Updated curriculum for babies, toddlers and young children published

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Department of Education

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Minister for Education Norma Foley, and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman have today welcomed the publication of Aistear, the updated curriculum framework for babies, toddlers and young children.

Aistear, the Irish word for journey, was Ireland’s first curriculum framework for early childhood education when it was introduced in 2009. This is the first update since then and it will come into effect in September next year.

The updated Aistear is for all children from birth to six years in all settings other than primary and special schools. It can be used by anyone who supports babies, toddlers and young children’s learning and development such as parents, childminders and early years educators.

One of the key changes in the updated Aistear is that words, phrases and proverbs “as Gaeilge” are embedded throughout to promote their use by educators as they interact with babies, toddlers and young children every day.

Greater emphasis has also been placed on experiences that support children’s creativity and their engagement with the arts, emergent literacy and numeracy, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. For example, babies, toddlers and young children will be supported to be creative and take the initiative to explore, respond to and express themselves through art, drama, dance or music.

Minister Foley said:

“Nurturing young children’s interest and love for learning is vitally important for their wellbeing, development and for their lifelong learning experiences.

“Babies, toddlers and young children learn and develop at a pace that exceeds that of any other stage in their lives, so it is very important to update the Aistear curriculum to reflect their changing needs.

“I warmly welcome the emphasis in the updated Aistear on promoting the use of Gaeilge in the everyday language of educators as they interact with babies, toddlers and young children.

“I also welcome the continued recognition of the crucial role of súgradh (play), spraoi (fun), taiscéalaíocht (exploration) and comhrá (conversation) in the updated Aistear, as well as the greater emphasis on childrens’ arts, early-stage literacy and numeracy, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

“An innovative part of the updating process was the consultation carried out by the NCCA with babies, toddlers and young children to give them a voice in the process. We know that around 96 per cent of children experience preschool as part of the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, so this update will have a broad impact.

“I thank the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and his Department for the collaborative engagement with my Department and the NCCA in this important development. I look forward to continued work across both Departments in supporting the early learning and care sector with its ongoing implementation.”

Minister O’Gorman said:

“The timely publication of the updated Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework is an important milestone for the early learning and care sector. The updated Framework reflects the societal and policy changes that have taken place since the publication of the original Framework in 2009. I want to acknowledge the commitment by educators and childminders in implementing Aistear to date; they play a significant role in promoting high quality early learning experiences for young children in different learning environments.

“Mirroring the development of the original framework, a collaborative process has ensured the updated framework is in line with commitments in First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028, and that Aistear will continue to reflect and support the lives of children and their families for many years to come.

“I am also very pleased that the framework strengthens the focus on children’s rights, slow, relational pedagogy, diversity and inclusion, outdoor learning, wellbeing, and sustainability. The inclusion of words, phrases and proverbs as Gaeilge through the framework acknowledges that our language, identity and belonging are closely intertwined.

“Collaboration between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of Education will continue over the course of the next year until the commencement of the updated Aistear in September 2025. The focus of the next 12 months will be on dissemination and professional development activities for the sector. The Departments will be working closely with Better Start and the City/County Childcare Committees to ensure early years educators and other stakeholders are ready to implement the new curriculum framework.”

The new Aistear framework promotes a view of babies, toddlers, and young children as capable and confident learners who thrive in caring and respectful relationships. It provides information for adults to help them to provide enjoyable and challenging learning experiences, so that all children can grow and develop.

The framework celebrates early childhood as a time of enjoying and learning from early experiences, laying important foundations for later learning and for life.

Since Aistear was first published in 2009, much has changed both in the early learning and care sector and in society more broadly. An update of the framework was undertaken by the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to reflect these changes and to ensure that the framework continues to support high quality early learning experiences for children. Mirroring the development of the original framework, the update was done in close collaboration with the early learning and care sector, including educators and organisations supporting their work. It included a review of research and an extensive public consultation in 2022 and 2023.

The updated framework is accompanied by The Guidance for Good Practice. This second document supports educators to understand and engage with the vision, principles and themes in Aistear. Like the 2009 Guidelines for Good Practice, the Guidance describes good practice and expands on important ideas in the curriculum framework.

The framework and related resources can be found here .

Publication of a Toolkit for including children from birth to 5 years in participation in decision-making

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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Press Release

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth today welcomes the launch of a toolkit for including children from birth to 5 years in decision-making. The toolkit has been published by Hub na nÓg, the national centre of excellence and coordination in children and young people’s participation in decision making, which is an initiative of the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The toolkit provides guidance on how to listen to babies, toddlers and young children and involve them in decision-making on matters that affect their lives. It contains guidance, advice and examples of good practice on involving children in decision-making for professionals and practitioners who work with babies, toddlers and children under the age of five.

The toolkit is based on the National Framework on the Participation of Children and Young People in Decision-making, which uses the Committee on the Rights of the Child nine principles of quality child participation.

It is informed by examples of the ways that babies, toddlers and young children took part in decision-making, with good practice examples included in the document. These examples are based on interviews with early years educators, professionals and other adults who work with children.

It is also informed by a literature review on methodologies for consulting children from birth to five years that was overseen by an Early Years Working Group, made up of early years educators and specialists.

The toolkit is intended to be a useful resource for all adults who work with and support young children – early years educators, healthcare professionals, Junior Infants teachers, social workers, parents, childminders, organisations that provide sports, dance, gym and other classes to children and in any other place or space where adults work directly with babies, toddlers and young children.

Hub na nÓg will host an eLearning session on the 10th of December which will present a comprehensive review of the Literature and Practice that has informed the development of this toolkit. Registration details are available here.

The toolkit is available to view here.

Announcement of the second phase of Special Schools included in enhanced in-school therapy supports pilot

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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Following the commencement of the first phase of the enhanced in-school therapy supports pilot announced on 9 August, Minister O’Gorman, Minister Foley, Minister Rabbitte, Minister Naughton, senior HSE and NCSE officials have today welcomed the further announcement of ten special schools included in the second phase of the pilot.

The focus of the pilot is to provide the effective delivery of enhanced in-school therapy supports to children in selected special schools, managed in a coherent and collaborative manner.

Subsequent to detailed deliberations by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Education, the HSE and the NCSE, which looked at a range of criteria including considerations around lessons learned from the rollout of Phase 1, the level of educational need, and existing levels of resources available in the respective Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), a number of schools were selected as being most suitable for the second phase. This suitability does not diminish the existing needs of other schools, the selection of these schools reflecting a combination of areas of relatively greater need and capacity to deliver on the Pilot objectives.

Eight special schools in the Dublin/Cork area were selected for inclusion in Phase 2 and, in the context of the imperative to ensure deliverability of the previously agreed government commitment to include a further ten schools in the pilot, the selection process was extended to a third location from which the final two schools were selected.

In Dublin, the special schools included in the second phase of the pilot are:

  • Cheeverstown House, Kilvare, Templeogue, Dublin 6
  • Saplings Special School, St Mary’s Convent, Ballyroan Crescent, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
  • ABACAS Kilnamanagh, C/O St Kevin’s Special School, Treepark Road, Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24
  • Holy Family School for the Deaf, Navan Rd., Cabra, Dublin 7
  • St. Vincent’s, Navan Road, Dublin 7
  • St. Michael’s House Special School, College St, Baldoyle, Dublin 13

In the Cork area, the special schools included in the second phase of the pilot are:

  • East Cork Community Special School, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork
  • St. Killian’s School, Mayfield, Co. Cork

In Galway, the special schools included in the second phase of the pilot are:

  • Rosedale School, Woodlands Centre, Renmore, Galway
  • St. Teresa’s Special School, 25, Moher, Ballinasloe, Galway

Key stakeholders including the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Education, the Health Service Executive, lead agencies, the National Council for Special Education and special schools will continue to collaborate to ensure the effective delivery of this pilot. The Steering Group overseeing this pilot will continue to meet on a weekly basis to ensure the expansion of the pilot is as efficient as possible and communication between stakeholders is clear and effective. The expansion of this pilot to the additional ten schools is expected to commence, on a phased basis, starting in January 2025, subject to discussions with relevant stakeholders.

Minister O’Gorman commented:

“Today’s announcement is a further positive step towards supporting children with complex needs and their families. It comes following comprehensive engagement between officials in my department and their counterparts in the Department of Education, the HSE and NCSE. I welcome the expansion of in-school therapy supports pilot programme to a further ten schools and look forward to seeing the improved outcomes for these children and their families as part of the overall government effort to improve children’s disability services across the country under the Progressing Disability Services programme. This integrated approach will seek to ensure the educational, health and social needs of children are met with the support of appropriate services.”

Minister Rabbitte stated:

“I am very pleased to see the expansion of the pilot for in-school therapies to a further ten schools across three areas. This pilot, involving all relevant service providers, will seek to enhance supports for the children in the school setting. It is expected that this will provide educational benefit to the children and also enhance school staff capacity and capabilities. I am hopeful that families will also see positive benefits for their children extend into the home environment, with the integrated approach between HSE and NCSE personnel being a key element of service delivery. I am happy to see the continued engagement by the departments, state agencies and lead agencies in progressing this important pilot.”

Minister Foley said:

“As Minister for Education I want every young person to have every available avenue to reach their full potential. I very much welcome that HSE therapists will be allocated to work in ten more special schools as part of this pilot programme.

“This pilot provides an opportunity for the HSE to work with the Department of Education and other key stakeholders to provide wraparound support for children and young people with the greatest level of need in our schools.”

Minister Naughton commented:

“Today’s confirmation that the HSE will provide occupational and speech and language therapists to an additional ten schools as part of this pilot marks a significant step forward in prioritising the needs of children with additional educational needs. Insights gained from the pilot’s first phase have guided the expansion of this initiative to ten more schools in phase two, with continuous engagement to address any outstanding issues. This pilot and the lessons it brings will be essential for shaping a more inclusive approach to education and ensuring that the right supports are in place for each child. Already, we have seen remarkable cooperation across the fields of Health and Education, and I look forward to applying the insights from this project to enhance future support for children with additional needs.”

Minister announces opening of €25m capital funding scheme to deliver thousands of additional early learning and childcare places

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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  • Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme to open for applications before year-end
  • Grants for community and private early learning and childcare services to increase their capacity by means of large-scale extensions
  • Funding to also be made available for community services to purchase or construct new premises

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman has today announced the launch of the €25m Building Blocks Extension Grant scheme for early learning and childcare providers.

The Building Blocks Extension Scheme will deliver additional capacity by supporting existing early learning and childcare Core Funding partner services to extend their premises. It will also allow community services to purchase or construct new premises.

The scheme will have four strands:

  • Extensions to existing premises for private services
  • Extensions to existing premises for community services
  • Purchase of new premises for community services
  • Construction of new premises for community services

All projects will be required to deliver net increases in full-time places for one to three-year-olds. Projects will also be required to incorporate Universal Design.

The Extension Grant scheme follows on from the Building Blocks Expansion Grant scheme which ran earlier this year and the Building Blocks Improvement Grant Scheme which operated last year.

The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme is part of the wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the revised National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP). Up to €89m million has been allocated between 2023 and 2026.

Making the announcement today, Minister O’Gorman said:

 

“I am very pleased to formally launch this scheme. It demonstrates further significant commitment to the development of the sector and investment in the expansion of provision. The scheme is great news for children, their parents and providers. It will deliver a welcome increase in places, particularly for young children.

“The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme will result in thousands of additional, affordable early learning and childcare places coming on stream. In particular, it is a huge boost for the community sector, and funding will be prioritised for applications from areas with the greatest supply needs.”

He added:

“This scheme builds on the very significant successes in recent years in expanding the delivery of improved and more affordable early learning and childcare.

“I would like to acknowledge the key role of the Office of Public Works in the design and delivery of this scheme. Their participation will ensure the delivery of high-quality projects.”

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth continues to progress a range of other actions to increase the supply of quality and affordable early learning and childcare including significantly increased investment in the Core Funding scheme and the National Childcare Scheme in 2025 and the introduction of the regulation of childminders since September.

ENDS/

Note for Editors:

Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme

Key elements of the scheme

  • Application process to open in November 2024, funding to be available from 2025.
  • Total funding available for this Scheme will be €25m.
  • Scheme is open to Core Funding partner services only.
  • The Minister will employ the use of charges (also known as liens) over capital assets delivered through this funding programme in order to protect substantial public investment over the long term
  • All projects must deliver net increases in full-time places for one to three-year-olds. Minimum thresholds for number of places to be delivered are proportionate to the grant value.
  • A maximum fee threshold will apply.
  • Funding will be prioritised for applications from areas of identified undersupply.

The scale of funding available for different types of projects is outlined below:

Strand 1 Extensions to Private services

  • Private providers can apply for funding between €50,000 (min) and €250,000 (max) to extend existing premises
  • Match funding will be required with a maximum contribution by the Department of €250,000 or 50% of total project costs, whichever is lower
  • Project values between €100,000 and €650,000 will be eligible, with any additional project costs exceeding €500,000 to be funded by the service

Strand 2. Extensions to Community Services

  • Community Providers can apply for funding between €100,000 (min) and €500,000 (max) to extend existing premises
  • Project values between €100,000 and €650,000 will be eligible
  • Any additional project costs between €500,000 and €650,000 to be funded by the service

Strand 3 Purchase of building to supplement existing owned or leased premises or to replace a leased premises (Community only)

  • Community providers can apply for funding between €300,000 (min) and €750,000 (max) to purchase and fit out an Early Learning Childcare facility or a premises that could be easily adapted for this purpose
  • Any additional project costs exceeding €750,000 to be funded by services, subject to a maximum project value of €1,500,000
  • Services can purchase a premises to supplement their existing premises or to replace a leased premises.

Strand 4 Construction of a new premises (Community only)

  • Community providers can apply for funding between €300,000 (min) and €750,000 (max) towards the cost of building a new premises or installation of a modular building
  • Any additional project costs exceeding €750,000 to be funded by services, subject to a maximum project value of €1,500,000
  • Services can construct a premises to supplement their existing premises or to replace a leased premises.

Further details of the scheme are being provided to the sector this week. Application forms and applicant guidelines will be made available to the sector in the coming weeks.

Minister O’Gorman welcomes Oireachtas passing new right to postpone maternity leave in cases of serious illness

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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• Maternity Protection, Employment Equality and Preservation of Certain Records Bill 2024 passed by the Oireachtas.

• Alongside provisions on postponement of maternity leave, legislation also includes maternity leave for members of the Oireachtas and restricts Non-Disclosure Agreements in cases of discrimination and harassment.

Minister Roderic O’Gorman has today (24th October) welcomed the Maternity Protection Employment Equality and Preservation of Certain Records Bill 2024 passing all Stages in the Oireachtas.

The legislation will allow an employee who receives a diagnosis of a serious illness to postpone maternity leave until treatment is concluded, and follows the ‘Leave Our Leave’ campaign by the Irish Cancer Society.

The maternity leave can be postponed for between 5 and 52 weeks, on certification from their doctor. Postponing maternity leave will not sacrifice other forms of leave, such as unpaid maternity leave and Parents Leave.

Speaking today, Minister O’Gorman said:

“The Bill will allow women who suffer a serious illness during their maternity leave to postpone that leave. This is a small, simple change that will have a big impact for so many women at a very challenging time in their lives.

“I am proud that Ireland will be one of the very few countries around the world to be providing this facility to pause maternity leave, and I want to thank the Irish Cancer Society, and those who have campaigned for this change.”

Welcoming the legislation, Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society said:

“The Irish Cancer Society is delighted our #LeaveourLeave campaign has brought about such a monumental change, not just for cancer patients but for also for other women with serious illnesses.

Being diagnosed with cancer while pregnant or with a newborn baby is devastating and robs women of many of the special moments every new mum looks forward to. Until now, Irish law has also robbed them of their maternity leave. Now, women will be spared that heartbreak. Instead of spending their maternity leave receiving life-saving cancer treatment, they’ll be making precious memories with their babies.

We cannot thank Erica Tierney, Mary Canavan, and Emma McGuinness enough – these three incredible women spearheaded the campaign and have worked tirelessly to highlight the need for change. We are grateful to Minister O’ Gorman for listening to the women affected, engaging with us and acting on our request for legislative change.”

Erica Tierney, a cancer survivor and Leave Our Leave campaigner said:

“It’s almost impossible to articulate the meaning of this change to families going through pregnancy and serious illness at the same time. When I was so sick and juggling chemo with being a new mam, discovering I couldn’t keep my maternity leave for when I felt better literally felt like another huge blow, in a time when what I needed was extra support. I’m beyond ecstatic that this change is now a reality and no one going through cancer and pregnancy will also have to endure the loss of their maternity leave. They can bank on having that time back with their baby when the gruelling treatment is done. I’m proud of the work Mary, Emma and I have done to make this change and extremely thankful to the Irish Cancer Society for their solemn commitment, guidance, and hard work on this important issue. We just made life better for hundreds of families every year.”

The Bill also enshrines in legislation the principle that members of the Houses of the Oireachtas who give birth can take 26 weeks maternity leave, and includes amendments to the Employment Equality Act 1998 to regulate the use of non-disclosure agreements related to discrimination and harassment.

The Bill will now go to the President to be signed into law.

 

Notes for the editor:

The Maternity Protection Bill, Employment Equality and Preservation of Certain Records Bill 2024 includes the following provisions:

A pause in maternity leave for serious illness

The Bill amends the Maternity Protection Act 1994 by the insertion of a new section which creates a new entitlement in the Act for an employee who requires ongoing treatment for a serious health condition, including physical and mental health conditions, to postpone maternity leave for a period of between 5 and 52 weeks.

Maternity leave for members of the Oireachtas

The Bill also provides that an absence by a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas, duly notified, related to the birth of a child, shall be called maternity leave for a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas. This shall be for a period of up to 26 weeks.

Regulation of non-disclosure agreements in cases of discrimination or harassment.

This amendment inserts a new section 14B into the Employment Equality Act 1998 in order to introduce measures to limit the use of NDAs where an employee has alleged discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment or victimisation.

Preservation of Private Records

The Bill also includes provisions to preserve privately-held records relating to Ireland’s institutional past. Further information and guidance will be made available upon commencement of these provisions.

Government’s free pre-school programme ECCE reaches the one million milestone as results of independent review is published

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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New figures show how the government’s free pre-school programme – the Early Childhood Care and Education or ECCE programme – has transformed early learning experiences and development opportunities for young children in this country, according to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman.

The pre-school programme provides young children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school. When introduced in 2010, children could for one year of free pre-school, which was delivered over 38 weeks of the year in line with the school year – September-June. Since 2018, children can qualify for two years of pre-school, without charge to parents.

With over million children – or a fifth of the population – enrolled in the programme since it was first introduced, uptake rates in excess of 96%, State investment topping €3 billion and barriers faced by children in accessing the programme removed through additional supports provided through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) and Equal Start, the Minister says the programme has provided important learning and development opportunities to all young children, in particular children with a disability and children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The programme has also been behind a dramatic shift in school starting age, with the proportion of four-year-olds in junior infants down to 16% in 2023/24 from 40% in 2009/10 and has been a key impetus for professionalising the sector. Prior to the introduction of the ECCE Programme, there was no minimum qualification for staff working in the sector. Today, the minimum qualification for staff delivering the programme is NFQ Level 5 for Educators and NFQ Level 6 for Lead Educators.

Work now underway to introduce a statutory entitlement to the programme will build on this strong foundation, according to Minister O’Gorman and will be informed by the findings from an Independent Review of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECCE) Programme, conducted by Stranmillis University College, Belfast, which the Minister also published today.

Welcoming these latest figures and the findings from the Review, Minister O’Gorman said:

“These figures I have released today and the findings from the review by Stranmillis University College show the success story the ECCE programme has become.

“With more than 1 million enrolments since the programme was first introduced and uptake rates in excess of 96%, it is clear this programme has been embraced wholeheartedly by children and their families and by wider society.

“Moreover, with 40% of families reporting that they would not have been able to enrol their child in pre-school had it not been for the ECCE programme, it is clear that this programme has altered early learning experiences and development opportunities for all children and children experiencing disadvantage in particular.

“I am grateful to providers and early years educator across the country who are behind these figures and this success, and I wish to acknowledge their crucial role in transforming children’s lives through education and care.

“Work to introduce a statutory entitlement to the ECCE programme is now underway, which will build on this strong foundation. This work will be informed by the findings from the Independent Review of the ECCE programme, which I published today.”

Notes

Overview of the ECCE Programme

The Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) is a free, universal two-year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY). It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school.

The department funds a national network of City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents/guardians and childcare providers, including support on applying for the various funding schemes administered by the department and assistance for parents/guardians on all aspects of childcare.

Childcare services taking part in the ECCE Programme must provide an appropriate preschool educational programme which adheres to the principles of Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Aistear, the early childhood curriculum framework for children from birth up to the age of six years.

The ECCE programme is provided for 3 hours per day, 5 days per week over 38 weeks per year (or 182 days which can be found on the provider’s ECCE calendar), and the programme year runs from 1 September to 30 June each year.

The programme is free and available to all children who have turned 2 years and 8 months of age by 31 August and must not be older than 5 years and 6 months of age on or before 30th June, of the programme year.

Overview of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)

The Access and Inclusion Model, AIM, enables children with a disability to access and participate meaningfully in the State-funded ECCE programme in mainstream settings to the same degree as their peers. AIM is based on need and does not require a formal diagnosis of disability. AIM seeks to create a more inclusive environment in early learning and childcare settings and achieves this by providing universal supports and targeted supports to settings, which focus on the needs of the individual child.

Universal supports are designed to create a more inclusive culture in early learning and care settings, through training courses and qualifications for staff. Where universal supports are not enough to meet the needs of an individual child, targeted supports are available. Targeted supports under AIM include:

  • Level 4: Expert educational advice/support from Better Start Early Years Specialists
  • Level 5: Capital grants for specialised equipment, appliances, assistive technology and/or minor alterations for settings to ensure children with a disability can participate in the ECCE programme
  • Level 6: Access to therapeutic services from the HSE where critical to enable a child’s meaningful participation in the ECCE programme
  • Level 7: Additional capitation for providers where needed to either reduce the adult to child ratio in the pre-school room or to pay for additional assistance. Level 7 assistance is a shared resource for the setting

One of the commitments in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, was to undertake an evaluation of AIM and, subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, to consider enhancements to, and/or extension of, AIM to, for example, all early learning and care services, all school-age childcare services and to children with additional needs other than a disability.

The AIM evaluation was published in January 2024. The findings have informed this expansion of targeted AIM supports to children beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, in term and out of term from September 2024. The intent of the additional hours funding is to support ECCE-enrolled children with a disability to access early learning and care outside of the ECCE programme if they wish to do so.

In addition to this, an action plan has been developed to respond to areas for improvement identified through the AIM evaluation, including increasing awareness of AIM, further building the capacity and confidence of educators and providers in supporting children with autism and streamlining the application process for equipment, appliances, and minor alterations.

Overview of Equal Start

Equal Start is a funding model and a set of universal and targeted measures to support access and full participation in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) for children and their families who experience disadvantage. In support of this overarching objective, Equal Start consists of a series of actions – 17 in total – to support children and families as well as educators, practitioners and settings. The goals of Equal Start are that:

  • all children, in particular children experiencing disadvantage, have equitable access and participation in ELC and SAC settings
  • all ELC and SAC settings, in particular settings operating in the context of concentrated disadvantage, equitably promote the learning and care of children from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • parents and families, in particular parents and families experiencing disadvantage, are empowered with the knowledge, tools and supports necessary for children to have equitable access and participation in ELC and SAC

Equal Start constitutes the fourth strand of Together for Better, the funding model for early learning and care and school-age childcare and complements the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), and Core Funding as well as other key policies that also support disadvantaged children within early learning and care and school-age childcare.

An Independent Review of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme in Ireland Executive Summary

 

An Independent Review of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme in Ireland Final Report

Minister Rabbitte announces commencement of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Support Programme under AsIAm

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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Minister for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, joins Adam Harris, AsIAm CEO, and Fiona O’Mahony, AsIAm Senior Speech & Language Therapist & AAC Support Programme Manager, to launch first-of-its kind Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Support Programme

Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, has announced the commencement of the distribution of devices to a pilot group of users as part of the roll-out of the AAC Support Programme, which is being run by AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity.

Earlier this year, Minister Rabbitte announced €1m in support for the programme which will see over 500 autistic children benefit from the programme. This next phase of implementation follows the completion of consultation, procurement and recruitment processes to support the operational phase of delivery.

AAC includes all forms of communication which a person may use other than talking. It may add to someone’s speech or may be an alternative to speaking. The AAC Support Programme will use high-tech solutions including apps for use on tablets and phones which support Autistic people who may not speak to communicate.

The programme, which aligns with Government’s Autism Innovation Strategy, will be open to all children living in Ireland who have been diagnosed as autistic and are non-speaking or use minimal words or phrases, and rely on non-speaking forms of communication as their primary means of communication.

The AAC Support Programme will provide access to high-tech communication devices and support through AsIAm. Recipients will include autistic children and young people who are already receiving support from a Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) as well as autistic people who currently do not have access to speech and language therapy support.

The programme will also allow families to select a device on a “borrow and keep” basis. Both groups will be able to apply for a device as well as access training and guidance for family members and educational professionals supporting the individual.

Minister Rabbitte commented,

“The AAC Support Programme will be transformative for autistic children and their families, breaking down barriers to communication and fostering greater inclusion.

“The programme offers three streams of support, catering to families who are currently working with a Speech & Language Therapist and those who are not. This inclusive approach ensures that all autistic children with communication needs have the opportunity to benefit from AAC.

“AsIAm do superb work supporting autistic people of all ages, and this programme is leading the way in providing comprehensive AAC support. By empowering autistic children with the tools they need to communicate effectively, we are helping them to reach their full potential and participate fully in society.”

Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, said,

“Everyone deserves the same chance to have their voice heard. We know that too often autistic children and families have faced barriers to accessing this most fundamental of rights. Our AAC Support Programme will reduce these barriers by providing both devices and associated support for children and families who may benefit.”

Enrolment and distribution of pilot recipients for both Stream 1 and Stream 2 of the Programme will commence in October, with broader access anticipated to commence prior to Christmas.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Accessing AAC has numerous benefits from autistic children including increasing receptive and expressive language skills, augmenting spoken words, increasing independence and facilitating inclusion and participation. AsIAm’s programme is designed not only to increase availability and provide access to those who previously could not access the funding or support required, but to increase impact and knowledge by creating a community of support around the child and family.

Families will be able to access devices under 3 streams:

Stream 1: Families who are supported by a Speech & Language Therapist (SLT) who can apply to access a device, with relevant documentation provided by their SLT

Stream 2: Families who are not supported by an SLT who can apply to access a device and be supported by AsIAm through an AAC device trial

Stream 3: Families who are working with an SLT can apply to trial a device and associated software and keep it should it meet their needs

All participants will be able to access a suite of training and support developed by the AsIAm AAC Support Programme Team, led by a Senior SLT.

An expression of interest form is now live on the AsIAm website and can be accessed here.

 

Minister O’Gorman publishes Guidelines Supporting Inclusion for Autistic Children in Early Learning, School & Childcare Settings

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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Press Release

Roderic O’ Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, today published Introductory Guidelines to Support the Inclusion of Autistic Children in Early Learning and Care, School-Age Childcare and Childminding Settings.

The Guidelines are for early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and childminders who are currently working to support the meaningful inclusion of autistic children in early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding settings.

They form part of a wider suite of universal and targeted supports under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) which have been designed to ensure children with a disability and additional needs can access and participate in the ECCE programme and early learning and care settings more broadly.

The Guidelines fulfil a commitment in the recently launched National Autism Innovation Strategy, which aims to address the bespoke challenges and barriers facing autistic people and to improve understanding and accommodation of autism within society and across the public system.

Each year 2,735 services benefit from AIM supports.

Speaking today about the National Guidelines, Minister O’Gorman said:

“I am delighted to announce the publication of National Guidelines to Support the Inclusion of Autistic Children in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Settings.

“Meaningful inclusion of neurodivergent children and their families in settings starts with the early years educators and school-age practitioners being fully informed of their role in active inclusion.

“These Guidelines form part of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) suite of supports and resources supporting the inclusion of children in the ECCE programme and beyond.

“I hope the Guidelines assist early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners with the important role they play to support the inclusion of all children in their settings.”

Welcoming the publication of these guidelines, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte added:

“I warmly welcome these National Guidelines for those working with our youngest children. They deliver on an action of our Department’s Autism Innovation Strategy.

“This Strategy will work hard to respond and enhance the lived experience of autistic people, their families and carers, so we can ensure that challenges and barriers currently being faced are being adequately addressed and to improve understanding and accommodation of autism within society and across the public system.

“These guidelines for early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding settings are an example of a clear action that can make a tangible difference to children’s lives.”

ENDS/

Government announces decision to accede to the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

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An Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, and the Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, have today announced that Government will accede to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Ireland ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 20 March 2018. The Convention aims to make sure that people with disabilities are treated fairly, have the same opportunities as people without disabilities, and are fully included in society.

The Optional Protocol supplements the Convention by establishing additional procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Convention. The State’s implementation of the UNCRPD is already subject to periodic review by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Accession to the Optional Protocol means that people with disabilities will have their rights better upheld by strengthened accountability measures.

The Optional Protocol establishes the competence of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a body of independent experts, to:

  • receive and examine communications from or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals who claim to be victims of a violation of the rights recognised and protected by the Convention.
  • undertake inquiries in cases where they receive reliable evidence of grave or systemic violations of the Convention.

After examining such a communication, the Committee will issue recommendations to Ireland.

The Committee will only examine a communication if it meets the admissibility criteria set out in the Protocol, and in particular the requirement that a person has exhausted all available domestic remedies. Encouraging states to ensure the proper protection of rights domestically is one of the main advantages of the Optional Protocol.

Accession to the Optional Protocol demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to the continued realisation of the rights and obligations set out in the Convention. It is an important milestone in Ireland’s journey toward a more inclusive and fair society for everyone, and one in which everyone is valued equally.

Following the government decision, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs will sign an instrument of accession on behalf of the Government, to be deposited with the Secretary-General of the UN. The Protocol will enter into force in Ireland 30 days later.

Speaking about the decision to accede to the Optional Protocol, An Taoiseach Simon Harris said:

“Today is an important day for Ireland and particularly for people with a disability. One of my key priorities as Taoiseach is to make the lives of people with a disability more inclusive, fairer and it is so important that everyone is afforded equal opportunities. Ratification of the Optional Protocol will mean that people with a disability will have their rights more stringently upheld by strengthened accountability measures. I know this is an important day for the thousands of people who have campaigned for this to happen”.

An Tánaiste Micheál Martin said:

“I am delighted that we are now in a position to strengthen Ireland’s commitment to the rights of people with disabilities through this Optional Protocol. This marks an important and necessary step in our commitment to the protection of the rights of those with disabilities, and demonstrates our commitment to progressing towards a more inclusive and fair society”.

Speaking on the matter, Minister O’Gorman said:

“I am delighted that Ireland will be formally acceding to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In April I convened an interdepartmental group to drive progress on this issue and I am delighted to see that work has led to today’s decision. The decision by Government to take this step marks a milestone moment for the State. It emphasises the value that is placed on ensuring that we are accountable in upholding the rights of persons with disabilities”.

The Minister added:

“My Department’s vision is one of a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving Ireland where no one is left behind or faces discrimination. Central to this vision is ensuring that persons with disabilities are supported to live the lives that they want to and are provided equal opportunities to do so. Acceding to the Optional Protocol further supports the realisation of that vision”.

Minister Rabbitte said:

“Accession by Ireland to the Optional Protocol signals Ireland’s ongoing drive to improving the lives of persons with disabilities in this country. Moving Ireland to the point of ratification has been a major focus for me as Minister. Disabled people must be given every opportunity to participate equally and fully in our society, and to have their rights as set out under the Convention respected. The development of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was rooted in the need to express human rights in the context of disability rights. Accession to the Optional Protocol demonstrates our intention to keep building on the progress we have made in ensuring that these rights are upheld, and ultimately assists in furthering the State’s progressive implementation of the Convention in an important way”.

The Minister added:

“I also think it’s important to recognise the tireless efforts of advocates, Disabled Person’s Organisations, and individuals who have championed this cause. Their voices have been instrumental in driving this progress, and their contributions will continue to shape our policies and practices”.

Notes for Editors:

Accession to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a commitment in the Programme for Government. It was originally intended to accede to the Protocol after Ireland’s first Periodic Review by the Committee. However, as that has now been delayed at UN level work to progress earlier accession has been underway across government.

The purpose of the UN Convention is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

The Optional Protocol supplements the Convention, and establishes additional procedures aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Convention. It establishes the competence of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a body of independent experts, to:

  • receive and examine communications from or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals who claim to be victims of a violation of the rights recognised and protected by the Convention.
  • undertake inquiries in cases where they receive reliable evidence of grave or systemic violations of the Convention.

In April of this year Minister O’Gorman announced the formation of an Interdepartmental Group that was tasked with expediting work to provide a pathway for accession. The work of that Group has recently concluded, and has ensured that a whole-of-Government approach is taken to adhering to the obligations as set out in the Convention and the Optional Protocol.

While the Optional Protocol does not establish any further rights beyond the scope of the original Convention, it does establish a procedure through which persons can submit a communication to the UN Committee regarding any violation of the rights established under the Convention. The Optional Protocol therefore acts as an important mechanism for implementation of the Convention.

Persons with disabilities can make a complaint to the Committee under the communication procedure. The Committee receives communications in the form of written submissions (either online or by post) from or on behalf of individuals and assesses such communications to establish their admissibility and their merits. Should the Committee deem a communication to be admissible it will examine the complaint, and may ultimately make recommendations as to how the State should rectify the issue in question.

In line with the constitutional and legal position on international agreements, these recommendations are domestically non-binding on the state. The Committee typically convenes twice a year in order to examine these communications.

Complainants must exhaust all domestic remedies in order for the Committee to deem a communication admissible, and one of the advantages of accession to the Protocol is in ensuring that appropriate domestic redress exists for breaches of rights. This means that domestic avenues through which a solution may be found such as judicial proceedings, appeals of lower court decisions, judicial reviews and potentially other enforceable administrative remedies, must be exhausted prior to any complaint being made to the Committee. The Committee may decide that the exhaustion of domestic remedies is not necessary in some cases (where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged or unlikely to bring effective relief).

A communication can be judged inadmissible for a number of reasons such as being anonymous, being examined by another international body at the time of consideration by the Committee, or if the events described in the communication occurred prior to ratification of the Protocol. A communication may also be deemed inadmissible if it is anonymous, or is incompatible with the provisions of the Convention.

For more information on the communication procedure as well as a complaint submission form please visit: https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/crpd/individual-communications

Next Steps

On foot on this Government decision, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs will sign an instrument of accession on behalf of the Government, to be deposited with the Secretary-General of the UN. The Protocol will enter into force with respect to the State on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit.

Accession to the Protocol forms part of Ireland’s broader approach to compliance with the Convention. In that regard intensive work is ongoing across government to develop Ireland’s next National Disability Strategy, which will form the implementation plan to advance delivery of the rights as set out in the Convention over the coming years.

Press Release