Dear colleague,
Over recent weeks early care and education has been - and continues to be - in the media spotlight. Newspaper reports on the upcoming RTÉ Prime Time documentary are generating much worry and anxiety among parents and those working in the early years sector.
Media scrutiny is essential. However, it's important that media discussion and policy debates recognise the full range of issues that need to be addressed if we are to achieve high quality services for young children. In April we launched our submission on the National Early Years Strategy, which sets out our detailed proposals.
This newsletter includes a focus on this submission, as well as a submission we made on the EU Structural Funds, which could help to finance the additional investment in young children that we are calling for. The newsletter also includes an article reflecting on the recent media discussion of pre-school quality and a possible Second Free Pre-School Year.
In addition, we summarise recent European reports on parenting and on reducing child poverty.
Finally we include details of a conference for early childhood educators on Saturday 22nd June in Dublin - on practice to support diversity, equality and inclusion. There are details of how to register below.
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Shaping the Future
 On 25th April, Start Strong launched Shaping the Future - our submission on the National Early Years Strategy. The submission presents our detailed proposals for the Government on how it should plan to reform early care and education policies over the next 5-10 years.
The overriding concern highlighted in our submission is quality. Through the National Early Years Strategy, we want the Government to ensure that no young child is in a low-quality early care and education setting. Read more
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Quality and a second free pre-school year
Over recent months the Ministers for Children and Youth Affairs, Social Protection, and Education and Skills have all spoken out in favour of a second Free Pre-School Year. Their recognition of the importance of children's early care and education - and specifically their support for a second Free Pre-School Year - are very welcome. We have two concerns, however. First, Child Benefit should not be cut in order to finance a second Free Pre-School year. Second, quality is critical. Read more
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22 June - conference on diversity and equality
On Saturday 22nd June, Start Strong and the EDENN network will be co-hosting a conference on diversity and equality - for practitioners in early care and education services. The conference is titled: "Making a Difference for All Children".
The keynote speaker will be Louise Derman-Sparks, an inspirational speaker from the US and author of the Anti-Bias Curriculum. We are also delighted to announce that the conference will be opened by Frances Fitzgerald TD, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. For more information, and details of how to register, read here
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Submission on EU Structural Funds
Next year a new round of EU funding begins. During the course of this year the Irish Government will reach an agreement with the EU on what to spend EU funds on in Ireland during the period 2014-2020.
Start Strong recently made a submission to the Government arguing that early care and education should be a priority for EU funds in Ireland. Read more
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Investing in Children - reducing child poverty
The European Commission recently published its long-awaited "recommendation" on child poverty and child well-being. Titled "Investing in Children: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage", the recommendation provides a clear framework to guide national policy on the reduction of child poverty.
It is particularly welcome that the document places a strong emphasis on children's early care and education. Read more
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Parenting support - in Ireland and across Europe
Children's early care and education takes places not just in services outside the home, but in children's own homes. Indeed, children's primary educators are their families.
Eurofound - the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living And Working Conditions - recently published a useful overview of parenting supports across Europe. The report draws on a literature review and case studies of parenting supports in seven European countries, including Ireland. Read more
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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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