The four SNA branches continue to roll out training programmes across the country as part of their commitment to providing continuous professional development opportunities to SNA members.

 

The training covers a broad range of areas including behavioural management, understanding autism, Down Syndrome, Asperger’s, pervasive developmental disorder and bipolar disorder. There also training sessions covering stress management, mood watching, understanding circulars and pensions.

 

 

The South Dublin South Leinster branch trained close to 350 SNAs last year. So far this year 100 SNAs have already received training on Autism from Adam Harris, the founder of As I Am, an organisation committed to developing a more inclusive society for the AS community.

 

The training took place in January (pictured below) and included sessions on understanding circulars from the Department of Education and a discussion about pensions.

 

The branch is planning to run the training session later this week in Tullamore, County Offaly. The venue is the Bridge House Hotel this Saturday (28th April).

 

The next training session will take place at the Royal Hotel, Bray on 12th May for SNAs in Wicklow.

 

The final training session of the term will take place in Kilkenny on Saturday 26th May at the New Park Hotel.

 

By the end of May, more than 400 SNAs would have received the training provided by Fórsa’s South Dublin South Leinster SNA branch.

 

Contact me for more details.

 

 

The Connaught/Ulster Branch delivered eight training sessions during the 2016/2017 school year to roughly 750 members.

 

During the current school year they’ve already trained 700, with two more sessions scheduled for May. The Branch is planning to train about 1,000 SNAs by the end of 2018.

 

The branch will host a training session on managing the emotional and sensory needs of students with SEN in the classroom this coming Saturday (28th) at the Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar from 09:30 until 15:30.

 

Contact organiser Dave Sexton for more details.

 

 

The North Dublin North Leinster have also delivered the same training to 180 SNAs since the beginning of the year, in addition to three circular training sessions covering terms and conditions of employment, contracts, ’72 hours’ and grievance procedures. A total of 160 SNAs have received this training.

 

For future training event information please contact organiser Grace Williams.

 

 

The Munster SNA branch has commenced a series of information meetings. Kicking off last week in Clonmel, meetings take place on Thursday (26th) in Kerry and in Limerick on 1st May. Contact organiser Joan McCrohan for more details.

 

The Munster Branch of Fórsa will host two training sessions with Adam Harris from As I Am. The first is at the Clonmel Park Hotel on Saturday 5th May and the second is at the Charleville Park Hotel on Saturday 26th May.

 

There is no fee for these sessions but places are limited and must be booked online HERE.

 

 

Fórsa’s ongoing commitment to training SNA members is further reflected in the union’s plans to establish a professional institute for SNAs. The initiative was announced at the union’s education conference event in early April.

 

The institute would set professional standards, support training, and underpin the validation of qualifications in a push to improve provision to children with special needs by further professionalising the SNA role.

 

A recent Fórsa survey of almost 2,700 SNAs revealed that, while most held qualifications significantly above minimum requirements, neither the Department of Education nor individual schools provide them with access to adequate basic or ongoing professional training. Instead, most training in the field is either self-financed or trade union-provided.