Classroom Assistant Training Northern Ireland 5 Week Course

Middletown Centre for Autism
5 Week Autism Training for Classroom Assistants
Programme Content:
1. Autism in the Classroom
2. The Role of the Classroom Assistant
3. Visual Structure and Schedules
4. What to do in Unstructured Times
5.  Visual Supports Resources and Samples

This 10-hour programme will be released on a weekly basis from Monday 02 November but will remain live until Friday 11 December. 
You are asked to attend the sessions when it is convenient to do so. 
Attendance at all five Webinars and completion of the five Case Study sessions is needed for eligibility for a Certificate of Attendance.

Autism in the Classroom
This introductory webinar offers a comprehensive view of what is autism and discusses many of the issues experienced by children and young people and how we, as education professionals, can support the child as he or she develops. 

The Role of the Classroom Assistant
The Classroom assistant works with but under the guidance and responsibility of the class teacher and a successful, supportive team approach can benefit everyone, the teacher, the assistant, more importantly the children and ultimately the school. 
In this webinar, we will look at your role and how as a bridge builder, you can develop means of supporting the child or children with whom you work.

Visual Structure and Schedules
Session three, will examine ways of meeting the needs of visual, concrete, explicit autistic learners, yet appreciate that each child is unique and thus, the structure and schedules must be differentiated to meet individual needs.

What to do in Unstructured Times

For many children, the time spent in the classroom with the structure, visual and schedules, is incredibly supportive. However, what happens at break or lunchtime, the transition in the morning, the time spent changing between classes, at playtime? This session will look at some of the options available.

Visual Supports, Resources and Samples
This ultimate session will offer a range of supportive visual strategies, which you may wish to download and start use with the children or young people in your particular school environment.

Running alongside each of these webinars is Case Study work.

We have written three Case Studies reflective of the three educational settings, Primary School, Special School and Post Primary School.

Each week different aspects of the Case Study have been designed to encourage you to think of how best to meet this child’s needs in the particular scenario.

There will be a Q&A session available every Thursday night from Thursday 05 November until Thursday 10 December, where if you have any queries, we can discuss them. 
It is not compulsory to attend the Q&A sessions but may be beneficial.

Week 1: 02 November 2020

Week 2: 09 November 2020

Week 3: 16 November 2020

Week 4: 23 November 2020

Week 5: 30 November 2020

However, the course will remain live until Friday 11 December 2020