable but not mandatory.

To help prepare you for your course and share further information we have created an online Padlet notice board. This will be regularly updated until the course starts in August.

Access to ASN Padlet

What you will learn

SCQF Level 5 (National 5) Units include:

• Supporting Children with ASN
• Development and Wellbeing of Children and Young People
• Communication

SCQF Level 4 (National 4) Units include:

• Numeracy

You will also study:

• Working in Childhood Practice
• Meta-skills
• Outdoor Play & Learning

Learning outcome

• PDA Education Support Assistance (Working with Children with ASN: Fast track) in January
• NC Childhood Practice (SCQF 6)
• PDA Education Support Assistance (Classroom Support Assistant) (SCQF 6)
• HNC Childhood Practice (SCQF 7)
• Suitability for progression will be determined by achievement, attendance record, conduct and a successful progression discussion

• This course will prepare you for working with children and designed to support progression on to further study, working towards a career in Early Learning and Childcare with a focus on working with children with Additional Support Needs in a mainstream or specialist setting