Elaine Dunne

Elaine operates two services in Kilternan and Glencullen, Co Dublin

“If a preschool cannot, or refuses to take a child with additional needs, this creates an issue of balance in the area. I have always opened my door to children with additional needs. They deserve their space and we want to include them and enable them to get their education and prepare them for primary school.

However, one year, I had nine children in my service with additional needs, because other providers in the area wouldn’t take them.

Getting the balance right is important, not just for the child with additional needs but also for the children around them. The impact on behavioural problems and the amount of time and attention that the child requires has to be considered. Because you want every child in the classroom to thrive to the best of their own individual abilities.”

Connie Hammond

Connie runs two services in Ennis, Co Clare, one through English and one through Irish

“Parents are often afraid to tell providers that their child has additional needs requirements in case they will be refused a place. I remember a few years ago, welcoming a group of children who were going to start in my service that September.

One child arrived, and because of my training in intellectual disability nursing, I could see straight away that this little boy was autistic, in fact, I would say severely autistic. However, on the registration form, there was nothing mentioned.

There is a possibility that the parents weren’t aware of the extent of his condition. However, I think the more likely scenario is that they didn’t want to give that information because they were afraid, he would not be offered a place. I welcomed him into our service.”

Roberta Hines

Roberta co-owns a service in Maynooth, Co Kidare

“AIM is an inclusion model that helps children participate in the three hour ECCE preschool program. It is not considered an intervention nor an SNA model. Level 7 support grants funding to hire an additional staff member or it can allow a service to reduce staff to child ratios from 1/11 to 1/8 in the ECCE room.

This allows all staff to be able to dedicate more time to help the child participate in the daily routine. AIM is not intended for one-to-one support, though sometimes it is used this way, nor is it intended to provide specific therapeutic services outside of those required to help the child participate in the ECCE program.

Incidental reports suggest there is a discrepancy between what AIM can provide, and what is generally understood about AIM provision and this can cause confusion. While funding for level 7 AIM support has been increased, chronic staff shortages mean many providers cannot find suitably qualified staff for these positions. We are asking staff to undertake these positions with a whole suite of intervention skills they are not trained for.”

Catherine Tyrrell

Catherine runs two preschools, in Johnstown Bridge and Enfield, Co Kildare

“The preschool I run was set up 16 years ago in response to the need to provide places for children with additional needs within the early years setting. We’re in purpose-built log cabins on the grounds of Johnstown Bridge GAA club.

One of the things I have noticed over the years is the importance of outdoor areas for children with special needs.

It gives children freedom and the power to make their own decisions. Some children may like playing and learning in the classroom while others just love the outdoor area. The reason it works so well for children with additional needs is because it’s child led, which is considered best practice.

Our outdoor provision was initiated after a study trip to Norway to look at best practice. However, while in other countries, the development of these areas are government funded, this was something that we had to fund ourselves, to the cost of about €20,000.

There have been outdoor grants by the government, which we appreciate, but it is not to the level that is needed for the experience we provide. It supports the provision initially but it’s difficult to financially replenish and maintain the outdoor resources.”

Áine O’Riordan

Áine runs an ECCE only preschool in South Dublin

“To get classroom support and an IEP, an Individual Education Plan for a child, the parents need to be on board and rightly so. However, even getting there can be a challenge. I am not qualified in this area in the same way that Connie and Roberta are.

Where they can identify a child with additional needs quite quickly, it will take me a while to be sure. And you need to be sure if you’re going to have a conversation with a parent and suggest that their child needs assistance.

These are very fragile meetings, that we don’t get trained for. This comes up a lot in our group of providers, people saying, ‘I have to talk to a parent. What am I going to say? How am I going to do this?’

Sometimes they don’t agree and we respect that, we really do. Other times, the parents have noticed stuff themselves and want to bring it forward. In some situations, a child might only need minor supports on a temporary basis, other children have more complex needs.

But the AIM application form is extremely off-putting. The parent might be just getting their head around the fact that their child may need supports but the word ‘disability’ keeps coming up over and over again and it frightens them.”

Anonymous

“A few years ago, I had a child in my service who came to me with a diagnosis of autism, which was quite rare at that age. Even though he had a diagnosis, he didn’t have access to early invention services, not one speech and language session, not one OT session.

All he got was what we could give him. His mother was pleased and we did see a great improvement during his ECCE years but I actually cried over that child because I just felt with a bit more tailored support, he could do so much more.

I can’t describe it. It was like, he was in a box and we opened the box a little bit, but we didn’t really open the box and let him out.”

Read part 1: Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)

NEXT WEEK: We speak to parents of children with additional needs, to compare experiences in Ireland and abroad.