Pre-School Resources
Making a decision on the best educational route for your child is a difficult decision for many parents and can be overwhelming at the beginning as you navigate the system.
Home Tuition
There is a home tuition grant available for autistic children who have not been able to secure an Early Intervention placement.
Children between the age of 2 ½ and 3 can access 10 hours of home tuition per week by a qualified tutor. Children over 3 years of age can access 20 hours of home tuition per week.
Early Intervention Classes
Children with an official diagnosis of Autism and a psychologist’s recommendation can access an Early Intervention Class, which are based in primary schools. These classes have a ratio of six pupils to one teacher and two Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), and a child is entitled to two years. They attend for the same hours as infants in Primary Schools. (This is Department of Education)
Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)
Children are now able to access support in the ECCE education programme, regardless of whether there is an official diagnosis, via the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). This scheme has introduced new measures to improve inclusion in pre-schools, this is achieved by enhanced training of staff and a dedicated trained staff member overseeing this.
In some circumstances, if necessary, the scheme allows the pre-school provider to make adaptations to the physical environment, provide therapies and extra staff to support the child in class.
Private autism-specific preschools, which are usually funded through the Home Tuition Grant. Places in these preschools will only be funded for those children who cannot access a suitable place in an Early Intervention Class. (This is PALS)
