11/01
To: The Authorities of Post-primary Schools
RE: NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR RESOURCE TEACHERS IN SECOND LEVEL SCHOOLS.
All enquiries should be directed to The Course Director, Church of Ireland College of Education, 96 Upper
Rathmines Road, Dublin 6 - Tel: (01) 4970033, Fax: (01) 4971932
Introduction
The Department of Education and Science's In-Career Development Unit is funding a series of new in-service
training programmes for Resource Teachers at second level. These programmes will be offered at the Church of
Ireland, College of Education, Rathmines, Dublin. The structure, content and delivery of these courses is based on
the findings of the recent study of resource teaching in second-level schools.
Aim
The aim of the programme will be to provide substantial theoretical and practical training for teachers involved in
work with pupils with special educational needs. The Department of Education and Science has agreed the content
of the courses.
Diploma in Special Educational Needs (Second-Level) (details below)
A teacher nominated for the course leading to the Diploma in Special Educational Needs (Second-Level) must be a
qualified second-level teacher and will ordinarily be expected to have completed a course of training for Learning
Support (formerly Remedial Education) or special education approved by the Department of Education and
Science.
Certificate in the Teaching of Students with Learning Difficulties (details below)
A teacher nominated for the course leading to the Certificate in the Teaching of Students with Learning Difficulties
must be a qualified second-level teacher who has not previously completed a course of training for Learning
Support (formerly Remedial Education) or special education approved by the Department of Education and
Science. Upon successfully completing this certificate course s/he then becomes eligible to apply for the Diploma
course.
Other In-Career Development Courses
Schools are now being allocated additional teaching hours in respect of individuals or small groups of students who
have special needs. It is intended that in-career development courses will be organised for the group of teachers
who take such additional hours. Details regarding those in-career development courses will be forwarded to
schools during the next academic year.
Applications
Applications are invited from eligible teachers nominated by their school authorities/VECs who hold Resource
Teacher posts. Applications should be sent to the Course Director at the Church of Ireland College of Education,
96 Upper Rathmines Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6 to be received not later than 18th May 2001. School authorities
/VECs are invited to nominate not more than one resource teacher per school to the course appropriate to them.
Selection
The selection of course participants will be a matter for the College authorities.
DIPLOMA IN SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (SECOND LEVEL)
Eligibility
Applications are invited from 2nd level school authorities/VECs who hold Resource posts. The person nominated
must be a qualified second-level teacher who will ordinarily be expected to have previously completed a course of
training for Learning Support (formerly Remedial Education) or Special Eduication approved by the Department of
Education and Science. In general, priority will be given to those teachers who hold permanent posts in schools. In
order to be eligible for the course, teachers must spend a minimum of 12 hours per week working with students
with special needs.
Qualification
The Church of Ireland College of Education will award a diploma to participants who successfully complete the
programme. Participants will be assessed on the basis of full attendance at lectures, workshops and placements,
completion of written assignments and supervision of their work as resource teachers in schools.
Duration and Organisation
The course will span the academic year, with the time divided between attendance at the course venue,
placements in suitable educational or clinical settings, completion of written assignments and teaching in the
participants' own schools.
The course will be organised on a block release basis. Teachers will attend lectures and seminars at the course
venue for 9 weeks. There will also be three weekend seminars (equivalent to one week) which will take place on
Friday/Saturday. One week of block release will be allowed for reading and study. Teachers will be placed in
educational or clinical setting for one week. These twelve weeks will be taken from the school year. The final week
of the course will be held during June. This information is summarised in the table below.
Duration of Course
Block Release for attendance at lectures and seminars:
Three week-end seminars
Reading week
Placements:
Summer (June)
Total:
9 weeks
1 week
1 week
1 week
1 week
13 weeks
Delivery of Course
The course will be organised to occur ding the following times:
Term 1
Attendance at course venue:
Placement
Term 2
Attendance at course venue
Reading and study
Term 3
Attendance at course venue
Summer (June)
Attendance at suitable venue
4 weeks
1 week
3 weeks
1 week
2 weeks
1 week
Three weekend seminars will be organised over the course of the year.
Fees and Expenses
No course or registration fee will apply for these courses. Travelling expenses and subsistence allowances will be
paid to eligible participants in accordance with In-career Development Units rates.
Substitution
Substitution may be allowed for those hours when class-size groups would be left unattended while the teachers is
at he Course venue.
Application
School authorities / VECs are invited to nominate not more than one teacher per school who meet the
requirements outlined under eligibility above. Approximately 20 teachers will be accepted on the course. The
selection of course participants will be a matter for the college authorities.
Important
Eligible teachers nominated by their school authorities who wish to be considered for admission to these courses
should send their applications to the Course Director at the Church of Ireland College, to be received not later than
18th May, 2001.
CERTIFICATE IN THE TEACHING OF STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES (SECOND-LEVEL)
Eligibility
Applications are invited from 2nd level school authorities / VECs who hold Resource posts. The person nominated
must be a qualified second-level teacher who has not previously completed a course of training for Learning
Support (formerly Remedial Education) or Special Education approved by the Department of Education and
Science. In general, priority will be given to those teachers who hold permanent posts in schools. In order to be
eligible for the course, teachers must spend a minimum of 12 hours per week working with students with special
needs.
Qualification
The Church of Ireland College of Education will award a Certificate to participants who successfully complete the
programme. Teachers who have successfully complete this certificate course are eligible to apply for a place on the
course leading to the Diploma in Special Educational Needs (Second-Level).
Duration and Organisation
The course will be organised on a block release basis. Teachers will attend lectures and seminars at the Church of
Ireland College of Education for three weeks during the school year. Two weeks of the course will be held in the
second term of the next academic year and one week will be held in the third term.
The final week of the course will be held during the month of June 2002. This week may be organised at a venue
outside Dublin.
Fees and Expenses
No course or registration fee will apply for these courses. Travelling expenses and subsistence allowances will be
paid to eligible participants in accordance with In-Career Development Unit rates.
Substitution
Substitution may be allowed for those hours when class-size groups would be left unattended while the teachers is
at the Course venue.
Application
School authorities / VECs are invited to nominate not more than one teacher per school who meet the
requirements outlined under eligibility above. Approximately 25-30 teachers will be accepted on the course. The
selection of course participants will be a matter for the College authorities.
Important
Eligible teachers nominated by their school authorities who wish to be considered for admission to these courses
should send their applications to the Course Director at the Church of Ireland College to be received not later than
18th May 2001.
Uinseann O Rinn
Principal Officer
April, 2001