Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)
The Better Start Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access and meaningfully participate in 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 quality Early Learning and Care.
The model is designed to be responsive to the needs of each individual child in the context of their pre-school setting. It offers tailored, practical supports based on need and does not require a formal diagnosis of a disability.
AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the pre-school service. There are 7 levels of support available through AIM ranging from universal supports to targeted supports.
Universal Support includes Levels 1-3 of the AIM model and are designed to promote and support an inclusive culture within pre-school settings. However, where a service provider, in partnership with a parent/guardian, considers that some further additional support may be necessary to meet the needs of a particular child, they can apply for one or more Targeted Supports under Levels 4 – 7 of the model.
Registration on ECCE programme or NCS
AIM is designed to ensure that children with disabilities can participate in Early Learning and Care (ELC) including the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. For the 2024/25 programme call, children registered for ECCE and attending a service providing ECCE can avail of AIM outside of ECCE hours. As such, in order for a child to access AIM (ECCE), s/he must be registered on the ECCE programme in an ECCE-registered pre-school service and in order to access AIM additional hours (AIM Plus/AIM Non-Term) s/he must have an NCS claim in place for any hours payable under AIM Additional hours. In order to apply for AIM additional hours (AIM Plus/AIM NonTerm), a child must be in receipt of AIM supports or have an AIM application in progress.
Hours of Support
The maximum number of hours of support for which an AIM Level 7 additional assistance grant is available is 30 hours per week, which includes ECCE programme attendance of 15 hours per week. On a daily basis this will equate to ECCE plus 3 additional hours in-term (AIM Plus) and 6 hours out-of-Term (AIM Non-Term), or 6.5 hours for 41-week services. As ratios will tend to fluctuate throughout the day, services are encouraged to use their staffing resources, including staff funded under AIM level 7, to support children throughout the day.
Further detailed information for parents/guardians, including levels of support and frequently asked questions in relation to the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), can be found online at:
For more information on the ECCE Programme re AIM supports contact Wicklow CCC or the Early Learning and Care service your child attends. See also the training section on our website for upcoming AIM Information talks for Parents & Guardians.
Levels 1 – 3 Universal Supports
Universal supports are designed to promote and support an inclusive culture within pre-school settings by means of a variety of educational and capacity-building initiatives. Specifically:
- An Inclusion Charter has been developed for the pre-school sector. This tool supports services in developing their own Inclusion Policy. The Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Charter and Guidelines can be accessed here.
- A higher education programme, “Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years” which commenced in 2016 offers Pre-school settings who employ a LINC graduate will attract an increase of €2 per child per week in the rate of ECCE capitation payable to that setting.
- A broad multi-annual programme of formal and informal training for pre-school staff in relation to disability and inclusion. Which will be funded by the DCEDIY and facilitated by local CCC’s.
Levels 4 – 7 Targeted Supports
- Expert advice, mentoring and support is available from a team of early years specialists in early years care and education for children with disabilities. Who are based in the Better Start National Early Years Quality Development Service.
- A scheme is available for the provision of specialised equipment, appliances and grants towards minor building alterations which are necessary to support a child’s participation in the ECCE Programme.
- Therapy services, which are critical to a child’s participation in the ECCE Programme, are available through AIM and will be provided by the HSE.
