If you’ve completed your Level 5 Early Years and have a thirst to climb the ladder to the next Level specialising in special needs then this is an exciting new opportunity for you. Young minds and hearts depend on the professionalism of those who care for and educate them and children with extra needs deserve the best. If that’s you then this is your course. Students participate in a visit to Blackrock Castle Observatory and attendance at conferences and seminars.

  • Child Development 6N1942 – Organise a variety of detailed observations in support of programme planning for individual and groups of children using a range of tools. Evaluate personal and team practice in meeting child development needs in an ECCE setting.
  • Early Childhood Curriculum 6N1944 – Explore a range of learning approaches for children under 6 years. Examine Aistear, the National Curriculum Framework & Siolta, the National Quality Framework and link these to theorists like Froebel, Montessori, Steiner, Weikart and Malaguzzi. Discuss the factors that make a curriculum.
  • Childhood Social Legal & Health Studies 6N1945 – Evaluate child protection guidance in relation to the protection of children and staff and learn to implement procedures for dealing with specific child protection issues. Reflect on how personal, cultural identity, attitudes and values can potentially impact on bias, discrimination and prejudice within ECCE settings. Evaluate a range of factors influencing and impacting on children’s health and wellbeing to include family structure, community, culture, education, health, social services and social status.
  • Work Experience 6N1946 – Present a detailed personal skills audit and career plan including personal goals, action points, development opportunities and career paths. Demonstrate supervisory skills and capacities in the workplace.
  • Team Leadership 6N1948 – Participate in organisational planning and teamwork planning to include setting, specific measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) objectives. Demonstrate team leadership to include team building, supporting team members at different stages of team development, motivation strategies, interpersonal communications etc. Negotiate a plan with team members involving effective delegation of tasks and responsibilities. Lead progress on a work plan taking corrective action to ensure successful completion of the plan.
  • Special Needs Assisting 6N1957
  • Creative Studies for Special Needs 6N1972 – Students will explore their own creativity using a variety of techniques. Development of Creativity through experiential learning, promoting the senses, form the basis of the course
  • Assistive Technology 6N2211 – This module will explore assistive technologies used in educational settings and their benefits in an integrated learning environment

Additional Training/Workshops

  • Manual handling training and certification (requirement for work experience)
  • Child Paths training certificate
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • Football for All workshop (Coaching players with a disability)

Applicants with a Major Childcare Award at Level 5 may apply for this Level 6 Childcare award. Participants are required to be Garda Vetted. Police Clearance is required for non Irish Nationals. An offer of a place is contingent on the applicant meeting the entry requirements set out here and satisfactory presentation at interview.

  • UCC: Early Years and Childhood Studies (CK111) Year One
  • CIT: Early Childhood Education and Care (CR620) Year Two
  • WIT: Early Childhood Education and Care (WD149) Year Two
  • University of Sunderland: BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Year Three (Final Year).

Great progression opportunities to UCC and other Higher Education colleges. Special arrangements in place with CIT (CCPS), Tralee IT and Waterford IT for preferential entry for College of Commerce students. Up to 390 CAO points for any Institute of Technology can be attained by successful completion of this course.

Supervisory roles in Early Years Services and within organisations which require leaders to manage & provide childcare places, i.e. charities, hotels etc. SNA positions in primary schools.

All students can access the Jobs Advice Hub. Graduates can subscribe to CCOC college jobs register and CCOC LinkedIn alumni for up to date vacancies and networking.

  • Duration: September to May
  • Fees: €560 including QQI examination fees. (Medical card holders exempt from €280). See Payment for details.
  • Certification:
    • QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care & Education 6M2007.
    • QQI component Maths 5N1833 and Statistics 5N2066 (available as an option in the evening for learners requiring Maths or Statistics for progression).
  • Work Experience: Students will undertake work experience one day per week for a minimum of 120 hours in a registered TUSLA Early Years Service for the duration of the course.
  • Click to view, print or download prospectus page.

Email: advancedchildcare@ccoc.ie          Tel: (021) 4223835

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Vivienne Mullane: “I am working as a Special Needs Assistant in St Johns Primary School, the course, especially the module Children with additional needs provided me with invaluable experience and help to prepare me for my job”

Sarah O Mahony: “I am working as an Early Years Educator in Little Einstein Pre – school; I got this position from my work placement. This course really provided me with great practical experience that I now carry out in my setting.”

Kirsty Maguire, Anna Musial, Ana Ruis Fernandes and Rita Ujvari have all continued to study at Level 6, and have “made lifelong friends”.

Sarah O'Mahony, Ana Ruis Fernandes, Anna Musial, Kirsty Maguire, Vivienne Mulland and Rita Ujvari, Early Childhood Care and Education