The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities or additional needs can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of high quality early learning and care. AIM Level 7 support provides additional funding to pre-schools who have a child requiring extra support. Providers can use this funding either to reduce the adult-to-child ratio in the pre-school room or to fund an extra staff member as a shared resource with other children in the ECCE setting.
This funding is not for additional teaching assistants, AIM is centred on ensuring the child’s optimal participation within early learning services through a qualified early learning and care educator.
Pobal administers AIM on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Officials in my Department reached out to Pobal, who have confirmed that the Early Years Specialist has not advised the service provider that there is a cap on the capitations within their ECCE session.
It should be noted that in line with emerging best practice to support the integration and independence of children with a disability, it is not in the child's best interests to have too many adults in the room. While there is no limitation on the amount of capitations within one room, there is consideration given to the amount of adults within the room. There are 9 applications active in this service. The service provider is seeking additional capitations in some sessions and these will be considered by Pobal during observation visits. Pobal can be contacted directly by the service provider by telephone at: 01 5117000, or by email at: eypc@pobal.ie for further information on the status of applications. My Department funds the national network of City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support to parents and providers at a local level. Fingal CCC may be able to assist the service regarding recruitment of AIM level 7 assistant staff. They can be contacted at by email at info@fingalcountychildcare.ie or by phone at 01 4851727.
