Minister for Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., and Minister for Education, Norma Foley, T.D., today launched an initiative for children and families – Let’s Get Ready – a gov.ie resource to support young children and their parents/guardians plan for the transition to pre-school or primary school later this year.

The Let’s Get Ready website focuses on children preparing to attend pre-school or primary school for the first time from this September. Let’s Get Ready includes guidance for parents on practical steps they can take to support their children over the coming months and tips on what children and parents can expect on their transition to pre-school and primary school.

A transitions pack for children starting pre-school and primary school is soon to be distributed through a range of channels, including through City and County Childcare Committees (CCCS), early learning and care settings, Home School Liaison Officers and is also available on gov.ie/letsgetready. This pack includes a tip sheet for parents, a transitions card for children and a ‘Mo Scéal’ transitions template developed by the National Council of Curriculum and Assessment for completion by parents. This templates enables parents to share key information with their child’s pre-school practitioner or teacher.

Speaking today, Minister O’Gorman said:

“Across the country, up to 120,000 children are making preparations to attend pre-school or primary school for the first time later this year.

“Transitions can be an emotional time for children and families under normal circumstances, let alone during Covid-19, and so need to be supported.

“Let’s Get Ready is a government-led initiative that provides parents and guardians with useful tips and suggests fun play-based activities parents can do to support their children with these important transitions over the summer months.”

Minister Foley said:

“Starting in primary school is a hugely exciting milestone for children and their families.

“We are working closely with our schools to support children as they begin their time in primary school.

“Let’s Get Ready provides useful information, ideas and resources to help families as they prepare for these changes over the coming months.”

The website gov.ie/letsgetready will be updated regularly over the coming months with new material added as it becomes available.

The Let’s Get Ready pack is available on gov.ie/letsgetready.

The transition to school remains especially difficult again this year because of Covid conditions.  Attached are some transitions resources that have been developed for parents.

Transition to school Resources

This year the NCCA have also developed an additional parents template for children starting in ECCE.  You can print them off to help support children with the transition to starting school.

The Mó Scéal templates linked below have been developed for parents to fill in to share information for their child’s new pre-school or primary school.

Links to Mó Scéal templates in English:

Moving to Pre-School: http://bit.ly/MoScealPreSchool

Moving to Primary School: http://bit.ly/MoScealPrimarySchool

Links to Mó Scéal templates in Irish:

Ag aistriú ar an réamhscoil: http://bit.ly/MoScealReamhscoil

Ag aistriú go dtí an bhunscoil: http://bit.ly/MoScealBhunscoil

See below attached is a postcard for the children to draw themselves or anything else for their new teacher and leaflets for parents on learning new skills and developing independence skills for starting pre-school and school.

**Research on training and supports for childminders**
As part of the National Action Plan for Childminding (2021-2028), the DCEDIY have put together a short survey on training and supports for childminders, particularly asking for views on the organisation of childminding networks locally. We would greatly appreciate your participation in this survey which can be accessed through
Childminding survey
This survey will close on Friday 21st May 2021. It is a very short survey and should only take a couple of minutes to complete.

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education. Further information on the programme and the range of supports available can be found here. https://aim.gov.ie/
AIM Level 4 and 7
The application process for AIM Level 4 (expert early years educational advice and support) and Level 7 (additional assistance in the pre-school room) for the 2021/22 pre-school year will open on the Hive in mid-May. As this is a new process for service providers a range of supports including training sessions and guidance documents will be available to assist services with the application process. We encourage all services to participate in a training session which will commence from Monday 17th to Thursday 20th May. Further details on these training sessions will be communicated in advance.
For children who are currently receiving AIM supports and are eligible to avail of a 2nd year of the ECCE programme from September 2021
If the child is eligible and is returning to the same pre-school setting for a second year and circumstances have not changed, services in receipt of AIM Level 7 supports must submit a 2nd year extension request for all eligible children. Eligible children include children who have been approved AIM level 7 support in the 2020/21 programme year but subsequently withdrew due to EWSS.
Extension requests must be submitted on the Hive when the AIM Level 7 application process is available in mid-May.
If the child who is currently availing of AIM supports is moving to another pre-school in September 2021, a new AIM application has to be made by the new pre-school provider in conjunction with the parent(s).
AIM Level 5
The application process for AIM Level 5 for the 2021/22 pre-school year will remain on PIP and also open for applications in mid-May.
Help and support
Should you have any queries in relation to the AIM, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a Request on Hive.
Early Years Team

As you are aware the National Action Plan for Childminding (2021-2028) was launched in April

The new childminding webpage www.gov.ie/childminding

On the website you can find the following information;

• National Action Plan for Childminding (2021 to 2028)
• Information for childminders on the National Action Plan for Childminding (2021 to 2028)
• Information for parents on the National Action Plan for Childminding (2021 to 2028)
• Covid Guidance
• Link to National Action Plan for Childminding (2021 to 2028) Facebook page