National Learning Network – Ballyfermot

This programme is designed for students who would like the opportunity to make a new beginning, build their confidence and explore career opportunities. It provides students with an environment to achieve greater levels of personal development, to develop IT and business skills and to explore employment or further education opportunities. Students will be supported in progressing to QQI Levels 4 and 5 courses locally or to further education or training of choice. The programme also aims to provide students with the opportunity to address personal effectiveness and social skills issues.

*This course is available in Swords and in our satellite centre in Coolock

The aim of the Vocational Skills Foundation (VSF) programme is to provide a combination of personal effectiveness training along with with exploring career options whilst sampling employment skills. The training is based on meeting the needs of students, to enable them to make realistic choices for what training or jobs would suit them based on their individual strengths and abilities.

The programme supports students to work with their numbers and literacy skills throughout the course and then supports them to put these new skills to to the test in their local communities. The course also encourages students to move on to to further training or education at a higher level or to move into a job.

A programme that provides students with the skills and training necessary to get and keep a job in IT, or as a receptionist and general office admin work. Those successful completing the programme will also receive ECDL certification, the world’s leading computer skills certification.

Employer Based Training supports students to acquire practical skills through a work experience placement in a company in the area of their choice. The programme is a combination of on-the-job and in-centre training 60% on-the-job and 40% in-centre.

The Employer Based Training instructor supports both the student and the employer. Students choose an area of work or training that interests and suits them and the Employer Based Training instructor finds a suitable business to give them some work experience so they can go on to find and keep a job.

This rehabilitative foundation programme is designed for young adults with mild learning difficulties. The course is designed to provide a mix of social skills, personal effectiveness, career exploration and work experience skills sampling. It supports students to make realistic choices for further training based on their individual strengths and abilities.

Literacy and numeracy needs are also addressed to enable students to participate fully in their communities. Opportunities are then found to use the skills learned in the training centres within the local community to encourage students to be able to play a bigger role in their own communities, make their own decisionsand move towards living independently.

The purpose of this service is to provide high-quality specialist supports for those with mild learning difficulties. The team work in partnership with parents, families and other professionals in meeting the needs of the individuals. Person-centred planning allows individuals to engage in a range of broad and balanced experiences. Our service allows individuals to have a voice in choosing how they wish to live their lives and allows them the opportunity to integrate into their community and play a valuable role in their local communities. Where appropriate, individuals will also have the opportunity to progress to nationally accredited training courses.