Up to 6,000 with special needs to get supports for free preschool

Up to 6,000 children with special needs are to receive supports to allow them to benefit from the free preschool year for the first time.

A programme to be announced today will allow parents and preschool providers to apply for supports ahead of September enrolments.

While about 65,000 children are eligible for the current preschool year, parents and childcare providers say many are losing out because of barriers such as specialised needs and a lack of trained staff.

Under the new changes, mainstream preschools will be able to receive a range of supports such as staff training, grants for equipment and alterations to buildings and therapeutic interventions.

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone is to announce details of the programme today. The "access and inclusion model" will involve seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, depending on the needs of the child and the preschool.

It will be introduced from today to allow parents and preschool providers to apply for supports and plan ahead for September enrolments.

Specialised equipment

A range of different initiatives are being launched as part of the model.

They include a new national scheme to provide specialised equipment, appliances and minor alterations necessary to support a child’s participation in State-subsidised preschool. This scheme will be open from June 24th.

A separate scheme will be open from this Friday, providing additional capitation to preschool providers where this is critical to fund extra support in the classroom and enable a child’s participation in preschool.

A new website is also to be launched today which will contain information on the model and on how to apply for the schemes and supports.

It will include details of a new inclusion charter and guidelines, as well as a range of other resources.

Ms Zappone said: “This is an important step to break down barriers preventing children with disabilities from taking part in the early childhood care and education programme.

“Parents and preschool providers who wish to avail of the new model should make their applications now so that they can plan for enrolments in September.”

She said the move would play a key role in creating a more “vibrant, inclusive and tolerant society” which supports all children, equally, to realise their potential .

Source of frustration

Lorraine Dempsey

of the

Special Needs Parents Association

said the lack of any formal plan to cater for children with disabilities had been a major source of frustration for parents . However she said the new programme was set to transform the support available to children with additional needs.

“There has been phenomenal work going on behind the scenes to get this over the line,” she said.

“It has the potential to revolutionise the preschool experience for children with special needs, and could have a very positive impact for children progressing on to primary level.”

A recent survey by Early Childhood Ireland found 74 per cent of childcare services had a child with additional needs.