Fórsa welcomes accreditation of the UCD National SNA Training Programme as the first step towards professionalisation

Today the Department of Education announced their decision to accredit the UCD National SNA Training Programme as a Level 6 Special Purpose Award. This meets the terms of the claim lodged in 2020 by Fórsa seeking accreditation of the programme at Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. 

In order to resolve the Union claim, discussions have been on-going between the Department of Education and the UCD School of Education regarding accreditation. Following debate on the level of the accreditation, a final decision to accredit at Level 6 has now been made, delivering on the commitment to accredit the course secured by Fórsa, and confirmed at the hearing with the Dáil Joint Education Committee in June of this year.

To date some 1,300 SNAs have completed the programme, which has been positively received throughout the sector. The aim is to enrol a total of 3,500 SNAs over the four years of the programme, up to the end of 2025. The Department has confirmed that UCD is now considering how SNAs who have already completed the programme will have their award accredited retrospectively. The Department has also confirmed a commitment to provide further appropriate training and professional development opportunities for SNAs.

Fórsa's Head of Education Andy Pike welcomed the news:

“When we first requested accreditation of the new SNA Training Programme we were told it could never happen, we were told that 3 D grade passes in the Junior Certificate was indeed the appropriate qualification for SNAs. Thanks to the #RespectforSNAs campaign we have achieved this significant breakthrough, and this is the first time the Department of Education has recognised the need for a formal qualification for the 20,000 SNAs working with students across the school sector. The fact that the Department’s own training programme is now accredited at Level 6 establishes the necessary momentum to review and change the minimum essential qualification to become an SNA," he said. 

"We still have to secure that new entry qualification so our campaign will continue and exploratory discussions on new CPD arrangements for SNAs will open shortly, we are very pleased that all the SNAs who have completed the programme will now receive a proper academic award from UCD and we await details from the School of Education on how this will work," he continued. 

"Today is a very significant day for Ireland’s special needs assistants who as a group have taken the first step towards proper recognition and professionalisation of their role. Fórsa members really worked hard to achieve this change, that would not have happened without the efforts of both our members and staff on this campaign. We will now secure the necessary changes to the entry qualification and hope to be able to deliver a new and improved SNA contract next year.”