Targeted Supports under AIM

A range of targeted supports are available under levels 4 – 7 of the Access and Inclusion Model.

 

Under level 4, pre-school providers can access a national service where specialists in early years care and education for children with disabilities can provide expert advice, mentoring and support. To avail of this support, pre-school providers, in partnership with parents, will be asked to complete an online Access and Inclusion Profile. This will look at the strengths, abilities and needs of the child, as well as the strengths and needs of the pre-school setting. The profile will allow the Early Years Specialist to identify what, if any, additional supports might be required to enable the child’s full participation in pre-school. A copy of the Access and Inclusion Profile can be accessed HERE.

 

The degree of support offered by Early Years Specialists will depend on the needs of the child and the pre-school provider. In some cases, this may involve developing an Individual Access and Inclusion Plan for the child within their pre-school setting, in conjunction with the parent and the pre-school provider. It may also involve liaising with HSE health and social care professionals to obtain their input and expertise.

 

Your pre-school provider will have contact details for the Early Years Specialist Service and will contact them.

 

Under level 5, a national scheme is available to provide specialised equipment, appliances or capital grants towards minor building alterations, where these are necessary to support access and to facilitate a child’s participation in pre-school. Applications for this scheme should be made by a pre-school provider, in partnership with a parent. In all cases, a short report from a “designated professional” is required confirming that the specialised equipment or minor building alterations are necessary. Once an application for equipment is approved, this will be sourced by Pobal and delivered directly to the child’s pre-school setting. Training in the use of the equipment will also be provided. Where an application for minor building alterations is approved, a capital grant towards the cost of these alterations will be made available to the pre-school provider.

 

Information on the different categories of “designated professional” who can complete reports and on the lists of minor alterations and equipment which may be funded under the scheme can be found in the AIM policy document and in the Pobal application and guidance documents, at the following link (Key Documents and Resources).

 

Therapy services which are considered critical for a child’s participation in the ECCE Programme will be made available. Arrangements are in place with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to deliver this service and a number of additional therapy posts have been funded under the Access and Inclusion Model to support this service provision.

 

To avail of level 6 support, pre-school providers, in partnership with parents, should complete the online Access and Inclusion Profile. The Early Years Specialist will review the profile and, where therapeutic input is likely to be required, they will initiate contact with the HSE. Please note that this support is limited to therapeutic interventions which are critical to a child’s participation in the ECCE Programme.

 

Where the above supports are not sufficient to meet the needs of the child, pre-school providers, in partnership with parents, can apply for additional capitation to fund extra support in the classroom or to enable the reduction of the staff to child ratio.

 

Applications for level 7 additional capitation should be made by the pre-school provider, in partnership with the parent, by completing the Access and Inclusion Profile and, within that profile, the level 7 service request. Following this, an Early Years Specialist will be in contact with the pre-school provider to progress the application. Two different rates of level 7 capitation are payable:.

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