Home Study Child Care & Health Care Courses

College of Progressive Education:
The College of Progressive Education, formerly the School of Practical Child Care, and the School of Health and Social Care, Ireland, has grown continuously in size and stature since it was founded in 1986. It is by far the largest private childcare college in Ireland and, more importantly, within the profession it is undoubtedly the most highly regarded. Our reputation is based on our belief that the welfare of the child is paramount, and that the best way to provide for this is to ensure that carers receive training and support of the highest quality.

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In August 2003 the College was accredited by FETAC (the Further Education and Training Awards Council in Ireland), allowing the College the opportunity to provide a wide range of internationally recognised FETAC courses. The FETAC awards form part of the National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland. The College offers FETAC courses at Level 5 and Level 6 of 10 in the framework (Certificate and Advanced Certificate).

The teaching staff of the School is composed of highly qualified and committed people who have a wealth of experience in their respective fields. Our Home Study correspondence and online training courses provide a flexible approach for those who prefer to study from home, and they are of course particularly suitable for our many overseas students.

The College of Progressive Education encourages international learners to come and study with us in the classroom, via correspondence or through the Internet. In the past learners have come from Hong Kong, Japan, USA, UK, Malaysia, Switzerland, Spain, France, Netherlands, Russia, Slovakia, Mexico, Finland and Canada. They have followed various courses in Childcare and Early Education, Crèche Management, Special Needs and Child Psychology.

Learners for whom English is a second language, and learners with a disability, are welcome to enrol on Distance Learning courses. Our recommendation is that learners undertaking these courses should have confidence in their reading, writing and comprehension skills. Learners with challenges in these areas may experience difficulty and/or require additional hours to complete assignments and should discuss this with the staff in the Distance Learning office as they consider the course options.

Our Home Study correspondence and online training courses provide a flexible approach for those who prefer to study from home, and they are of course particularly suitable for our many overseas students. Every course is accompanied by an introductory pack, a textbook, a series of modules reflecting the topics covered in the course, a series of assignments, and in some cases additional materials relating to issues specific to a given course. These materials are distributed to learners at the commencement of the course.

List of our Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Diploma programmes:

- Foundation Studies in Childcare
- Advanced Studies in Childcare
- Creche Management
- Certificate in Childcare and Creche Work
- Caring for the Child and Adult with a Disability
- Foundation Studies in Montessori
- After School Care (Level 5)
- Certificate in Classroom Assistants Training
- Child Psychology
- Special Needs Assistant (Level 5 and 6)
- Classroom Assistant Conversion to Diploma in SNA
- Business Skills for Running a Crèche
- Caring for the Child from 0 to 6 Years (Level 5)
- Early Childhood Education (Level 5)
- Child Development (Level 5)
- Special Needs Assistant Training (Level 5)
- Special Needs Assistant (Level 6)
- Caring for People with Disabilities (Level 5)

Health Care Courses: (Career Options - Health Care Assistant in a variety of elderly/adult/child care settings (e.g. community care, nursing homes, day-care centres, hospitals), respite worker, home carer or personal carer.)

- Providing Home Care
- Introduction to Caring
- Caring for the Child and the Adult with a Disability
- Introduction to Nursing
- Care of the Older Person
- Caring for People with Disabilities