It takes a special person to support gifted and special needs children. If you have patience and a compassionate nature, you’ll find a career in special needs education rewarding and challenging in equal measure.
The Certificate of Education Support – Additional Needs will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to support learning for students with disabilities and additional needs in a classroom environment.
In this online education support course, you will learn how to facilitate student support and communicate effectively with students with a mix of abilities and needs. You will discover a range of learning aids, activities, programs and behaviour management strategies to contribute to the learning opportunities in the classroom.
On completion of this professional development course, you will have gained the skills and knowledge required to support the needs of gifted and special needs children.
Course Structure
Unit 1 - Support learning for students with disabilities in a classroom environment
- Delivery of services
- Key issues for disabilities
- Meeting individual needs
- Family carer issues
- Grief and loss
- Personal goals
- Legal requirements
- Disability services legislation
- Principles and objectives
- Disability legislation
- Australian legislation principles (AAPs)
- Access and equity principles
- Personal values and attitudes
- Appropriate language
- Promote individuality
- Appropriate terminology
- Types of disabilities
- General learning disabilities
- Rights, interests and needs
- Strategies to assist students
- Exercise rights and independence
- Empowering students
- The right to learn
- Vicious circle of low expectations
- Positive expectations
- Respecting students
- Education adjustment program profile (EAPP)
- Negotiated education plan (NEP)
- Support requirements of students
- Fading
- Supporting communication
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
- Situations of risk
- Situations posing risk to students
- Preventing hazardous situations
- Organisational policies
- Unacceptable risk
- Intermediate risk
- Abuse
- Reporting inappropriate behaviour
- Personal safety of self and others
- Store equipment safely
- Appropriate learning environments
- Health and safety legislation
Unit 2 - Support students with additional needs in the classroom environment
- Roles and responsibilities
- Co-operation with staff
- Facilitate student support
- Procedures and protocols
- Information collection
- Students with additional needs
- Respect, empathy and acceptance
- Diversity and cultural difference
- Child protection acts
- Promote positive self-concept
- Praise
- Challenges
- Self-image
- Childhood development
- Language, equipment and materials
- Communication aids
- Computer access aids
- Educational learning aids
- Mobility and transportation aids
- Vision and reading aids
- Simple task analysis
- Individual education programs (IEP’)
- Classroom programs
- Small group / cooperative learning
- Cross-curricular learning
- Modification of general activities
- Help in the classroom
- Behaviour management strategies
- Non-verbal communication
- Redirection
- Personal safety (staff)
- Appropriate learning environments
- Contribute to learning opportunities
- Encourage problems solving
- Independence and social skills
- Attitude and knowledge
- Constructive advice and feedback
- Suggestions to teachers
Unit 3 - Conduct a program for children and young people with special needs
- Plan and prepare a program
- Designing specific programs
- Required resources
- Specialist resources
- Ideas and experiences
- Additional needs
- Key factors with delivery
- Multi-cultural issues
- Cross-cultural interactions
- Routine assessments
- Key milestones and targets
- Programs to meet developmental needs
- Additional support services
- Addressing non-participation
- Operational arrangements
- Agreement from child and carers
- Signed written contract
- Determine range of activities
- Promote cross cultural activities
- Effective communication
- Communication styles that suit child
- Appropriate language
- Feedback on session technique
- Enlist specialist communication
- Address problems with delivery
- Conduct the program
- Current accepted practices
- Activities to suit abilities
- Enhance emotional well-being
- Provision and use of aids
- Rules, codes and health and safety
- Collection of equipment
- Effectiveness of program
- Evaluate self-esteem
- Children’s confidence
- Self-esteem model
- Monitor progress and participation
- Modify program
Unit 4 - Work with students in need of additional support
- Identify problems for students in need of additional support
- Identify learning needs
- Motor skills disorder
- Sensory integration dysfunction
- Cerebral palsy
- Muscular dystrophy
- Differences in the students condition
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Gross motor dysfunctions
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Risk factors and treatment options
- Conduct disorder
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Dyslexia and dyspraxia
- Dyscalculia and dysgraphia
- General learning disabilities
- Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
- Visual Processing Disorders (VPDs)
- Apraxia of speech
- Expressive language disorder
- Intellectual disability
- Down syndrome
- Barriers that impact on ability to learn
- Behaviours and emotions
- Recognising signs a child is in distress
- Accepted developmental millstones
- Observation record
- Team planning for students in need of additional support
- Professionals who will form part of the team
- Individual education program/plans (IEPs)
- Gathering information and designing IEP program
- Implementation and evaluation
- Behaviour plans (10 step plan)
- Plan fundamentals
- Expectation for students
- Rights and principles
- Modification and activities
- Using smartboards and classroom displays
- Identifying and assembling resources
- Assistive technologies
- Education and learning aids
- Mobility and transportation aids
- Vision and reading aids
- Shaping and prompting students
- Scaffold learning
- ESL programs
- Keyword signing
- Practising new skills
- Monitoring student progress
- Cooperating with teachers
- Maintenance of equipment
Study Hours
Estimated duration 60 Hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% Online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
It was amazing and very interesting. I learnt alot and it boost my confidence to work with classroom teachers to help and support students with additional needs
W. Riroriro, Papua New Guinea | Certificate of Education Support – Additional Needs
I really enjoyed studying at my own pace while teaching full time.
H. Taylor, Dee Why, NSW | Certificate of Education Support – Special Needs
Certificate of Education Support – Additional Needs course was planned well and it gave me comprehensive knowledge on how to work with children with learning disabilities and special needs
W. Goonetilleke, Fullarton, SA | Certificate of Education Support – Additional Needs
It was very flexible so I could study at my own pace which suited my needs very well.
Yubei I Crows Nest, NSW I Certificate of Education Support – Additional Needs
About Us
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Enrol Now
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and EFT/Direct Deposit. Please allow 1-2 Business days for processing for EFT and BPAY.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development For:
- Teacher Assistant – Learning Support
- Special Needs Teacher
- Classroom Support Officer
- Learning Support Teacher