The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman today published the findings from an independent evaluation of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM).
- Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) ensures children with a disability can access and participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
- 82% of parents reported that AIM has benefited their child
- 69% of parents reported that AIM has supported their child’s interaction with their peers and their child’s meaningful participation in pre-school
- Approximately 95% of providers reported that AIM was having a positive impact on children with a disability and on inclusion in their pre-school setting.
AIM is a multi-agency initiative led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) that offers a suite of supports – both universal and targeted – to ensure children with a disability can access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in mainstream settings.
Since AIM was first launched in 2016, more than 27,000 children have received targeted AIM supports in over 4,400 settings nationally and many more children have benefited from its universal supports. AIM has also been recognised nationally and globally – winning awards for excellence in practice and inclusion.
The independent evaluation, undertaken by the University of Derby, involved almost 2,000 stakeholders – parents, educators, providers and representative groups. The findings from the evaluation were overwhelmingly positive and stakeholder support to extend AIM beyond the ECCE programme was unanimous.
- 82% of parents reported that AIM has benefited their child; and
- 69% of parents reported that AIM has supported their child’s interaction with their peer and their child’s meaningful participation in pre-school.
One parent participating in the evaluation said:
‘AIM has given my daughter a chance to attend pre-school like her peers. Even though she has obstacles in her way, she is overcoming these and hitting new milestones every day. AIM was the best thing to happen to us’.
- 94% of providers reported that AIM was having a positive impact on children with a disability; and
- 96% of providers reported that AIM was having a positive impact on inclusion in their pre-school setting.
The report also describes how AIM is improving professional practice and increasing the capacity of, and confidence, among educators to support children with a disability in mainstream pre-school.
Read the full Press Release here: gov.ie – New report shows positive impact of Early Years Access and Inclusion Model (www.gov.ie)
