SNA Learner Record: Reflective Journal Brief with 10 Entries, QQI Special Needs Assisting

This QQI SNA assessment is a learner record built from ten or more reflective journal entries. Learners use the case studies in Flood’s book, such as a child with Down syndrome, to show what they learned in class and through independent study, describe activities and challenges in school or workplace settings, reflect on the module and identify their own personal learning as future special needs assistants.

Guidelines and Instructions

Your learner record must include a minimum of 10 reflections.

A reflective journal will be kept by learners, detailing:

• Their own learning and attitudinal change in understanding special needs, and the impact that various special educational needs have on the family and the community.
• A focus on the promotion of good practice in working in special educational needs.
• A comprehensive reflection on their experiences in various workplace settings, to reinforce their understanding of the different conditions.

A minimum of ten reflections is necessary. Use the case studies outlined in Assisting Children with Special Needs: An Irish Perspective by Eilis Flood.

Grading Criteria

The learner record is graded according to the following criteria:

• Description of knowledge gained in class and through independent learning
• Description of activities, including challenges or conflict encountered and how they were dealt with
• Reflection on the experience of undertaking this module
• Identification of personal learning throughout the module

Evidence for this assessment technique may take the form of written, oral, graphic, audio, visual or digital evidence, or any combination of these. Any audio, video or digital evidence must be provided in a suitable format.

Assessment Criteria

Template Structure for Each Reflection Journal

The centre’s learner record template sets out each journal entry under a topic heading (for example, Reflection Journal 3: Complex Conditions and Syndromes, with a short case study of a pupil with Down syndrome drawn from Flood) followed by four sections:

1. Knowledge gained in class / independent learning
2. Description of activities, including challenges or conflict encountered and how they were dealt with
3. Reflection on own experience of undertaking this module
4. Personal learning identified throughout the module

Get Expert Help with Your SNA Learner Record

Each of the four criteria is worth 10 marks, so every journal entry needs all four parts, not just a description of the condition. For a Down syndrome entry, for example, move from what you learned about the condition and its effect on the family, to a classroom activity you took part in or observed, a challenge and how it was handled, and finally what changed in your own attitude or practice. Ten balanced entries that link back to Flood’s case studies score far better than a few long ones.

Our reflective writing help can guide you on structuring entries and Harvard referencing. For related SNA briefs, see the 5N1786 SNA Level 5 brief with its 8-entry learner record, the 6N1957 SNA case study assessment and the 5N0758 care support assignment brief.