- Location
- Langside Campus
- SCQF Level
- 7
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HNC
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 Year (August to June)
Applications open 15th January 2025
HNC Additional Support Needs: Supporting the Individual is designed to provide you with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to become an effective professional in the wider field of social services and education, working with children, young people or adults in an educational setting, such as a nursery, school, college or specialist educational provision. If you successfully complete this course you will be able to gain Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) accreditation.
What will I learn?
During the HNC Additional Support Needs: Supporting the Individual course you will learn:
- Principles of practice
- Theoretical approaches to learning
- The effects on human development
- Graded unit
- Learning approaches
- Practical placement with children or adults who have additional support needs
Within the practical placement, you will have the opportunity to apply your learning within an educational or social care setting supporting individuals with additional support needs. This will enable you to develop an understanding of your professional role in relation to supporting children, young people or adults with additional support needs, educational practice, national guidelines and social policy, such as Curriculum for Excellence; Health and Social Care Standards, My Support My Life; Codes of Practice, etc.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- Two SQA Higher passes, or equivalent, at C or above, preferably including Higher English with experience in additional support needs; OR
- A relevant NC or SVQ, or equivalent Level 6 qualification, for example NC Social Care, NC Early Education and Childcare, SVQ Social Services and Healthcare, SVQ Social Services Children and Young People, SVQ Playwork, PDA Education Support Assistance, or an equivalent practical qualification; OR
- Foundation Apprenticeship Social Services: Children and Young People or Social Services and Healthcare.
- Applicants who have relevant experience by interview.
- Applications are also invited from those without formal qualifications but who have relevant life and/or work experience.
You will be required to enter the PVG scheme administered by Disclosure Scotland. This check will be carried out before undertaking work experience. If you have offences that may be recorded on a Disclosure Scotland check, you should discuss this with staff at interview
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Jobs and further study
HNC Additional Support Needs: Supporting the individual, is suitable for people working or intending to work with individuals of all ages who require additional support in their day-to-day lives, be it in education, work, care and/or recreation. For example:
- Within nursery, primary or secondary mainstream or specialised education
- Social services such as day care centres, supported accommodation or respite care
- Within training or further education with young people or adults with additional support needs.
This qualification allows for registration as a practitioner with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
Further study opportunities at Glasgow Clyde College include:
- HND Additional Support Needs: Managing and Supporting the Services
- Diploma in Education and Social Services
Take a look at the early years course progression map.
Take a look at the course progression map for social care and counselling courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Invited to book an interview session. Interviews will take place from February onwards. You will be required to bring evidence of qualifications and an academic reference to interview. During the interview, you will receive more information about the course and the College and you will have the opportunity to ask questions.
This course involves a placement element which requires that all successful applicants enter the PVG scheme administered by Disclosure Scotland. Both the placement and the PVG check will be organised (and PVG costs met) by the College. This check will be carried out before undertaking work experience. Any applicant who has offences that may be recorded on a Disclosure Scotland check should discuss this with staff at interview.
Selection outcomes are based upon careful consideration of interview performance, qualifications and/or relevant workplace experience.
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out in July.