EPV 2026 SUMMER COURSE

Working With Children With Dyspraxia (DCD)

Learn about the physical, emotional, social and educational impact of Dyspraxia or DCD on the whole child

Course Fully Approved by Department of Education and Youth

Dyspraxia/Developmental Coordination Disorder

effective strategies to support children with dyspraxia

Although Dyspraxia – also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) – is extremely common in school-aged children (5-15%), research has shown that the majority of professionals working with children have little to no knowledge about this condition. Because identifying this condition early on is essential in order to avail of timely supports, it is essential that every professional working with children has a full understanding of how Dyspraxia presents.

One of the reasons Dyspraxia is often not on the radar of professionals is because it is highly co-morbid with other conditions. In other words, children with Dyspraxia very often have other sensory, emotional and social issues. Those who complete this course will have a comprehensive knowledge of Dyspraxia, understand the serious impact this disorder has on the whole child and their lived experience in the world in terms of their psychological, emotional, physical and social wellness, and will be well-equipped with effective strategies to support these children’s needs.

This course is ten hours of audio content, visual content and assessment in total, and there are ten hours of recommended reading and resources for you to further develop your own learning.

Course Goals:

Obtain of the symptoms of dyspraxia/DCD in a typical child

Appreciate the immediate & long-term effects of dyspraxia/DCD on a child

Understand the key components of dyspraxia/DCD

Become equipped with effective exercises that can safely and easily be implemented

Understand the importance of appropriate therapy for the child with dyspraxia/DCD

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”

Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa

Course breakdown

With over 10,000 online students, the Child Psychology Institute comes highly recommended as an EPV Summer Course Provider for Irish school teachers.

We also welcome secondary school teachers and SNAs to our summer courses.

“I found the course to be highly informative and I enjoyed it immensely. I cannot wait to share my learning with my SEN team. I thank you wholeheartedly for providing this course, your passion for and interest in the topic is inspirational.”

“I just wanted to leave you know that I found this course to be really informative and interesting. And it has given me a level of confidence to know that I will be able to support any child in my future classrooms to the best of my ability. Thank you very much for creating this course.”

“I would just like to thank you so much for this amazing course, I have learned so much. I will definitely recommend it to other staff members. Thanks again!”

Course Dates

GROUP 1

July 1st - 15th 2026

GROUP 2

July 20th – Aug 3rd 2026

GROUP 3

Aug 5th – 21st 2026

About Course Developer – Dr Lorraine Lynch

Dr Lorraine Lynch is an award-winning health psychologist, social entrepreneur and author who specialises in child mental health, behaviour, learning and wellbeing.

With a strong academic background in developmental and health psychology, and extensive experience working directly with schools, families and educators, her work bridges evidence-based theory and practical classroom application.

Dr Lynch’s approach is informed by ecological and choice-based models of psychology, recognising the powerful role of school environments, relationships and emotional wellbeing in supporting children’s development. She has lectured at third-level institutions, co-founded a nationally recognised psychological service for children and families, and is a published author and media contributor.

As EPV Summer Course Developer, Dr Lynch is committed to providing engaging, relevant and practical professional learning that empowers educators to create inclusive, supportive and psychologically informed learning environments.

“I can honestly say that the passion Lorraine has for this topic was obvious throughout this course and made it so enjoyable. I’ve done so many summer courses throughout the years and this was hands-down the best! I couldn’t stop thinking about it and have been telling my friends and family about all my new learnings. It’s like the Netflix of summer courses. I’ll definitely be back next year. Thank you again.”

Course Aims

Understand the key psychological components of Dyspraxia
Be able to identify the different ways Dyspraxia impacts a child’s world
Be aware of the symptoms of Dyspraxia
Know the neurobiology of Dyspraxia
Have a good understanding of how the brain operates for a child with Dyspraxia
Have an awareness of how the body operates for a child with Dyspraxia
Appreciate the immediate & long-term effects of Dyspraxia on a child
Understand the importance of appropriate supports for the child
Know how to support children with Dyspraxia in the classroom
Be introduced to effective exercises that can safely and easily be implemented

FAQs

When does the courses start and finish?

Each course is divided into three groups that are running on the following dates:

Group 1: July 1st – 15th 2026
Group 2: July 20th – Aug 3rd 2026
Group 3: Aug 5th – 21st 2026

The course starts and ends on each of the above dates. It is a completely self-paced online course – you decide when you complete tasks within your chosen course’s dates!

Is my work assessed?

Yes, all work is monitored by our e-tutor team, which means that you will receive feedback and you will be notified if more detail is required.

What do the EPV Summer Courses cost?

All of our EPV Summer Courses cost €99 per course.
You can also save by bundling:

€175 for two courses
€250 for three courses

From early February until 30th April 2026, you can save
20% with our Early Bird offer using the code EARLYBIRD2026. The discount is automatically applied at checkout.

Just add your chosen course(s) and group date(s) to your cart and the correct price will be applied.

Please note: as per Department of Education and Youth (DEY) guidelines, you cannot complete two courses at the same time.
For example, you can complete two courses within the same group timeframe, but one must be completed before starting the second.

What type of assessment do I need to complete?

Our primary focus is on you learning and then supporting children with their emotional wellness. As a result, we place value on reflective learning. You’ll be asked to discuss your own understanding and experiences, as well as brief summaries of important topics. All assignments are less than 500 words.

Why complete an EPV Summer Course with the Child Psychology Institute?

We are obsessed with children’s wellness and our mission is to impart as much knowledge as we can on to the people who matter – the teachers and SNAs who are guiding, supporting and shaping our children every single day.

All of our courses have been developed with the most current research in the area of health and educational psychology. Students who have completed courses with us in the past keep coming back for more. Why? Because our customers complete courses that are jam-packed full of meaningful information and effective strategies that really do create change, not just across classrooms, but across careers!

How can I access the learning portal?

You’ll receive an email with your login details one week before your course begins, with full instructions on how to access your course.

When your course opens, you can log in anytime by visiting our website and clicking Login at the top of the page.

Use:

The email address you registered with
Your password (or click Forgot Password if needed)

Once logged in, click Course Portal in the menu to access your course.