iLearn Supporting Special Education Needs (Children & Adults)
Location
Applicant Type
Adults
Level
Short Course
Subject
Health & Social Care
Course Overview
If you’re passionate about helping people overcome barriers, develop their independence and achieve their potential, our iLearn Supporting Special Educational Needs (Children & Adults) programme provides an excellent starting point for a career in education, health, social care and support services. This three-week, classroom-based pre-employment programme combines our iPrep training, focused on essential workplace and employability skills, with specialist training designed to introduce you to the knowledge and skills needed to support people with special educational needs and specific learning difficulties.
Throughout the course, you’ll develop an understanding of specific learning difficulties, safeguarding, health and wellbeing, communication, conflict management and emotional resilience. You’ll also develop valuable workplace skills including customer service, equality and diversity, health and safety and personal development. These skills can help you understand the importance of providing appropriate, respectful and person-centred support to children and adults with different needs.
The programme can provide a valuable foundation for those considering a career in schools, nurseries, community settings, care homes, residential services, healthcare or other support environments. Whether you are looking to start a new career, return to work or develop your existing skills, the course can help you build confidence, strengthen your CV and take your first steps towards a rewarding career supporting people with additional needs.
To study this course, you must have a good command of the English language and complete a basic English assessment.
English assessment: Participation in this course requires the successful completion of a basic English assessment. This assessment is essential not only to meet awarding body and funding requirements but also to ensure you have the necessary language skills to complete the written components of the programme. If you do not meet the required standard, we can refer you to our English department, who may be able to offer funded lessons to support the development of your English skills.
Mandatory attendance, Coursework & Homework: Achieving the large number of qualifications offered on this course requires a high level of dedication and commitment. As such, full attendance at all classroom sessions is mandatory, and all coursework must be completed to ensure successful completion of the programme objectives. We recommend you set aside 1-3 hours per day for homework to ensure you meet the course deadlines. Lateness or requests to leave early may result in your place on the course being withdrawn.
Identification requirements: Candidates must provide one of the following forms of identification: Valid in-date passport (any nationality), signed in-date UK photocard driving licence, birth certificate (BUT, if a birth certificate is presented as proof of identification, an additional form of identification such as a signed bank card, utility bill or a letter issued by a government department must also be provided).
Three weeks in total delivered as follows:
- Weeks 1 & 2 will be Monday to Thursday 10:00-16:00. These weeks are on offer at Southend, Basildon or Thurrock College
- Week 3 will be Monday to Thursday 10:00-16:00 at Basildon College
Venue addresses
- Southend City College, Luker Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1ND
- Centre for Digital Technologies – Basildon, College Way, Basildon, SS14 1GP
- Thurrock College, High Street, Grays, RM17 6TF
This course is FREE to those who were over 19 on 31/08/2026, are unemployed, resident in England and in receipt of Universal Credit or similar benefits. It is also FREE to those who were over the age of 19 on 31/08/2026 and are earning under £25,750 per year (you will need to provide us with evidence of your income in order to qualify to take a course for free).
We regret that we cannot provide iLearn courses for free to individuals who reside in the following combined authorities: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City, North of Tyne, South Yorkshire, Tees Valley, West Midlands, West Yorkshire and West of England.
On completion of this course, you can apply for a range of roles supporting children and adults with additional or special educational needs across education, health and social care settings. Career opportunities include Classroom Assistant, Trainee Nursery or Playgroup Assistant, Healthcare Assistant, Support Worker and Domiciliary Care Worker, with opportunities to work in schools, nurseries, community facilities, care homes, residential settings and the NHS. The knowledge and skills gained can also provide a foundation for further training and progression into more specialised roles in learning support, special educational needs, childcare, health and social care and community support.
3 weeks, Monday to Thursday 10:00-16:00
3 weeks, Monday to Thursday 10:00-16:00
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Overall achievement rates (All learners)
90.2%
Ofstead good rating
A safe environment to learn
Qualifications earned per year
18232
Award-winning careers programe
State-of-the-art facilities
