Montessori or ECCE Pre-school with AIMS Support
Under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, all eligible children in the Republic of Ireland are entitled to free early childhood care and education (otherwise known as ‘free pre-school’) in the period before they start primary school.
With effect from September 2018, there will only be one intake of children in September each year – increasing all children’s participation on the ECCE programme to two full pre-school years.
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme in mainstream pre-school settings and can participate fully in the pre-school curriculum alongside their peers.
AIM is a child centered model of supports, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the pre-school setting. The model is designed to be responsive to the needs of each individual child in the context of their pre-school setting. It will offer tailored, practical supports based on need and will not require a formal diagnosis of disability.
Early Intervention Classes
There are a small number of early intervention classes for child with ASD in Louth & Meath. These are for children who have been assessed by a clinical psychologist and diagnosed with autism.
These classes are for children from aged 3-5. Each class has 6 students, 2 Special Needs Assistants and 1 teacher. These classes are designed to give children with autism the best start possible and are modelled on primary school special classes for autistic children. If your child secures a place in an early intervention class they are entitled to transport to school.
Some children will progress to mainstream junior infants in primary school following Early Intervention. Others will will attend special classes in mainstream schools.