Training Courses

[chinchi]

I know there are some very helpful and experienced people on here so Im sure somebody can help!

I have enrolled on a course with OU, studying Health and Social Care, with a view to go onto gain a degree in Early Years. Since my DS was diagnosed with CP, I have had some contact with Cerebra, and have enrolled on the course the provide on Children With Neurological Disorders.

Both of these courses unfortunately do not start until early 2011, and so I wondered if anybody knew of any courses regarding children, especially those with additional needs, that I could study in the meantime?

Hi, I'm not sure about short courses for now, but can I offer a couple of general thoughts, (hope not too cheeky)

Can I ask which OU course? Is it a full credit one? (I think we are supposed to call them 60 point courses) are you used to studying, if you haven't studied for a while it could possibly be useful to concentrate on study skills stuff, your OU regional centre can advise, (I think you would want student support advisors)

Or you could look at Openlearn, look on OU website, www.open.ac.uk. loads of materials taken from current courses available for free study, for example a block on fostering/adoption/lifestory work, (if my memory serves me correctly)

The other thing is it is now Nov and your course materials will arrive in Jan, as an ex OU student, (now OU Assoc lecturer on Soc Work Degree, among other things)I used to find using the 'down time' between courses useful to get everything else upto date and ahead of itself, if you see what I mean.

Hope you don't mind the suggestions,

good luck with the study

Thanks signandsay :) I am going to be studying An Introduction To Health And Social Care, a 60 point course which is a compulsory part of the Early Years degree.

I am really looking forward to getting into studying again. Im 26, so left education a while back, but did complete an A-Level in Turkish last year at my former school.

Part of my reason for wanting to study is to give myself something to focus on, so I can be 'me' again instead of just 'Mummy'. I think the fact I have three children under four is good preparation to study for a child-related degree! It is thanks to them that I have finally realised what kind of career path I want to take after all these years!

ooooh..Id love to be learning again...at the minute I feel like Im taking a crash course in ASD/SN lol. How great for you chinchi! I said I was starting college this sept but we had just started the dx process so DD took over...but you may have inspired me to look into next year. :)

Go for it Woolytree! I have been putting it off for one reason or another, but Ive finally decided to get myself into gear!

I have DS 3, with mild CP, DD1, who is 22 months and DD2 who is 3 months. By the time they are all in school, I will hopefully be well on my way to completing the degree and be in a position to take a huge career change, as for the past 3 years I have been a sahm.

Look into next year and weigh up your options! Good luck!

Good luck to both of you! Did my degree at 35, and my SW training too, (before the sw degree came in) loved it, but juggling life is always hard, I have so much admiration for the students I teach as pretty much all have 'other stuff' happening in their lives, I was planning on the eqivalent of the PGCE for higher Ed teaching then ds's issues surfaced and 2 years later I am thinking, well there is always next year... will get there in the end!