Belfast Wide Early Years Intervention Programme
The Belfast Wide Early Years Intervention Programme (BWEY) began as a three-year pilot funded through the Department of Education’s Fair Start proposal, which focused on improving outcomes for children at risk of underachievement. Each year of the pilot was externally evaluated.
This published summary relates specifically to Kids Together Belfast’s BWEY Rainbow Group, which supported 18 children aged 2-3 years and their families between September 2025 and March 2026. Children supported through the programme had additional needs, developmental needs and/or complex needs and many families were living in communities affected by poverty, deprivation and wider disadvantage.
The evidence can therefore be understood in relation to a specific population group: children aged 2-3 years with additional or developmental needs and their families. The programme reflects evidence-informed early childhood practice through early identification, family support, structured routines, play-based developmental support, multidisciplinary input and transition planning.
An infographic summarising the Belfast Wide Early Years evidence and partnership work is available to view on this webpage.
The programme brings together early years practice, family support, Child Development Clinic Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Educational Psychology input. This joined-up approach enables children’s developmental needs to be identified earlier, families to receive practical advice and support and settings to plan more effectively for children’s next steps.
The evidence published here reflects the information currently available from Kids Together Belfast’s BWEY Rainbow Group from September 2025 to March 2026. Emerging end-of-year information shows positive average progress across key developmental areas, including receptive communication, expressive communication, social interaction, play and attention, cognitive and perceptual skills, fine motor development, sensory development and self-care skills. These areas link directly to early childhood development, including children’s cognitive development, social and emotional development, communication, physical/fine motor development and independence.
The model is designed to support children and families at the earliest possible stage, while also helping to inform transition planning for pre-school and nursery placements. Where appropriate, children may leave the programme with clear professional information to support a proposed statement of need for their pre-school nursery placement.
Subject to funding and individual need, some children may also be able to progress into Kids Together Belfast’s EA Non-Statutory Specialist Nursery Provision, ensuring continuity of support for children who require a more specialist early years environment.
Full 2025-2026 evaluation data from all participating groups is currently being collated. This will provide a fuller picture of the impact of the Belfast Wide Early Years Intervention Programme across the city. However, early information continues to demonstrate the value of a coordinated, relationship-based and developmentally informed model for children, parents and early years settings.
Kids Together Belfast is committed to working in partnership to ensure that children with additional needs are identified, supported and included as early as possible, giving them the best foundation for learning, development and family life.
Parental Feedback September 2025 – March 2026
“My son now copes with loud noises and also claps his hands and he’s never done this before”
“My child is more vocal and confident trying new things”
“Positive changes in social interactions, speech and routine”
“From he started Kids Together he’s come on loads I’m so happy with his progress”
“I didn’t understand how extreme my child’s needs were until seeing her in a small setting and how challenging it is for her. I would’ve been very against sending her to social settings until seeing how helpful they were and how much more suited it was for my child”
Parents also highlighted the value of having access to in-house Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Child Development Clinic support, parent classes, structured routines and practical advice that could be continued at home.
Examples of feedback on most helpful parts of the programme include:
“Having the in-house SLT / OT and the girls who take the group are so invested in your child’s wellbeing”
“Understanding support and meeting other parents with the same worries, staff were friendly and approachable, always happy to help with any questions I had”
“The structure routine and consistent engagement which is then reported back so that we can mirror and build on it at home”
“Accessing CDC support and parent classes”
“Learning to wait to let my child respond and also encouraging him to do messy play instead of avoiding it. This has helped his independence at meal times”
“The support my daughter and myself have received is outstanding would highly recommend anyone with same circumstances as we have to get involved”
Parents were asked what could be improved.
Responses included:
“Staff go beyond and above to help with everything I wouldn’t change a thing”
“I can’t fault the rainbow programme at all”
“Everything has been above expectations”
“Nothing I think everyone at Kids Together Belfast went above and beyond for me and my child”
“Happy with it all”
Enquire about this programme
The evidence can therefore be understood in relation to a specific population group: children aged 2-3 years with additional or developmental needs and their families. The programme reflects evidence-informed early childhood practice through early identification, family support, structured routines, play-based developmental support, multidisciplinary input and transition planning.
An infographic summarising the Belfast Wide Early Years evidence and partnership work is available to view on this webpage.
The programme brings together early years practice, family support, Child Development Clinic Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Educational Psychology input. This joined-up approach enables children’s developmental needs to be identified earlier, families to receive practical advice and support and settings to plan more effectively for children’s next steps.
The evidence published here reflects the information currently available from Kids Together Belfast’s BWEY Rainbow Group from September 2025 to March 2026. Emerging end-of-year information shows positive average progress across key developmental areas, including receptive communication, expressive communication, social interaction, play and attention, cognitive and perceptual skills, fine motor development, sensory development and self-care skills. These areas link directly to early childhood development, including children’s cognitive development, social and emotional development, communication, physical/fine motor development and independence.
The model is designed to support children and families at the earliest possible stage, while also helping to inform transition planning for pre-school and nursery placements. Where appropriate, children may leave the programme with clear professional information to support a proposed statement of need for their pre-school nursery placement.
Subject to funding and individual need, some children may also be able to progress into Kids Together Belfast’s EA Non-Statutory Specialist Nursery Provision, ensuring continuity of support for children who require a more specialist early years environment.
Full 2025-2026 evaluation data from all participating groups is currently being collated. This will provide a fuller picture of the impact of the Belfast Wide Early Years Intervention Programme across the city. However, early information continues to demonstrate the value of a coordinated, relationship-based and developmentally informed model for children, parents and early years settings.
Kids Together Belfast is committed to working in partnership to ensure that children with additional needs are identified, supported and included as early as possible, giving them the best foundation for learning, development and family life.
Parental Feedback September 2025 – March 2026
“My son now copes with loud noises and also claps his hands and he’s never done this before”
“My child is more vocal and confident trying new things”
“Positive changes in social interactions, speech and routine”
“From he started Kids Together he’s come on loads I’m so happy with his progress”
“I didn’t understand how extreme my child’s needs were until seeing her in a small setting and how challenging it is for her. I would’ve been very against sending her to social settings until seeing how helpful they were and how much more suited it was for my child”
Parents also highlighted the value of having access to in-house Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Child Development Clinic support, parent classes, structured routines and practical advice that could be continued at home.
Examples of feedback on most helpful parts of the programme include:
“Having the in-house SLT / OT and the girls who take the group are so invested in your child’s wellbeing”
“Understanding support and meeting other parents with the same worries, staff were friendly and approachable, always happy to help with any questions I had”
“The structure routine and consistent engagement which is then reported back so that we can mirror and build on it at home”
“Accessing CDC support and parent classes”
“Learning to wait to let my child respond and also encouraging him to do messy play instead of avoiding it. This has helped his independence at meal times”
“The support my daughter and myself have received is outstanding would highly recommend anyone with same circumstances as we have to get involved”
Parents were asked what could be improved.
Responses included:
“Staff go beyond and above to help with everything I wouldn’t change a thing”
“I can’t fault the rainbow programme at all”
“Everything has been above expectations”
“Nothing I think everyone at Kids Together Belfast went above and beyond for me and my child”
“Happy with it all”
Programme details
Age range: 2-3 Years
Schedule: 3 sessions per week across 48 weeks