Providing early childcare to children with special needs is proving difficult for many creches and pre-schools in Ireland.

This is the finding of new research commissioned by Early Childhood Ireland, which showed dozens of providers have turned away young people with learning difficulties because of a lack of timely access to specialised support personnel including care assistants and therapists, the Irish Times reports.

Almost 400 creches - which support more than 15,000 children - were questioned as part of the survey and it was shown that delays in accessing such professionals has led to them becoming increasingly frustrated, especially as these people are very important with regard to early intervention provision for children with special needs.

One provider based in Westmeath commented: "By the time we have assessed children, get appointments for them to be assessed, they are nearly ready to leave [for primary school]."

The findings highlighted that autism is the most common issue for children with special needs, in addition to Down syndrome and learning, sensory and physical disabilities.

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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