Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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328. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of places available in Montessori or ECCE pre-school with AIMS support by provider in counties Westmeath and Longford, in tabular form. [13599/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Eligibility for AIM supports is linked to participation in the universal ECCE pre-school programme. AIM is available to all mainstream pre-school settings which are funded through the ECCE Programme. As it is available to any ECCE service, there is no specific count of places with AIMS support.

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) seeks to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care through the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.

AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the preschool service. It offers tailored, practical supports based on need and does not require a formal diagnosis of disability.

Whilst any ECCE service can avail of AIM, for your information the table below presents the number of Early Years services in Westmeath and Longford in receipt of AIM Level 1 universal support and AIM Level 4, 5 &7 targeted supports in programme year 2021/22.