merrion street

Minister announces funding of €3.2 million for the latest addition to the suite of pre-school supports for children with a disability provided under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM).

AIM  Inclusive  Play  is  a  set of resources to support inclusive practice within  pre-school settings. These resources, which include equipment, toys and  materials,  also  support  the  development of coordination and audio, visual  and  tactile skills among all children, and in particular, children with a disability.

AIM  Inclusive Play will include a dark den, therapy putty, sand timers and kinetic sand, among a range of other resources.

The contract to develop AIM Inclusive Play was awarded to Learning Space (Belfast)  Limited  in November last year following a competitive tendering process.

From  February  2018,  AIM  Inclusive Play will be distributed to more than 6,000 pre-school rooms delivering the ECCE Programme across more than 4,000 pre-school settings nationally.

AIM Inclusive Play offers the potential to fully support the implementation of all Levels of AIM.

Many elements of Síolta and Aistear can also be supported by effective use of these Resources.

Welcoming the news, the Minister said:

“I  am  delighted  to  announce  this  important  addition  to the suite of pre-school supports for children with a disability. AIM  Inclusive  Play reinforces an important message – that children’s play is  a vital ingredient of childhood, essential for both growth and learning and an integral element of high quality pre-school provision. This  initiative  is  another  important step in our efforts to create more inclusive  pre-school settings where each child is welcomed and included on equal terms and can progress to his or her full potential”