{"id":758,"date":"2016-06-15T09:46:31","date_gmt":"2016-06-15T09:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/?p=758"},"modified":"2017-10-25T09:49:22","modified_gmt":"2017-10-25T09:49:22","slug":"new-aim-scheme-ensure-better-access-pre-school-children-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oco.ie\/ga\/news\/new-aim-scheme-ensure-better-access-pre-school-children-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"New AIM scheme to ensure better access to pre-school for children with disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

AIM scheme to implement many recommendations made by Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, has welcomed the confirmation by the Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone, that the new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), will ensure children with disabilities have better access to pre-school and that the new scheme will promote a child-centred approach. This comes following recommendations made by the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office (OCO) on the same issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn foot of a complaint received by the Ombudsman for Children\u2019s Office, an investigation was carried out into access to pre-school for children with disabilities. The report on this complaint was published in March 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very encouraging to see that the AIM scheme includes a number of the recommendations made by the OCO and that it will\u00a0<\/span>be responsive to the needs of the individual child. I urged the Government to recognise that at pre-school age many children have not been given a formal diagnosis and therefore I am pleased to see that AIM will instead take a more child-centred approach, by offering tailored, practical supports based on need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis Office recommended a review of the policy approach to inclusion for children with disabilities in preschool. The new Inclusion Charter for the Early Years sector, as well as updated Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Guidelines for Early Childhood Care and Education, indicate significant progress in this area.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe OCO also recommended that plans should be put in place to drive up-skilling in the pre-school services under the ECCE scheme, with particular reference to special needs training. I am delighted to see that a new higher education programme for early years practitioners will commence in September and graduates of that programme will be able to take on a new leadership role of Inclusion Co-ordinator. This must form part of a much broader training and education package for the early years workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEffective cross-sectoral communication also formed a key part of the OCO\u2019s recommendations. It is therefore important to recognise that negotiations between the health, children and education sectors made this scheme a reality.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe announcement of the AIM scheme marks a good day for children with disabilities and their parents. There are, however, practical concerns about the quick turnaround for applicants to the scheme, as well as for those applying for the graduate training programme. Therefore, I would encourage parents and early years practitioners interested in the new graduate programme, to begin the application process as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe AIM scheme will allow children with disabilities to take a full and equal part in the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, and as a result it will make our pre-schools much more inclusive, and provide all of our children with a real opportunity to blossom and benefit from the programme.\u201d<\/p>\n

ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact:
\nAoife Carragher
\nOmbudsman for Children\u2019s Office
\n01 865 6806 \/ 087 148 4173<\/p>\n

Notes to Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n