ASPIRE Project for Pre-Schools

Overview

ASPIRE is a 4-year Peace Plus funded project (2024 – Dec 2028) that aims to:

• Improve Educational Outcomes
• Promote good relations

The ASPIRE Project is a shared education initiative, funded through PEACEPLUS. Shared Education is the provision of direct, sustained, curriculum-based contact between pupils and teachers from all backgrounds through collaboration between schools/settings from different sectors.

The aims are to promote good relations, enhance children's skills, change attitudes and contribute to a more cohesive society. This multi-year, cross border partnership is led by Northern Ireland Education Authority alongside Early Years, the National Childhood Network, Léargas and Fermanagh Trust.

The overall objective of the project will be to increase the number of children, educators and leaders engaged in sustained partnerships with those from different backgrounds.

Applications are now open to PSEP funded pre-schools, nursery schools and units in NI and ECCE funded preschools in the ROI border counties. Applicants from Northern Ireland are invited to form cross-community partnerships and applicants from ROI border counties are invited to form partnerships to undertake Shared Education activities aimed at improving community cohesion, inclusion, diversity and educational outcomes for young children.

Project Goals:

The overall objective of the project will be to increase the number of children, educators and leaders engaged in sustained partnerships with those from different backgrounds. This will lead to both changes within educational settings and the wider community; building a more peaceful, prosperous and cohesive society. The project builds on previous initiatives including Sharing from the Start.

Eligibility

• Statutory pre-school nurseries and nursery units in NI
• Voluntary and Private pre-school settings within PSEP in NI
• Community and Private pre-school settings funded through ECCE in the Southern Border Counties (SBCs). The Southern Border Counties are Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.
• Early Start Settings in ROI
• Settings are eligible who previously participated in Sharing from the Start, the previous PEACE IV funded initiative.

Applications are particularly welcome from settings which:

• have high proportions of children experiencing social disadvantage
• have higher percentages of newcomer children
• Are partnering with their nearest eligible partner setting.
• are cross-border (i.e. at least one partner is in NI and another partner is in the SBCs).

Important Notes:

• Only funded PSEP children in NI and funded ECCE children in ROI are eligible to receive funding through the project.
• For settings without a partner, they recommend that you make contact now, giving enough time to complete the application together.

Participation in ASPIRE involves the following:

• Form a partnership:
  • Applicants from NI are invited to form cross-community partnerships (partnering with a setting with children of a predominantly different religion).
  • In the ROI, where this is not possible, applicants are encouraged to partner with settings with children from a diverse range of ethnic or socio-economic backgrounds.
• Apply:
  • One application per partnership should be completed and submitted by: Wednesday the 20th of November at 5pm 3.
• If Successful:
  • You will be supported to plan and deliver 30hours of joint curricular shared education sessions for children (e.g. 10 x 3-hour sessions per school year).
  • The joint sessions should contribute to the two project aims (a) improve educational outcomes; and (b) building good relations.

Benefits to applicants

In addition to enhancing educational outcomes for children and building good relations, ASPIRE provides additional benefits. There will be a robust package of support available, both financial and non-financial, for each participating pre-school within each partnership. The programme will begin to be rolled out in January 2025.

There is a unit cost to the value of €150 (EUROS) provided per eligible child* who completes 30 hrs Shared Education in Year 1 (this is for the completion of the shared education sessions per child per school year). This financial support is in place to assist your partnership working.

Please note the following:

• Costs must contribute directly to the joint curricular sessions (e.g. transport, specialist tutors, hiring facilities, basic resources).
• Capital purchases above £199 (€229) are not eligible.
• Unit cost will be calculated based on the total number of children engaged in shared education activities in the application.
• Partnerships are capped at a maximum of 80 children in year 1.

Once an application is approved, the ASPIRE team will work with partnerships to develop a workplan and finalise the budget for activity. Key enabling technology can be provided to ensure effective participation. Needs will be assessed once applications have been processed.