Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
413. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 13 July 2016, if he will provide additional staff in cases of children who require one-to-one care in the early start programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25021/16]
View answerAs I noted previously, the Early Start centres funded by my Department are staffed by primary school teachers and a childcare assistant also works with each group. This teacher led staffing arrangement and comparatively favourable staff to child ratio is intended to support a range of special educational needs associated with concentrated disadvantage.
In relation to the issue regarding the access to supports and teacher training that will help teachers in Early Start centres to support students with special educational needs, the Special Education Support Service (SESS) has confirmed that the teachers working in the Early Start Schools are fully qualified probated primary teachers and this means they can apply for support/courses in relation to teaching and learning for pupils with Special Educational Needs through the usual channels, i.e. is through online application at www.sess.ie and their application will be assessed according to the criteria set out on that website.
In addition to the Early Start centres funded by my Department, the Government has invested in a new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) programme of supports which is now in place to support children who have needs in the universal pre-school scheme (ECCE). My colleague in Government, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for the ECCE scheme and the implementation of the AIM programme.
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.
The supports include: 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 new higher education programme for early years practitioners (LINC) which will commence from September 2016.
A new national specialist service which is based in the Better Start National Early Years Quality Development Service will provide expert advice, mentoring and support to pre-school providers from a team of 50 specialists in early years care and education for children with disabilities.
A new national scheme will provide specialised equipment, appliances and minor alterations which are necessary to support a child's participation in the ECCE programme.
A new national scheme will also provide 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.
Details of the supports which will be available under AIM can be found at www.preschoolaccess.ie which contains comprehensive information on the access and inclusion model and on how to apply for the new schemes and supports.
