Start Strong
November 2011 e-newsletter
Girl playing with red and blue toy
Greetings!

As we approach Budget day, we urge the Government to avoid cuts that would impact negatively on young children and their families. Above all, it is essential that the Government maintains the Free Pre-School Year as universal and free.

In this newsletter, we have details of our Pre-Budget Submission and of our submission to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on its strategy for 2011-2014. We also have articles on professionalising the early years sector, working with diversity, and men in childcare.

And if you haven't yet registered your interest in attending our conference on 13th December, please do so! There are still some places left, but not many, so don't leave it too late...

Pre-Budget Submission
 
Start Strong logoThe upcoming Budget seems to offer little scope for good news. But children's early care and education could be just the sort of good news the Government wants, as increasing investment in children's early years can actually reduce the overall level of public spending.

Our Pre-Budget Submission for Budget 2012 highlights in particular the crucial importance of retaining the Free Pre-School Year as universal and free. Read more
Conference - Tuesday 13th December

 

13 Dec conferenceStart Strong will host a national conference on children's early care and education on Tuesday 13th December, from 9.30am to 4.30pm, in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin 1.

The focus of the conference will be the National Children's Strategy and children's early years. Read more about the conference, and register your interest here
Submission on DCYA strategy

 

DCYA logoThe Department of Children and Youth Affairs is currently preparing a statement of its strategy for the next 3 years. Start Strong made a submission outlining our views of key issues the Department should bear in mind as it plans its work.

The Department's creation was a major step forwards, yet its practical impact will depend on its strategic approach, and on how effectively it can work with other Departments, especially Education and Health. Read more

 

Professionalising the early years sector

 

CoRe coverThere is growing recognition that early care and education can be of huge benefit to children - but only when it is of high quality. And the professional competence of early years practitioners is perhaps the single most important factor in determining the quality of services.

Thanks to CoRe - a major new European study on professionalism in children's early care and education - we now have a clear and authoritative assessment of what exactly professional competence involves.
Read more
Working with diversity

 

The challenge of diversity has grown rapidly in early care and education services in recent years. And the Free Pre-School Year means that nearly all 3 and 4 year olds in the country are now attending early care and education services, regardless of their abilities or background.

A new publication from DECET and ISSA sets out some of the values and competences required of practitioners in working with diversity. Read more
Men in childcare

 

Men in Childcare logoOn 19 November, the Men in Childcare Network held a conference in Dublin that brought together speakers and participants from around Europe.

The conference, which launched the network's Strategic Plan for 2011-2014, looked at the benefits of increasing the proportion of men in the early years workforce, the barriers that stand in the way, and the next steps for the Men in Childcare Network. Read more 
Child poverty - Oireachtas committee
 
ECPC at OireachtasOn 18 November the End Child Poverty Coalition, of which Start Strong is a member, appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in a meeting on child poverty. The Coalition pointed to the impact that rising child poverty is having on children's everyday lives. It stressed the need for the upcoming Budget to be poverty proofed, especially for its impact on children.

Toby Wolfe of Start Strong spoke alongside colleagues from other member organisations of the End Child Poverty Coalition. Watch a video of the meeting 
 

Start Strong
Advancing children's early care and education in Ireland

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Cover of If I Had a Magic Wand
If I Had a Magic Wand
Our latest publication presents children's own views on early care and education services. Read it online