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Greetings!
The past few months have been a busy time for Start Strong, trying to ensure that young children were a political priority during the general election and more importantly in the Programme for Government. As a result, our last two e-newsletters focused exclusively on our campaign.
This e-newsletter, while still highlighting political developments, also features recent publications and research, both national and international. We've also revamped our format, which we hope means you can access information and our analysis more easily. As always, we welcome any feedback on it.
In this issue, we include an analysis of the Programme for Government's commitments to young children, as well as discussion of a series of key issues the new Ministers must face, including child literacy, the inclusion of children with special needs, and the high economic cost of a culture of "late intervention".
This e-newsletter also marks the launch of a new focus on social media in Start Strong's advocacy. As well as the new-look newsletter, we are now active on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and in the coming weeks we will be launching a new Blog.
The next few months will be an exciting time for Start Strong as we work to ensure that the new Government prioritises young children and their futures. |
| Programme for Government - analysis | |  We welcome into office all the Ministers whose responsibilities affect young children, including the Ministers for Finance, Education and Skills, Health and, of course, the new Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD - the first time children have had a vote at the Cabinet table.
The new Programme for Government contains several positive commitments for young children. There are, however, a number a number of respects in which we believe the Programme for Government could have gone further, in spite of the economic and budgetary situation the Government faces - or perhaps because of it. Now, more than ever, we need... Read our Analysis here. |
| Children in Europe - magazine out now | |  The latest issue of the Children in Europe magazine has just been published. Issue 20's theme is "Europe's youngest citizens: services and leave provision for under threes". It includes an excellent range of articles from across Europe on a range of crucial policy areas for the very youngest children, including parental leave, work-life balance and the provision of "integrated services". Start Strong has a limited number of free copies of Children in Europe magazine available. If you would like a copy, please email us. |
| European Commission calls for universal services | |  The European Commission has just published a report that gives a strong endorsement of high quality early care and education for all young children, highlighting its many benefits. Citing research evidence, the Commission argues forcefully for universal services for young children, arguing against approaches that target supports only at disadvantaged children. It advocates... Read more |
| Literacy - a national cause? | |  In the Programme for Government, the new Government has made a commitment to make literacy "a national cause". The commitment is very welcome. We are disappointed, however, that the Government's commitments on literacy do not yet include reference to children's early years. In further developing its policy plans in this area, we hope that... Read more |
| Inclusion of children with special needs | |  A major report was recently launched on the inclusion of children with special educational needs in early childhood settings in Ireland. The report contains alarming findings about the quality of provision for children with special needs. On the positive side, the report finds great enthusiasm and willingness to embrace change among practitioners. At a policy level... Read more |
| Early intervention - new UK report | |  A new report on early intervention, commissioned by the British Government, makes a powerful case for shifting Government policy from an expensive "culture of late intervention" to a cost-effective approach of early intervention. The report by Graham Allen MP summarises the growing body of evidence that demonstrates the impact of children's experiences in their early years. The report argues... Read more |
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