Children with a disability need supports in childcare

Removing the barriers which are currently stopping thousands of children with a disability from accessing early years care and education was one of the more progressive announcements in Budget 2016.

On Thursday the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly, announced details of the initial investment of €15m, which could support up to 7,500 young children with a disability.

While take-up for the free preschool year has been near universal, we know that many of those who have been missing out are children with a disability.

Although they are eligible for free places, the practicalities — insufficient support for staff, inaccessible buildings, and/or lack of therapeutic support — made it extremely difficult for them to take them up.

September 2016 entrants will be the first cohort to benefit from this new measure and with €33m dedicated annually until 2020, plus an oversight group monitoring implementation and evaluating impact, there is no excuse for this not to make a very real difference in children’s lives.

Education is the most effective tool to challenge inequality, so the fact that a diagnosis is not needed and there are seven different levels of support — including staff training and the availability of grants to improve access to facilities and fund therapeutic interventions — is particularly welcome as this approach reflects the reality that each child will have differing levels of need.

With support and input from the Departments of Health and Education we are hopeful this is just one example of effective cross-departmental co-ordination which puts children’s needs first.

We look forward to more examples as we approach 2016 to ensure we are living up to our 100 year old promise to cherish all children equally.

June Tinsley

Head of Advocacy

Barnardos

Christchurch Square

Dublin 8