QQI level 6 6N1957 Special Needs Assisting Skills Demonstration Assignment Brief 2026

6N1957 Skills Demonstration Assignment Brief

Assessment Title:  SD- Planning, Implementing and Evaluating of    developmentally appropraite activities.

Time Allowed: Learners will be allowed the duration of this module to complete the Skills Demonstration.

Weighting: There is a total of 50% (50 Marks) available for this Skills Demonstration.

Materials Required: (if applicable)

• Learners Instructions
• Pen
• Paper

Specific Instructions: 

The learner is required to conduct a needs/ strength analysis of the whole child. Include contributions from any persons who have a vested interest in the child. The learner will plan and design two activity plans centred on a thorough analysis of the child’s needs based on findings. Having implemented the activity plans, they will then evaluate the effectiveness of each activity.

The learner must provide evidence of planning, implementing, and evaluating both activity plans devised for this Skills Demonstration.

Format:  The evidence of planning, implementing and evaluating both activity plans should include:

• A contents overview
• A brief introduction including the child needs/strength analysis.
• Activity plans
• Evaluation
• An official referencing system will be provided by the tutor and is to be used throughout the Skills Demonstration for citations and the bibliography.

This evidence above may be presented by a variety of means, eg video, presentation, podcast, written essay.

As a guide, the word count should be approximately 2400 – 3000 words. It is suggested that a word count guideline is the equivalent of an oral presentation of 1822 minutes.

Part A: Introduction (10 Marks)

Learners should address the following as part of their response:

i. Examine the holistic development of the child identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Using a tool such as a SWOT analysis identify opportunities and strengths to support identified needs.

(4 Marks)

ii. Create a portraiture study of the child to include findings from the SWOT analysis, areas of interest, and contributions from those with a vested interest, including members of the multidisciplinary team.

(3 Marks)

iii. Recommend activities that can be designed to support the child’s needs, including differentiation strategies used to tailor instruction.

(3 Marks)

Part B: Activity Plans  (20 Marks)

On reflection of your recommendations, design two Activity Plans to support identified needs.  Each plan should include the following:

i. Detail the aim of the activity, including a list of objectives regarding how the aim will be achieved and detail a clear rationale as to the reason for planning the activity.

(3 Marks Each; Total of 6 Marks)

ii. Describe the resources and equipment needed to implement the activity, explain the activity process and discuss health and safety factors.

(3 Marks Each, Total of 6 Marks)

iii. Detail interaction strategies to be promoted – teamwork, dignity and respect, independence, self-accomplishment.

(2 Marks Each, Total of 4 Marks)

iv. Implement the activity and record your findings.

(2 Marks Each, Total of 4 Marks)

Part C: Evaluation of Intervention (10 Marks)

i. Evaluate the effectiveness of the planned and implemented activities, whether the activity’s aim was achieved, whether listed objectives support the identified aim, and provide clarification and concrete examples to support your opinions.

(4 Marks)

ii. Evaluate the importance of promoting the child’s dignity and respect, independence, and sense of empowerment. Provide evidence of how the detailed activity supported these areas.

(3 Marks)

iii. Evaluate the effectiveness of differentiated instruction, discuss the benefit of tailoring instruction: sense of achievement/ self-esteem.

(3 Marks)

Part D: Reflection (10 Marks)

Prepare a professional report discussing the follow areas:

i. Role and responsibilities of the SNA, to include a description of your personal values and attributes.

(3 Marks)

ii. Interaction strategies that were utilized in the planning and implementing of the activity

(3 Marks)

iii. Personal and professional learning gained from planning and implementing the activity demonstrate the link between theory and practical work when engaging/ supporting children with special needs.

(4 Marks)

Note:

• This Assessment is designed to be carried out over a period of time and without direct supervision.
• You may make use of any approved resources available to you.
• Web-based material may be permitted depending on the specific task instructions.
• The Supervisor/Assessor may arrange to review your work periodically.
• Due to GDPR and Children’s First Guidelines the use of mobile phones and other recording devices are not permitted to record the implementation of the Activity Plans.