Equal Education for All: SEN & Inclusion
Building inclusive classrooms, with Aoife Breslin
Equip yourself with the knowledge and classroom strategies to foster inclusive classrooms that support all learners. Ideal for primary teachers, special needs assistants and education professionals committed to advancing inclusive practice in their schools.
Summer 2026 course. These details relate to the course as approved for summer 2026. Summer 2026 bookings are now closed. Summer 2027 details are not yet confirmed.
Course overview
Written by Aoife Breslin, this course explores the evolution of special education in Ireland and the key policies and frameworks that shape current practice. It highlights the importance of collaborative in-class support with real examples, and places a strong focus on the meaningful inclusion of neurodivergent pupils, including those with autism, in mainstream classrooms. You'll engage with the Universal Design for Learning framework and strength-based, learner-centred approaches, and explore how the SPHE curriculum can promote belonging and celebrate diversity. Through collaborative discussion and reflection, you'll gain insight into building a whole-school culture rooted in inclusion, equity and respect for learner difference.
Course details
Course structure
20 hours total: 10 hours online learning plus 10 self-verified hours (module exercises, resources, discussion forum and a reflective learning log). Compulsory elements are two discussion forum posts per module, a reflective learning assignment and a personal learning record. Technical support is provided throughout.
Certification & EPV days
Approved by the Department of Education & Skills for EPV certification, with your start and completion dates printed on the cert. One course earns 3 EPV days, two courses 4 days, three courses 5 days. If you buy more than one, you complete them one at a time.
Duration
Courses ran from Wednesday 1st July and were completed by 5pm on Wednesday 22nd July, worked through at each teacher's own pace within that window. As per DES criteria, completion hours are recorded and dates appear on the cert for EPV days.
Course modules
SEN and inclusion in the Irish context
Explore what inclusion truly means in the Irish education system. An overview of the history of special education and inclusion in Ireland, key national policies and documents, and reflection on your own understanding of inclusion through hands-on assignments.
Universal Design for Learning
An introduction to the UDL framework, highlighting the power of high expectations and strength-based teaching. Through a child profile exercise, explore concrete ways to support diverse learners in mainstream classrooms.
Planning and catering for needs
The practicalities of inclusive planning. Examine the different categories of need, develop Student Support Files, and create targeted strategies based on pupil profiles through a hands-on mini case study.
Inclusion and School Self-Evaluation
How inclusion can be embedded across the whole school community. Focus on the Inclusive Education Framework, the role of pupil voice, and how SSE can drive inclusive practice. Assess your own school's inclusion practices and identify areas for growth.
In-class support
Effective models of in-class and team teaching, with a focus on early years through initiatives like Aistear and Ready Set Go Maths. Discuss the benefits and challenges of implementing in-class support in your own setting.
About Aoife Breslin
Aoife has 14 years of teaching experience across a wide range of contexts, including small rural multi-grade schools and urban DEIS settings. She holds a Master's degree in Special Education, with her thesis focusing on perceptions of inclusion in mainstream education, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management.
She has worked extensively as both a mainstream class teacher and a Special Education Teacher, including in special classes for pupils with autism. Her work across various schools has exposed her to diverse approaches to inclusive education.
Aoife led her school's participation in the NCSE Inclusive Education Framework Initiative, reflecting her commitment to advancing inclusive practice in schools.
What the Summer 2026 course included
- Completed 1st to 22nd July
- Video format, just press play
- Discussion moderated by expert etutors
- Resources in a downloadable eBook
- Access via mobile, PC or tablet
- EPV certificate
- Technical support provided
Over 10,000 Irish primary teachers have taken an Anokha course
Summer 2027 Course Updates
We're planning our Summer 2027 courses. The course lineup, Department of Education approval and booking dates are not yet confirmed. Join our email list for useful teaching ideas, free resources and updates about our summer courses.
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