The Better Start Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.  Its goal is to empower service providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can fully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education.

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 service provider. It will offer tailored, practical supports based on need and will not require a formal diagnosis of disability.

• For further information please see the following link to the AIM website: http://aim.gov.ie/ or contact a Development officer in the Galway Childcare Committee office on 091-752039.

AIM Inclusive Play:

AIM Inclusive Play is the latest addition to the suite of AIM Supports.

AIM Inclusive Play is a set of resources to support inclusive practice within pre-school settings. These resources, which include equipment, toys and materials, also support the development of coordination and audio, visual and tactile skills among all children, and in particular, children with a disability.

All pre-school rooms delivering the ECCE Programme across more than 4,000 pre-school settings nationally will receive these resources. AIM Inclusive Play offers the potential to support the implementation of all levels of AIM.

Many elements of Síolta and Aistear can also be supported by the effective use of these resources. More broadly, AIM Inclusive Play reinforces an important message – that children’s play is a vital ingredient of childhood, essential for both growth and learning and an integral element of high quality pre-school provision.

The potential uses of the resources are far reaching. Pre-school practitioners are encouraged to engage with and reflect on how these resources can be best used with children in their own setting.

To visit their website, please click the following link: https://aim.gov.ie/resources/

The following is a list of the resources in the AIM Inclusive pack and if you click on the image it will bring you to the AIM Play website to view a video demonstration on how to use the resources:

Time Timer:



Warmie Weighted Sensory Friend:



Traffic Light Fan:



Hey Children on the Autism Spectrum Play too!




Therapy Putty:



Teeter Popper:



Tactile Ball:



Strobe Bar:



Squigz:



Sockette Puppet:



Sensory Light Reflective Blanket:



Sensory Bubble Hourglass:



See Me Sensory Ball:



Recordable Answer Buzzer:



Movin’ Sit Junior/Disc ‘O’ Sit:



Massage Kit:



Large and Mini Sand Timers:



Laptop Tray:



Kinetic Sand:



Jumbo Tweezers:



Grimms House/Grimms Rainbow



Emotions Chart:



Dark Den Cube/Pop Up Dark Den:



Dancing Ribbons:



Creating Sensory Play at little or No Cost:



Audible Soft Foam Ball:



All Kinds of People/Feelings:



AIM Early Years ‘My Day Fan’: