Further Education

Further Education Courses

An Cosán’s Accredited Further Education Programmes are usually delivered through a classroom-based (face-to-face) model, but due to current Covid-19 restrictions, many modules are currently being delivered either online or blended (some face-to-face sessions and some online). Please contact us at courses@ancosan.ie for further details.

For information regarding costs and course timetable and any other queries, please contact Siobhán at s.cooney@ancosan.ie or Lily at l.ward@ancosan.ie. There are various subsidies and supports for course costs, depending on your circumstances.

Why study at An Cosán?

Gain a professional qualification in a warm welcoming environment
Work with a dedicated education team who will provide guidance and supports throughout the duration of the programme
Excellent wraparound services, including early years’ education places for your children (when available)
Regular workshops in writing, IT skills and English
Family-friendly timetable
Access to counselling services
Expert tutors to guide you on your learning journey

Social & Community Care

Are you interested in working in health care, community care, residential care, or childcare? Perhaps you are already working in this area? Either way, this is the ideal course for you! You will learn about the roles and responsibilities of a care worker and will develop the practical skills needed to work in a caring environment.

Once you’ve completed the course, you will have the skills and confidence to work either independently or under supervision in a community setting. A variety of roles in social care will be open to you – in social services, respite or residential care and voluntary services. You might choose to work as a carer or a home help, or you might decide to use the Level 5 Certificate as a stepping stone to further education.

By taking part in this course, participants also find they develop their communication skills and further their personal development. It is delivered part-time to allow for an appropriate work/life balance for learners with additional commitments and limited resources.

At An Cosán we offer a unique range of wraparound services to support learners through their educational journey. Enquiries welcome!

The modules on offer are:

Care Provision & Practice
Human Growth & Development
Safety and Health at Work
Social Studies

- Work Experience
- Communications
- Care of the Older Person
- Care Support Skills

Entry requirements:

Level 4 or Junior Certificate; mature students with a suitable level of learning
Good level of English language proficiency
No previous work experience required

QQI Level 5 Certificate
(5M2786)

Days: Tues/Thurs, 9.30am – 12:30pm

Duration: 2 Years

Fees: €250 per module (8 modules in total)
(Talk to us about possible funding options)

Community Development and Social Studies

Are you interested in working in community development, community service or addiction services? If so, then this is the course for you!

You will gain the skills needed to work in a multicultural society and ensuring equality and diversity in the community sector. You will also learn how to empower young people and adults to make positive changes in their lives.

You will gain an understanding of important values in community development, including community, collective action, poverty, social change participation, equality, social justice, power and consciousness raising.

The course is delivered part-time to allow for an appropriate work/life balance for learners with additional commitments and limited resources. At An Cosán we offer a unique range of wraparound services to support learners through their educational journey. Enquiries welcome!

The Modules on offer are:

Understanding Community Development
Community Development Practice
Community Addiction Studies
Working with Groups

Work Experience
Communications
Social Studies
Working with Young People

Entry requirements:

Level 4 or Junior Certificate; mature students with a suitable level of learning
Good level of English language proficiency
No previous work experience required

QQI Level 5 Certificate
(5M3050)

Days: Wed/Fri, 9.30am – 12:30pm

Duration: 2 Years

Fees: €125 module (8 modules in total)

(Part-funded by the DDLETB)

Business Administration with Digital Skills for Work

Are you interested in working in an administrative role? If so, this is the perfect course for you! Completing this certificate will open up exciting job opportunities for you across a variety of organisations – from the retail sector to government agencies, accountancy, marketing, insurance or with an estate agent. You might even decide to run your own business!

You will learn the necessary IT, administrative, communication and organisational skills to become efficient in business administration. This award is also a key stepping stone to move on to further studies in Business or similar subjects.

The aim of this QQI certification programme is to develop your understanding of business administration and increase your digital skills which can be used in your professional and personal life.

At An Cosán we offer a unique range of wraparound services to support learners through their educational journey. Enquiries welcome!

The Modules on offer are:

Personal and Professional Development
Word Processing
Business Administration
Reception & Office Skills

Communications
Spreadsheet Methods
Manual & Computerised Bookkeeping
Marketing Practice

Entry requirements:

Level 4 or junior certificate, mature students with a suitable level of learning
Good level of English language proficiency
No previous work experience required

QQI Level 5 Certificate
(5M2468)

Days: Tues/Thurs, 9.30am – 12:30pm

Duration: 2 Years

Fees: €250 per module (8 modules in total)
(Talk to us about possible funding options)

Early Childhood Education & Care (Level 5)

The overall aim of this programme is to equip the learner with the skills to begin or develop a career in the Early Years Sector. While the emphasis of the compulsory programmes are on the Development of the Child, Childhood Care & Education the practices required and the benefit of play on not only the well-being of the child but also its development.

The skillset which will be gained and demonstrated by the learner who completes this Major Award, are an excellent set of skills and directly relevant for any position which requires skills both in the Care and Education of a Child. These skills include:

Creative Arts for Children with Special Needs
Special Needs Assisting
Working with Children who have additional needs
A diversity of other skills.

There are 10 programme modules in this programme. Upon successful completion of a minimum of 8 programme modules (each with a 15-credit value) the learner may achieve the required 120 credits for a level 6 Major Award.

The Modules on offer are:

Mandatory

Elective

Child Health & Well Being
Child Development
Early Childhood Education & Play
Early Care Education & Practice
Communications
Work Experience

Special Needs Assisting
Approaches to Early Childhood
Safety Health at Work

QQI Level 5

Early Childhood Education & Care (Level 6)

The overall aim of this programme is to equip the learner with the skills to begin or develop a career in Early Years Supervision and or Management. While the focus of the compulsory programmes are on the Early Care & Education of children, the skills set which will be gained and demonstrated by the learner who completes this Major Award, are an excellent set of skills and directly relevant for any position which requires supervision and Management skills in the ECCE sector.
These skills include:

Early learning environments
Supervision in Education and Care
Disability Awareness
Special Needs Assisting
As well as a diversity of other skills.

The programme as presented by An Cosán is designed to provide a follow on complimentary award to the Level 5 Major Award Early Childhood Care & Education, provided by An Cosán. While completion of this Level 5 award is not essential, many of the skills imparted in the Level 6 Early Childhood Care & Education Award are designed to build on those already developed and ignited in the Level 5 award.

There are 9 programme modules in this programme. Upon successful completion of a minimum of 8 programme modules (each with a 15-credit value) the learner may achieve the required 120 credits for a level 6 Major Award. The Modules on offer are:

Mandatory	Optional
Child Development Early Childhood Curriculum Social, Legal & Health Studies Communications Work Experience	Supervision in Early Childhood Special Needs Assisting Early Childhood Literacy & Numeracy Child Psychology

QQI Level 6