News

12 March 2024

Applications for the 2024/2025 Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Level 6 Programme open today, Tuesday 12th March 2024

The Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme continues to be a beacon of excellence in early childhood education. Fully funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the Level 6 Special Purpose Award (Higher Education) will open applications for its ninth year on Tuesday, March 12th at 10am, offering 630…

23 January 2024

New report shows positive impact of Early Years Access and Inclusion Model

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman T.D., published the findings from an independent evaluation of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) on Friday 19 January 2024. The independent evaluation, undertaken by the University of Derby, involved almost 2,000 stakeholders – parents, educators, providers and representative groups. The findings from the…

4 January 2024

AIM Rules for 2023/2024 Programme Year Published

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) rules for the 2023/2024 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme year are now available here. The AIM rules are a useful resource for parents and the Early Learning and Care (ELC) sector. As indicated in the ECCE contract, ELC services that avail of AIM are obliged to comply with…

26 July 2023

Minister Roderic O’ Gorman and Minister Anne Rabbitte welcome Government approval of the Disability Action Plan 2024 – 2026

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, and Minister of State for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, today welcomed Government approval of the Disability Action Plan 2024-2026. The Action Plan represents a key step in the expansion and reform of specialist community-based disability services including day services, respite and residential services, personal assistance and…

25 July 2023

Resources to Support Outdoor Play

Outdoor play is vital to the healthy development and wellbeing of all children. This resource aims to support the delivery of outdoor play in the home, school and community. Middletown Centre for Autism has a range of practical strategies and resources to support outdoor play. The advice includes practical strategies on designing inclusive playgrounds, using…

<strong>New resources developed to help children and young people with autism and/or dyslexia to reach their full potential in a naíonra or Irish-medium or Gaeltacht school</strong>

3 July 2023

New resources developed to help children and young people with autism and/or dyslexia to reach their full potential in a naíonra or Irish-medium or Gaeltacht school

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27 June 2023

Let’s Get Ready Campaign 2023

The Let’s Get Ready webpage has been updated for this year’s campaign. The Let’s Get Ready campaign aims to support settings, parents and primary schools to ensure that the transition to preschool and primary school is as easy as possible for children. The webpage includes a reminder on My Little Library and useful information on…

31 May 2023

First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery at Bord Bia Bloom 2023

The First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery – designed by children for children – will be on show at this year’s Bord Bia Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park, Dublin this June Bank Holiday weekend. This unique large concept garden will promote the importance of outdoor play for young children. This is part of…

16 May 2023

My Inclusion Plan

The My Inclusion Plan has been developed to outline actions, adaptations and additional assistance that may be required to ensure children’s inclusion in Early Learning and Care Settings. The plan is developed by the Early Learning and Care Practitioners working with the child, in partnership with the child’s parent/guardian or carer and in consultation with…

27 April 2023

Updated Application Opening Date for AIM Levels 4, 5, 7 for the 2023/24 Programme Year

Applications for AIM Levels 4, 5 and 7 for the 2023/24 programme year will now open on the Early Years Hive platform at 12 noon on Friday 5th May 2023. Whilst the AIM application process remains open year round, providers and parents are advised, where possible, to apply at least three months before the child’s…

18 April 2023

Minister Rabbitte publishes Autism Innovation Strategy Public Consultation Report

To coincide with World Autism Month 2023, Minister for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, has published a report analysing submissions received during an open public consultation designed to inform the development of the Autism Innovation Strategy. This public consultation was convened in April 2022 and was designed to capture views about the challenges facing Autistic people in…

14 April 2023

The Lámh Project

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could say Hello to everyone? Lámh is a manual sign system used by children and adults with intellectual disability and communication needs in Ireland. Lámh opens up a person’s world and is a powerful communication tool. People are able to use signs to ask for what they want, to…

3 April 2023

Tips and Information for Sensory Play

Sensory play is any activity that stimulates the senses. It offers many benefits for children’s learning and development including increased body awareness, supporting brain development, enhancing memory, encouraging creative and independent thinking and more. Sensory activities can be adapted for different ages, needs and abilities. See the Sensory Play Tip Sheet for Early Years Educators…

20 March 2023

Application Opening Dates for AIM Levels 4, 5, 7 and 1 for 2023/24 Programme Year

Applications for AIM Levels 4, 5 and 7 for the 2023/24 programme year open on the Early Years Hive platform on 2nd May 2023. Whilst the AIM application process remains open year round, providers and parents are advised, where possible, to apply at least three months before the child’s planned start date in ECCE in…

13 March 2023

Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 with Mary Immaculate

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has entered into a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 with Mary Immaculate College for the sharing of LINC Data in Early Years care. The published DSA can be found here.…

6 March 2023

Applications for the Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme open on Monday 13th March 2023

The LINC Programme is a Level 6 Special Purpose Award (Higher Education), which is fully funded by the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). The programme is designed to enhance and support children’s inclusion in the Early Years. The LINC programme is offered by a consortium led by Mary Immaculate College and…

15 December 2022

Minister Rabbitte convenes first meeting of the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group

Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, today convened the first meeting of the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group. The group was recently appointed following an open call for expressions of interest which took place in June 2022. The group is majority Neurodiverse and will ensure that the voice of…

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