€3.2m Secured For Pre-School Supports For Children With Disabilities

Funding of €3.2 million has been announced for the latest addition to the suite of pre-school supports for children with a disability provided under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM).

AIM Inclusive Play is a set of resources to support inclusive practice within pre-school settings. These resources, which include equipment, toys and materials, also support the development of coordination and audio, visual and tactile skills among all children, and in particular, children with a disability. 

AIM Inclusive Play will include a dark den, therapy putty, sand timers and kinetic sand, among a range of other resources.

From February 2018, AIM Inclusive Play will be distributed to more than 6,000 pre-school rooms delivering the ECCE Programme across more than 4,000 pre-school settings nationally.  

Welcoming the news, the Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said: "I am delighted to announce this important addition to the suite of pre-school supports for children with a disability.

"AIM Inclusive Play reinforces an important message – that children's play is a vital ingredient of childhood, essential for both growth and learning and an integral element of high quality pre-school provision.

"This initiative is another important step in our efforts to create more inclusive pre-school settings where each child is welcomed and included on equal terms and can progress to his or her full potential."

The contract to develop AIM Inclusive Play was awarded to Learning Space (Belfast) Limited in November last year following a competitive tendering process.

(MH/LM)