Dear colleague,
The Prime Time investigation, A Breach of Trust, has been a huge concern for parents - and for all those working in early care and education services. We will not easily forget the distressing scenes shown in the programme.
The issues raised have become a major focus of political and media attention. While the programme has troubled us all, one positive outcome may be a much greater awareness of the importance of the quality of early care and education services.
This newsletter includes the statement that Start Strong issued the day after the Prime Time programme was broadcast, as well as the presentation that Start Strong made to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children when it met two weeks later to discuss the issues arising from the programme.
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has responded to the programme with a series of measures, which we summarise.
This newsletter also covers the national launch of the Association of Childhood Professionals; two upcoming events involving Start Strong; and the European Commission's latest report on the Barcelona objectives.
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Reaction to Prime Time
 The day after the broadcast of the Prime Time investigation, A Breach of Trust, Start Strong issued a statement. Our statement said that the Prime Time investigation must be a watershed in the history of early care and education services in Ireland, and a catalyst for change. Read more |
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Minister's "Pre-School Quality Agenda"
 In the wake of the Prime Time investigation, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has made a series of policy announcements to respond to concerns about quality and especially the inspection system. Describing it as the "Pre-School Quality Agenda", the Minister has announced eight areas of action. Read more |
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Prime Time: Oireachtas Committee
Following the Prime Time investigation, A Breach of Trust, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children met on 11th June to discuss issues arising from the programme.
The Committee invited the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to speak, along with the HSE, Early Childhood Ireland, and Start Strong. Read more
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Association of Childhood Professionals: launch
 On 7th June, the Association of Childhood Professionals held its national launch event at the Department of Education and Skills in Dublin.
The Association of Childhood Professionals describes its aim as "to be the representative body for childhood professionals in Ireland". It uses the word "childhood professional" to describe all qualified practitioners in early years and school-aged care and education. 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, author of the Anti-Bias Curriculum. The conference will be opened by Frances Fitzgerald TD, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
We have had a fantastic response, and the conference is already fully booked. For more information about the event, read here
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1 July symposium - Towards a Parenting Strategy
 In 2010 a special interest group was established of organisations concerned with supporting parents in their parenting role. More than 20 organisations, including Start Strong, are members of the group.
On Monday 1st July, the group is holding an all-island symposium titled Towards a Parenting Strategy. Read more
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Barcelona objectives - EU update
 Just over ten years ago, the European Commission published the so-called "Barcelona objectives" for the development of early care and education services in EU member states.
The objectives are very limited in scope as they relate just to the number of childcare places, not the quality. However, they remain an EU goal, and the European Commission has just published a report with updated statistics on the targets. 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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