The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Minister for Education
and Skills have awarded a contract for a major new higher education
programme aimed at providing education and training in best practice for
the inclusion of children with a disability in pre-school. The Ministers
are pleased to announce that a consortium led by Mary Immaculate College,
Limerick, in partnership with the Froebel Department in the National
University of Ireland, Maynooth and Early Childhood Ireland, has been
selected to deliver the new national Higher Education Programme for
Inclusion Co-ordinators in Early Years Settings.
The national programme is a special purpose award for early years
practitioners which will see up to 900 early years practitioners graduate
each year, qualifying them to perform the new role of Inclusion
Co-ordinator in their Early Years Care and Education setting. The role
will also attract a higher rate of capitation in respect of every child in
an Early Years setting which employs an Inclusion Co-ordinator. It is one
of a wide range of initiatives which are being put in place under a new
model of supports to enable children with a disability to attend and
participate to the fullest extent in the free pre-school programme
(otherwise known as the ‘Early Years Care and Education programme’). The
new model was launched in November 2015 by the Minister for Children and
Youth Affairs Dr James Reilly, along with the Minister for Education and
Skills Jan O’Sullivan and Kathleen Lynch, Minister of State from the
Department of Health whose responsibilities include the area of disability.
Development and design of the new higher education award is being funded by
the Department of Education and Skills from dormant accounts funding. A
further €15m investment was secured by Minister Reilly to implement all
elements of the new model in 2016, with full year costs rising to €40m by
2020.Minister Reilly said:
‘The value of quality early years care and education is well documented.
The international evidence shows a wide range of benefits for children, for
families and for society itself. This is even more true for children with a
disability. Therefore I want to see all children, including children with a
disability, being able to participate to the fullest extent possible in the
ECCE Programme in mainstream pre-school settings. I am delighted with this
announcement, presaging as it does the education and training of hundreds
of graduates each year that will enable them to empower children with
disabilities in the ECCE sector. While in certain circumstances it still
will be necessary for valid reasons for continued specialised provision,
today’s announcement will ensure that the greatest possible number of our
children will attend ECCE in mainstream settings. Bringing together
children with different abilities enriches all their lives.’
Minister O’Sullivan agreed with this, noting that this new national higher
education certificate will play an important role in the ongoing
development of the early years workforce. She and her colleague, Minister
Reilly, congratulated the successful applicant partners:
“I am confident that this consortium will put in place a high quality
programme. This partnership combines the academic expertise of two highly
respected higher education departments both with a proven track record in
early years education and research. The partnership with Early Childhood
Ireland, and their invaluable knowledge of the sector and the professional
demands on the workforce, will ensure that the qualification is fit for
purpose and professionally relevant.”
The higher education certificate programme will be offered on a flexible
and part-time basis to 900 staff per year on a four year basis starting
this year and an application process will be announced very shortly.
Ends//
Note for Editors:
The model of supports, which was prioritised for funding as part of Budget
2016, will cost approximately €17m in 2016 rising to €40m annually from
2020 to implement.
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Summary of Support Levels:
1. An Inclusive Culture - Considered the critical foundation for the
model, it sets out a strong culture of inclusion to be fostered and
embedded in the delivery system. Development of a national inclusion
policy for ECCE settings with the identification of Inclusion
Co-ordinators together with funding being made available for training are
among the initiatives being progressed.
2. Information for Parents and Providers - Recognising the requirement
by all for clear and consistent information, the development of a
national website linked to relevant children’s services is underway.
3. A Qualified and Confident Workforce - Recognising the need to
continue to develop a qualified workforce that can confidently meet
requirements in this area, this level of the model involves training of a
formal and informal nature.
4. Expert Education Advice and Support - This level of the model
involves enhancing the existing Early Years Specialist Service,
established in 2014, so that early years practitioners can have timely
access to the required advice and support from dedicated national Access
and Inclusion Specialists on a national basis.
5. Equipment, Appliances and Minor Alterations Capital Grant -
Recognising the need by some children for enhanced equipment and
appliances and that some service providers may need to make particular
provision on their premises, a scheme for provision of such supports is
under development.
6. Therapeutic Intervention – Significant additional investment has been
made in HSE Therapy Services, (50 posts) to support full participation
for children with a disability in the pre-school setting.
7. Additional Assistance in the Pre-school - The model recognises that a
small number of children (1.0% -1.5%) will need additional resources in
the preschool setting, outside of levels 1-6, in order to ensure the
child’s optimal participation. Accordingly, a scheme to provide an
additional capitation fee to service providers in such cases is under
development.