BA (Hons) Inclusive Education Practice

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.

Here are some reasons to choose to study with Portobello:

• Career focused qualifications – our courses lead to awards that offer you the opportunity to immediately advance your career.
• Individualised support – we fit your learning model with support available when you need it throughout your learning journey.
• Industry expert tutors – our tutors are all experienced in the field of inclusive education and special education needs connecting research and theory with practice throughout their lectures.
• Recognition of Prior Learning – module exemptions if you hold QQI level 6 in Special Needs Assisting or QQI Level 6 Early Childhood Care and Education.
• Condensed scheduling – we value your time by ensuring your timetable is optimised for delivery, helping you maintain a work/life/study balance.
• Flexible delivery – we deliver theory sessions online whilst also recording the session simultaneously offering you a choice of when and how you learn.
• Affordable payment options – all our courses offer you the option to choose an easy payment plan supporting you to spread the cost out over your learning journey.

Why should I study this course?

The inclusive education sector is developing and undergoing professionalisation with new posts for inclusive practitioners created each year, and special needs assistants working in early years and specialised settings, primary and secondary schools are interested in obtaining qualifications which will recognise them as professionals working alongside teachers and at the same time provide them with specialised skills and knowledge which they can put into practice in their work-based contexts. Engagement with employers, both in the special early education and primary/secondary school sector also makes it clear that they prefer to hire degree graduates rather than students who hold further education qualifications. This programme offers a realistic and flexible route for inclusive practitioners and new entrants to the sector to enhance their personal and professional development and gain professional recognition with opportunities to progress level 8 and 9 programmes.

You can gain this level 7 BA (Ord) Inclusive Education Practice degree in 2 academic years whilst you are working. You can study this degree in your own time through blended learning, with a combination of webinar tutorial seminars and online learning. You can join the large network of educators working in the area of special educational needs, early years, and inclusive education on this learning journey. There is an easy payment plan designed to make this degree affordable. These factors, together with the one to one tutorial support, offer you a level 7 BA (Ord) Inclusive Education Practice degree that is accessible, affordable and achievable.

Study Pathways

It is delivered by blended learning to support your work-life balance and offers you a path of progression to level 8 and right through to a level 9 MA in Inclusive Education. There are module exemptions available if you hold QQI Level 6 Special Needs assisting or QQI Level 6 Early Childhood Care and Education.

As a graduate, working as an educator within early years setting, primary and secondary schools is a natural career progression. There will also be more diverse roles available to you such as a specialist for the Better Start programme which coordinates AIM, roles in community and charity organisations as well as government bodies.

Broaden your professional network

Many graduates tell us they learn as much from each other as they do from tutors. Attending the webinars is key to meeting fellow students, engaging in discussion and exchanging ideas.  Meeting fellow students gives you the opportunity to create your study network for the duration of your learning journey. This network can prove extremely useful afterwards during your professional career.

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.

Course Structure

This programme is structured for delivery over 2 academic years totalling to 20 months, with 3 semesters per academic year. There are 2 Saturday workshops, and four evening webinars per module as well as some sessions with your placement tutor. The number of the workshops and webinars will depend on  your entry route and the number of modules taken per term.

The Saturday workshops are held online from 10am to 1 pm with breaks throughout. The evening webinars are 1-1½ long and are scheduled between 7 and 9 pm to accommodate students who work full-time. All sessions are recorded so you may review the session at a later stage should you be unable to log-in at the scheduled time.

Students take three modules in Year 1 and five modules in Year 2, including one placement-based module each year. The three-semester structure will ensure you can focus on a small number of modules per term while also working on your professional practice portfolio.

The course will open with a module which will help you to develop the skills which you will need to achieve success at a degree level, such as sourcing credible information, academic writing, referencing, computer skills, basic research methods, time management and planning, emotional aspects of studying and at higher education level and student well-being.  Completing the module will build a solid base for your further professional and academic development throughout the programme.

Webinars & Tutor Support

The webinars are held at the start of each module and mid-way through each module, designed to guide and support you throughout the module. These webinars lay out the module for you and the content you will cover. The assessment and expectations for successful completion are covered in detail as is where and how to access the information on ePortobello. You will be encouraged to connect with fellow students and can create your study network for the duration of your learning journey.

You can email your tutor at any stage during the module to ask a simple query and there will be scheduled opportunities to submit a draft of your assignment. Our programme management team are always available to offer you telephone and email support and if you need to, you can arrange to meet them for further one to one guidance. For more information about our team, click here. Many of our past graduates have found it is the opportunity to ask a simple question, seek direction and submit a draft of their assessment that supported them most to successful completion.  This level of one-to-one support is unique to blended learning and is a particular benefit to choosing this mode of study. Portobello Institute has invested in a team of programme managers and tutors who are experienced early years practitioners as well as qualified and knowledgeable educators. They are available to assist you at every stage of this programme.

Online Learning Portal – ePortobello

During the induction seminar, we will show you how to navigate and find what you need with all of the information you need to complete this programme uploaded on to ePortobello. The content of this programme is set out in an easy to follow format with a combination of notes, articles, podcasts and other materials that will help you to understand the subject and complete your assessment.