Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017
176. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of early years playschools in County Kildare for children with developmental difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42322/17]
View answerI understand that the Deputy has clarified that she is referring to the number of early intervention classes for children with autism in County Kildare.
The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is the body responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including establishing ASD early intervention classes and special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools.
There are currently 130 Early Intervention classes for children with ASD in recognised primary and special schools, six of which are in County Kildare. Early Intervention classes are supported with a pupil–teacher ratio of 6:1 and also have Special Needs Assistant support normally amounting to two SNAs for a class of six children.
From the age of three children with autism (who will not reach the age of six years during the current school year) can enrol in these early intervention settings. Where such a placement is not available, home tuition can be provided.
The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents/guardians of the child and the Board of Management of a school.
However, parents/guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser, SENO, who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available on: www.ncse.ie.
The SENO can also advise parents in relation to supports which may be available to support children with special educational needs, including special transport arrangements which may be made available. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are also available on: www.ncse.ie.
The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs provides supports for childcare, including pre-school education.
The principal vehicle for the delivery of pre-school education is the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education, ECCE, programme which was introduced in January 2010 and provides for early learning in a formal setting to children in the year before they commence primary school.
Children with disabilities have access to pre-school services under a new Access and Inclusion Model, AIM, programme of supports, which was announced in June 2016, by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
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.
Details of the supports which are 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. For children attending a private pre-school through the ECCE programme, questions relating to the AIM supports should be addressed to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
