Better Pre-School Access for Children with Disabilities
‘Access and Inclusion Model: AIM’ unveiled
Minister Zappone urges Parents to apply
15th June, 2016
Children with disabilities will have better access to pre-school under a
new programme of supports unveiled today (15th June 2016) by the Minister
for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone TD.
Announcing the new Access and Inclusion Model, or AIM, Minister Zappone
said
“This is an important step to break-down barriers preventing children with
disabilities from taking part in the Early Childhood Care and Education
Programme.
Parents and pre-school providers who wish to avail of AIM should make their
applications now so that they can plan for enrolments in September.
I am committed to working towards a more vibrant, inclusive and tolerant
society which supports all children, equally, to realise their potential –
today we have taken another important step to achieve that.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Disabilities, Finian McGrath TD,
warmly welcomed the launch of the AIM model. In particular, he emphasised
the significant work which has been undertaken on a cooperative basis
between the health, children and education sectors in order to make this a
reality. The Minister of State is looking forward to a continuation of
this collaborative approach, ensuring that children with disabilities can
enjoy an inclusive and meaningful pre-school experience.
AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive
support, moving from the universal to the targeted, depending on the needs
of the child and the pre-school. It is being introduced from today to
allow parents and pre-school providers to apply for supports and plan ahead
for September enrolments. A range of different initiatives are being
launched as part of the model as follows:
Ø In order to foster an inclusive culture, the Minister has published a
new Inclusion Charter for the Early Years sector, alongside updated and
strengthened Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Guidelines for Early
Childhood Care and Education. A programme of training on the guidelines
will now be rolled out nationally over the coming months.
Ø Applications will open this week for a new higher education programme
for early years practitioners (LINC) which will commence this September.
The LINC programme is being delivered by a consortium, led by Mary
Immaculate College, Limerick, together with Froebel Department of
Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University and Early
Childhood Ireland. Development and design of the programme was financed
by the Department of Education and Skills from dormant accounts funding,
while the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will fund up to 900
places per annum on the programme. Graduates from the programme will be
able to take on a new leadership role of Inclusion Co-ordinator within
their pre-school setting which will attract an increase of €2 per child
per week in the rate of ECCE capitation payable to that setting. This
programme is part of a broader package of education and training
supports to upskill the early years workforce in relation to inclusion
and disability.
Ø A new national specialist service is open for business from today.
Through this service, which is based in the Better Start National Early
Years Quality Development Service, expert advice, mentoring and support
is available to pre-school providers from a team of 50 specialists in
early years care and education for children with disabilities.
Ø A new national scheme is open from Friday, 24th June providing
specialised equipment, appliances and minor alterations which are
necessary to support a child’s participation in the ECCE programme.
Ø A new national scheme is open from this Friday, 17th June providing
additional capitation to pre-school providers where this is critical to
fund extra support in the classroom and enable a child’s participation
in pre-school. It is estimated that only 1 to 1.5% of children in
pre-school will require, and therefore be eligible for, this scheme of
additional capitation.
Ø A new dedicated website on AIM is being launched today. This contains
comprehensive information on the model and on how to apply for the new
schemes and supports. The website also contains the new Inclusion
Charter and Guidelines, as well as a range of other resources.