The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is designed to support Early Learning and Care providers in delivering an inclusive preschool experience, enabling children with additional needs to fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and benefit from quality preschool provision. As such, AIM is directly linked to ECCE participation and currently applies only to children who meet the ECCE age eligibility criteria. The current arrangements also ensure that all children have the same entitlement of 2 years of ECCE regardless of their birth date.
The ‘First 5’ whole-of-government strategy commits to the phased extension of AIM, a commitment that was reaffirmed by the findings of an independent end-of-year-three evaluation conducted by the University of Derby and published in January 2024. Participants in the evaluation, including providers, educators, and parents, strongly supported the scaling up of AIM. They also expressed a desire to see AIM extended to hours outside of the ECCE entitlement.
Based on the evaluation’s findings, AIM is now being extended on a phased basis as funding becomes available. Since September 2024, targeted AIM supports are available to ECCE-eligible children outside of ECCE hours—both during term time and in holiday periods. Children can now access up to three additional hours per day during the ECCE term and up to six hours per day outside of term, through the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).
The Programme for Government commits to ‘examine and expand the Access and Inclusion Model and make it available to younger children.’ Officials in the Department are currently considering the policy implications and appropriate mechanisms to extend AIM to children aged under three. It is critical that any extension of AIM supports to this cohort are evidence-based and reflective of their needs. It is intended that, over time, all children with additional needs registered in Early Learning and Care services will have access to supports under AIM.
