Dear colleague,
The Government has begun the work of preparing the National Early Years Strategy. It's a hugely important opportunity. To ensure that Start Strong's submission to the Government is as strong as possible, we are carrying out a consultation, seeking advice and feedback from our supporters. We would like to invite you to our consultation meeting on Wednesday 12th December - details below.
More immediately, of course, the Budget will be announced next week. Our efforts to inform the Budget include both a Pre-Budget Submission and a report - prepared jointly with Barnardos - that compares Scandinavian childcare systems with Ireland's early years and after-school care. Both documents are highlighted below.
One particular concern in the upcoming Budget is the resources that will be made available for the new Child and Family Support Agency. The e-newsletter includes a submission on the role of the new Agency prepared by the Prevention and Early Intervention Network, of which Start Strong is a member.
This month's e-newsletter also includes the report of the Government's consultation with children, two evaluations from the Childhood Development Initiative in Tallaght West, and an international report on parental involvement in early learning.
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Shaping the Future: Start Strong consultation
 The Government is currently in the process of developing Ireland's first National Early Years Strategy. It's the Government's opportunity to set out ambitious plans for the future of services and supports for young children and their families. Start Strong will be making a submission to the Government early in the new year. To help shape our submission, we are inviting you to take part in our consultation meeting on Wednesday 12th December. Read more |
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Scandinavian childcare in Ireland?
 Speaking in the Dáil in April, the Minister for Social Protection said she would only reform the One Parent Family Payment if she got a Government commitment by this year's Budget to a "Scandinavian" childcare system for Ireland.
Barnardos and Start Strong worked together to prepare a short paper that compares the current provision of childcare and after-school services in Ireland for 0-12 year olds with the Scandinavian systems to which the Minister referred. We agree with the Minister on the direction we need to go, but the scale of change and investment required is large. Read more
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Pre-Budget Submission
 Start Strong recently made its Pre-Budget Submission to the Government. Given the importance of the forthcoming National Early Years Strategy, the main focus of our submission is ensuring the Government maintains investment in early childhood, with sufficient funds to implement any policy commitments that will be made in the National Early Years Strategy.
We acknowledge the commitment the Government has shown during 2012 to improving the lives of children in Ireland by introducing the Children's Referendum and by announcing the National Early Years Strategy. To maintain the momentum set by these historic developments, the Government must, at a minimum, maintain current expenditure in key areas affecting children's lives. Read more
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A universal base for family and parenting supports
 Prevention and early intervention should be central to family and parenting supports. And targeted interventions aimed at families with additional needs must rest on a base of universal, preventative services.
Those are two of the key messages in a submission to the Government on the new Child and Family Support Agency - and also in a new compendium of good practice published by Eurochild. Read more |
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Government consultation with children
 Earlier in November, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs launched the report of the national consultation carried out with children and young people to feed into the forthcoming national children's strategy.
The consultation involved more than 66,000 children aged 7-18. The Government is to be commended for the energy it has put into carrying out and publicising the consultation, though it is disappointing that younger children were not consulted. Read more
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Two evaluation reports from CDI in Tallaght
 A series of evaluation reports from the Childhood Development Initiative in Tallaght West have just been launched. Two are of particular relevance to children's early years: the evaluation of CDI's Speech and Language Therapy Service, and the Doodle Den programme. Both evaluations found positive results. The reports - along with those from the evaluations of other Prevention and Early Intervention Projects (e.g. youngballymun and Preparing for Life) will be important inputs in the development of future policy, including the National Early Years Strategy. Read more |
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Parental involvement in early learning
 A new report from International Child Development Initiatives and the Bernard van Leer Foundation, both based in the Netherlands, challenges the boundary between young children's learning at home and their learning in care and education services. The report points to the evidence on how children learn in all settings - in their homes, in centre-based services, and in their communities. It also highlights the benefits that arise when parents and practitioners work in partnership. Read more |
Start StrongAdvancing children's early care and education in Ireland
  www.startstrong.ie+353-1-662-4018
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| Supporters
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 | The Economics of Children's Early Years
Start Strong's report presents the compelling economic case for Government investment in early care and education. Read it now
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 | If I Had a Magic Wand
Our recent publication presents children's own views on early care and education services. Read it online |
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