Preschool year ‘not satisfactory’ for special needs

Access to the free preschool year for children with special needs has been described as "inconsistent" and "not satisfactory" by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

It confirmed that improving the situation is a priority and that the secretary general is working with his counterparts in the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills to find a "workable" solution.

About 65,000 children are eligible for the current preschool year, but parents and childcare providers say that many are losing out because they do not have vital preschool assistants.

Early Childhood Ireland, which represents childcare service providers, said a recent survey found 74 per cent of childcare services had a child with additional needs.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has acknowledged the current co-ordination and provision of supports for children with special needs is not satisfactory, and “there is inconsistency” in its provision across the country.

Preschool assistant

Without a preschool assistant, some parents say their children would be unable to avail of the scheme.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (CYA) confirmed its secretary general has agreed with his counterparts in the Departments of Health and the Department of Education and Skills to seek agreement on “the most appropriate, workable model for supports to pre-school children with special needs”.

It said: “Some children with special needs are not getting the supports they require” at preschool age so they can take part in the free preschool scheme.

It said it “recognises that the co-ordination and provision of appropriate supports for preschool children with special needs is not satisfactory”, adding: “Some cannot access preschool services, and some, while attending a preschool, are not achieving their potential due to lack of appropriate supports.”

‘Inconsistency’

“While some supports are in place, there is inconsistency in service provision across the country,” the Department said. It also said improving access for children with special needs is a priority.

ECI chief executive Teresa Heeney said the move is welcomed but warned: “A solution cannot wait until a medical model is available where there are enough speech therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, etc, are in place to ensure that all assessments are completed before a child enters a free preschool year.

“A social model needs to be developed, based on trust, where a childcare operator and a parent, together, can seek additional supports to make the preschool experience for all children in their free preschool year meaningful and worthwhile.”

The inter-departmental agreement is to prepare a proposal on a way forward in time for the budget estimates.

“We have seen such improvement in James”

Bernie Coghlan's son James (4) has autism and is nearing the end of his first year in preschool.

She’s says: “He could not possibly go into pre-school without an assistant because he is non-verbal and [while] he is saying some words, he does not have the level of communication and he doesn’t have the level of awareness, or social interaction that a lot of his peers would have. His assistant provides him with the opportunity to integrate himself into that environment.”

Ms Coghlan, from their home in Carlanstown, Co Meath, added: “We have seen such an improvement in James; his language skills have come on, his social skills have come on and he has made friends in the community and I know none of that would have happened if he didn’t have an assistant.”.

Tanya Malone from Caulstown, Co Meath said her daughter Beth (4), who has cerebral palsy, has also thrived as result of having a preschool assistant.

“Beth only receives six hours a week so [although] she is in school Monday to Friday, she only has an SNA Thursday and Friday which is really hard for a child with cerebral palsy.

“She is in a walking frame, she is not toilet trained, she needs a lot of help. Her fine motor skills are not there and only for her SNA for those six hours a week she wouldn’t be half the child she is now. Her name is Helen and Beth loves her.” She believes children with special needs are being discriminated against and supported the Meath Fight for the Future campaign to secure access to preschool.