The Higher Certificate in Arts in Montessori Education (HETAC Level 6) course prepares you for the task of helping children aged 3-6 and 6-9 years to develop to the fullness of their individual human potential. This 2 year Montessori course provides an opportunity to study, indepth, Montessori pedagogy, practices and child development as well as an interdisciplinary approach to the study of humans, their endeavours and their relationship with the universe.

The Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Care & Education is aimed at learners who wish to attain a recognised qualification and embark on a professional career in an Early Childhood Care & Education. On this full time course you will acquire a thorough knowledge of child development, comparative early years methodologies and how to create a positive learning environment.  Learners will develop the capacity to work and communicate effectively with parents, families, colleagues and other professionals to safeguard support and promote children's learning, development and well being.

To meet the needs of an expanding ECCE sector Portobello Institute aims to provide a solid, integrated, unified approach to the delivery of ECCE training. FETAC Certificates are now obtained through a new Common Award System (CAS) and awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

To meet the needs of an expanding ECCE sector Portobello Institute aims to provide a solid, integrated, unified approach to the delivery of ECCE training. FETAC Certificates are now obtained through a new Common Award System (CAS) and awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

The Special Needs Assistant Certificate is a part time evening course suited to anyone who has an interest in Special Needs Education, whether to pursue it as a career or use the knowledge for personal or family reasons.

This 1 day workshop course is aimed at those wanting to learn more about the Montessori approach to teaching which is based on observation and assessment. The workshop will also focus on Aistear - The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and Siolta - The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and an overview of Regulation 5 - The Childcare (pre school services) Regulations. The Montessori Approach - Aistear & Siolta workshop course is a combination of group discussion and theory and will provide the learner with a guide to linking Montessori with guiding policy documents.

The Special Needs Assisting course is designed for learners who wish to progress from a FETAC Level 5 to a FETAC Level 6 qualification. The course content is structured to give a broader, knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding disabilities and or learning difficulties.

The Child Protection in Childcare Services is a one day course covering the history of Child Protection in Ireland leading to the introduction of Children First Guidelines for Child Protection. It will also explore how to interpret the guidelines and use them to write up the policies and procedures which govern each childcare setting.

The Positive Discipline & Behaviour Management 1 day workshop course is aimed at childcare providers and parents. Working with groups of children and dealing with Challenging Behaviour can be disruptive for the rest of the group. By disciplining children we aim to teach them acceptable behaviour while further developing their social skills. At this workshop you will learn what Positive Discipline is and how to implement it effectively in a school or home environment. You will learn effective behaviour management strategies, how to avert tantrums and how best to encourage good social skills in children, while setting boundries, respecting others and their environment.

Art through the Senses is a practical 1 day course exploring the world of arts and crafts through the child’s five senses. Learn how to bring art and crafts alive for the child and add another dimension to their learning.

The Higher Certificate in Arts in Montessori Education (HETAC Level 6) course prepares you for the task of helping children aged 3-6 and 6-9 years to develop to the fullness of their individual human potential. This 2 year Montessori course provides an opportunity to study, indepth, Montessori pedagogy, practices and child development as well as an interdisciplinary approach to the study of human's, their endeavours and their relationship with the universe.

The Effective Curriculum Planning 1 day workshop course is aimed at Montessori and childcare providers whose role is to devise and implement an effective curriculum for pre school children. Through group discussion and theory you will learn how to plan a cohesive programme to get the most from your children. You will learn how to optimise teaching moments and encourage growth through strategic curriculum planning.

The St Patricks Day and Easter Themes for Children Workshop is aimed at Montessori and childcare providers whose role is to devise and implement and effective curriculum for pre school children. Through practical work and discussion, you will come out after the workshop with a plan for art, Practical life and group work themes for both st Patrick's day and Easter. Materials made on the day by students can be taken home for inspiration.

The Christmas Themes for Children is aimed at Montessori and Childcare providers whose role is to devise and implement an effective curriculum for pre school children. Through practical work and discussion, you will come out after the workshop with a plan for art/practical life and group work themes for Christmas. Materials made on the day by students can be taken home for inspiration.

The Occupational First Aid Refresher course updates your FETAC 5 Occupational First Aid qualification by 2 more years. You will be brought up to date in any changes that have occurred in regulated practice since you last trained. You will will revise your knowledge and practice of CPR, AED and bandaging. This course is recognised by the HSA and the PHECC (Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council).

Children find it difficult to express themselves verbally and so traditional talking therapies can be difficult for them. Play is a child's natural way of expressing themselves, and Play Therapy provides them with an opportunity to "play out" their thoughts, feelings and problems in a non-directive way, in a safe environment with a caring therapist.

The summer camp ideas for Children is aimed at Montessori and childcare providers whose role is to devise and implement and effective curriculum for pre school children. Through practical work and discussion, you will come out after the workshop with a plan for art/group work/outdoor play themes for summer. Materials made on the day by students can be taken home for inspiration.

Play, a familiar activity for most children, is a way to help children with issues they may have to deal with in their daily lives or in difficult circumstances, such as hospitalization or abusive conditions. Play helps to reduce stress in a child. Play therapy is based on this fact that children can express themselves through play. It gives the child an opportunity to "play out" his/her feelings and problems, his/her fears, his/her feelings of insecurity, loneliness etc.

The Play Therapy Level 2 course progresses from the Level 1 play therapy course for those who wish to continue to develop their understanding and skills within this area.

The Child Development course teaches you an understanding of the child's social, emotional and physical development which is paramount if you are to provide a caring and nurturing environment for children to develop in.

The Child Development course covers the individual variation in stages of child development, the factors that can affect it and the role you play in promoting child development.During the course learners are required to complete 40 hours practical work experience in a childcare setting.

The Applied Child & Adolescent Development course is designed for persons from the fields of psychology, social work, education, sociology, nursing, biological sciences who want to work with children (birth through 18 years) or are already working with children and now want to upscale their knowledge, understanding and skills. There is no upper age limit, the minimum age for candidates is 21 years.

Guided reflections of experience enable an integration of experimental learning with theoretical understanding. Further, this will lead to enrichment of the field that one is working in. We may have been trained several years ago... learning paths... This course is specially designed and suitable for practitioners in the fields of psychology, social work, education, sociology, nursing who are already working with children (birth through 18 years) and now want to upscale their understanding and knowledge and skills. There is no upper age limit; the minimum age is 21 years.

The Child Psychology course is an introduction to the methods, language and practice of child psychology. It examines the core issues in relation to child psychological development including language, thinking and socialisation with particular focus on the emergence of the child as an individual. The class each week will begin with a practical case study followed by a discussion of what child psychology offers as explanations of the phenomenon.

The Child Protection course is aimed at giving professionals working within the early childhood care and education sector the skills and know how to identify and correctly deal with child protection issues that might arise in their workplace or setting.

The Occupational First Aid course is suitable for parents, grandparents and babysitters and is ideal for anyone working in a professional childcare environment. The First Aid course is delivered over 3 full days and is recognised by the HSA and the PHECC (Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council). The course also covers paediatric first aid.

Creating a positive learning environment for the pre school age is of the utmost importance. In this 1 day workshop course you will learn how to make the most of indoor and outdoor space, how best to lay out space and materials to encourage exploration and development. You will also learn how to create indoor and outdoor space with inexpensive ideas.

Art & Crafts is a one day practical workshop which allows the childcare professional to experience a fresh take on art and crafts. Through the workshop the learner will be able to provide the children in their service with a unique take on seasonal art and crafts.

This full time Special Needs Education course is designed to introduce students to the key areas of caring for children of a school going age and promotes their understanding of the underpinning theoretical framework of childcare principles and practice.

Successful completion of the Montessori Teaching Stage 1 distance learning course qualifies learners as Montessori Teachers for the 3-6 year range who may seek employment for this role within the pre-school sector. By the end of Montessori Teaching Stage 1, learners will be able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of both the local and national frameworks which guide the education and care provision of Early Years settings, specialising in Montessori Pedagogy and Curriculum for the 3-6 year old. Over one hundred years ago, Maria Montessori, the first female physician in Italy, devised a very different method of educating children, based on her observations of how they naturally learn. Today, Montessori education is more in line with what developmentalists now know about how children learn and develop.

The Special Needs Assistant Certificate is a part time evening course suited to anyone who has an interest in Special Needs Education, whether to pursue it as a career or use the knowledge for personal or family reasons.

The Certificate in Montessori in the Home distance learning course will give the learner an introduction to the Montessori philosophy of education and how it applies to the young child in a home environment. It will give a background to Maria Montessori's wonderful life and the legacy that she left behind of a full curriculum for the early education of the child. It will also give the learner useful tips to nurture and develop their own child in the home.

Often individuals are interested in the area of Special Needs but don’t have the time to commit to practical work experience or a large set of exams. The Certificate in Special Needs Distance Learning course is geared towards those who would like to gain a broad understanding of Special Needs Education without having to complete any practical work experience.

Understanding a child’s social, emotional and physical development is paramount if one is to provide a caring and nurturing environment for children to develop in. The Child Development distance learning course covers the individual variation in stages of child development, the factors that can affect it and the role you can play in promoting child development.

The Autism Awareness distance learning course will provide the student with the knowledge and skills to effectively work with a child with autism in a school, home or social environment. The area of autism has become one of the most highlighted areas of disability in relation to mainstream education in recent years. The aim of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of the issues involved in the area of autistic spectrum disorders.

The inability to effectively communicate has been found to affect numerous daily life tasks. Researchers have found that individuals with disabilities experience less success than able-bodied individuals with respect to employment, education, independent living and relationships. It is essential therefore to offer augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to non-verbal children and have the knowledge to help the child to effectively use their particular system.

The Intellectual Disability Studies distance learning course has been specifically designed by Portobello Institute so that students are equipped to provide the optimal levels of support required for people with intellectual disabilities and their famlies in a variety of settings. Suitable for anyone with an interest in intellectual disabilities this course is highly recommended as an opportunity for further development for people who have studied Special Needs Education at Level 5 and Level 6.

Coping with Challenging Behaviours distance learning course provides the student with an understanding of challenging behaviours and the factors that can create challenging behaviours. It will also provide the student with the knowledge and skills to effectively work with a child with challenging behaviours in a school or home environment.

The Deaf Awareness distance learning course aims to deliver an understanding of the range of communication tactics used in communicating with deaf people. Students will learn to become ‘deaf aware’ and gain a basic knowledge of deafness and communication skills which can be used with a range of deaf, hard of hearing and deaf blind people. This course will also assist the student to learn various strategies to assist deaf and hard of hearing people to communicate effectively and also be involved to the best of their ability in everyday conversations.

The Caring for Children distance learning course is intended to provide the student with the skills and knowledge to care for children from 0-6 years either in the home or as part of a supervised team in a childcare setting.

By choosing to study this course with Portobello Institute, students will have access to course materials from our online learning centre for the duration of the course. The course materials for this FETAC certified course are thorough and easy to read and can be downloaded in your own time and from the comfort of your own home. You will also be assigned a personal tutor for the duration of the course who will help you with any challenges you may encounter. In addition you will be able to upload assignments online and receive online feedback. You can use our online learning centre from any computer that has internet access. However, access to a computer is not compulsory as we can arrange for everything to be processed by post. There is an additional administration cost of €30 for this service.

The importance of mental health cannot be underestimated. In light of this, Portobello Institute has developed a distance learning course in Mental Health Awareness which will provide an indepth understanding of the issues of mental health to the learner who can then apply this knowledge in a supportive and positive manner. This course gives the learner an understanding of mental health issues and their context, enhancing the learners familiarity with the national and local needs and those of their families.

The Social Care Skills distance learning course will provide you with and understanding of the various skills needed to be an effective care worker in a variety of settings such as nursing, residential or private homes, disability services and specialized care units. The course objectives include recognizing the personal care needs of clients, how to respond effectively to the client’s needs, practical skills in the area of personal care and maintaining a safe, healthy and hygienic environment for clients.

The Certificate in Supporting a Wheelchair User distance learning course in intended to give the student an insight into the issues around mobility disabilities and how to best support a person who is a wheelchair user. This course explores the barriers experienced by people with mobility disabilities such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis and motor neuron disease to name but a few. Do we see the person first or the wheelchair? What are the practical factors involved in transport shopping, socialising, sport and holidaying for these individuals? This course aims to teach the student how to treat a wheelchair user with dignity and respect, always thinking about the person first and the disability second.

Approximately 40,000 deaf and hearing people overall use Irish Sign Language (ISL) either as their first language or in addition to their first language on a daily basis in Ireland. The Understanding Basic Sign Language distance learning course will give a concise overview of ISL, basic signs and instructions for their use. Students will gain an understanding of the problems and barriers that people who have a hearing loss can experience. It will also outline basic strategies hearing people can use to communicate respectfully and effectively with deaf people.

Being able to communicate our thoughts, aspirations and basic needs is a civic right. Speech and language are the main media through which we communicate. For a variety of reasons some individuals have a delay or inflictions to their speech and language development. Through this course the student will develop a strong knowledge based insight into how speech, language and communication are developed. Furthermore, this course will identify a range of issues that may affect any individual at any stage of their life and it will also suggest some coping strategies to deal effectively with these issues.

Do you know the correct approach to take with a person who is disabled? Do you worry about using the wrong language or being patronising? Do you speak to the ‘person’ or their ‘carer’? Do you assume that a person with a disability always needs assistance? If these are questions you ask yourself then this Understanding Disability Etiquette distance learning course can help give you good advice and information when dealing with a work situation or socially meeting someone who has a disability.

The Dyslexia Awareness distance learning course will enable you to learn more about how to tell if someone has dyslexia, the learning and emotional effects of Dyslexia as well as effective strategies for Dyslexia in the classroom. Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty which makes it difficult for some children to learn to read, write and spell correctly. A child can become frustrated by these difficulties and over time may also show signs of low self-esteem and behavioural problems at home and school. In addition, the child may also become unmotivated and develop a dislike for school which can impact on the child’s overall success in school.

The aim of the Dyspraxia Awareness distance learning course is to provide the student with an understanding of dyspraxia and the specific difficulties associated with this condition. Dyspraxia is a difficulty with thinking out, planning and carrying out sensory and/or motor tasks. Children with dyspraxia face many challenges each day in carrying out activities that many take for granted. Such difficulties can have an effect on the child's ability in school and also on their overall self esteem.

In the present ever changing and evolving world of today, diversity, equality and differentiation are commonly used terms. Therefore, in accordance with The Equality Status Act 2000, valuing and accommodating all citizens of the state, regardless of impairments is essential. This course aims to provide the student with an insight and indepth knowledge of visual impairment issues, which will help you to respond appropriately and confidently when dealing or working with people who are blind or who have significant sight loss.

The Manual Handling for Sport course is delivered over 1 day. To comply with current Health and Safety legislation, staff engaged in manual handling must be given training in safe lifting techniques. The manual Handling course will show you how to lift correctly and therefore avoid back injuries. By training how to lift safely you will avoid serious and long-term back injury. This course combines lecture methods with "hands-on" practical work with the use of various types of materials and apparatus.

The Paediatric First Aid Workshop is ideal for both parents and also professional childcare facilities to prepare staff for emergency situations. This is a one day course specifically designed to teaching life saving skills with relation to children and incorporates the Irish Heart Foundation Heartsaver CPR course. This course is ideal for both parents and also professional childcare facilities to prepare staff for emergency situations. The course has major emphasis on dealing with accidents that happen to children from newborn to eight years of age. This unique course will give you the skills to deal with first aid and medical emergencies that occur with this age group.

Now enrolling for our Montessori programmes beginning Autumn 2013

Spring 2013 Open Days*

Sports and Health Programmes Open Days- Croke Park