Earlier this summer the Prime Time investigation A Breach of Trust exposed poor practice in a number of crèches, and raised systemic concerns about the variable quality of early care and education services. In response, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs announced a series of measures - her "Pre-School Quality Agenda" - but they were just first steps.
The challenge the Government now faces is to move beyond those first steps, and to make the systemic reforms that will be needed if we are to ensure quality services for all young children.
With a National Early Years Strategy just round the corner, the Government will shortly have the opportunity to set out an ambitious programme of change. The work of the Minister's Expert Advisory Group on the strategy is nearing completion and will be published in the coming weeks.
This newsletter includes Start Strong's Pre-Budget Submission, and a position paper on parenting policy, as well as summaries of: Fianna Fáil's proposals for early care and education; recent data and research from Pobal and from Growing Up in Ireland; an international review of parental leave policies; and a new book by Nóirín Hayes.
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Budget 2014
 This year's Budget - which will be announced on 15th October - is a critical one for the future of early care and education in Ireland. If the National Early Years Strategy is to be ambitious, the Government must this October begin the process of increasing investment in early childhood. Start Strong's Pre-Budget Submission sets out our recommendations for Budget 2014. Read more |
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Towards a national parenting strategy
 At the beginning of July, an all-island symposium was held in Dublin on the development of a national parenting strategy. The event was organised by the Special Interest Group: Supporting Parents in their Parenting Role, a network of 28 organisations including Start Strong. The symposium was the network's first public event, and saw the publication of its Position Paper. Read more |
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Fianna Fáil discussion paper
 Fianna Fáil has published a discussion paper on early childhood care and education, titled Investing in Tomorrow.
Many of the proposals are positive and all merit discussion. The timing of the paper is particularly useful as a contribution to the public debate that we need to have during the preparation of the National Early Years Strategy. Read more
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Pobal annual survey of the early years sector
 Pobal recently published the 2012 findings of its Annual Survey of the Early Years Sector. As the survey now goes to practically all early care and education services, it is the most comprehensive data source available to us.
The survey presents a useful picture of the current state of the sector. Read more
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Childcare choices for 9 month olds
In July GUI researchers at the ESRI and Trinity College Dublin published the results of research that examined the timing of mothers' return to work, and the childcare choices that families make for 9 month olds in Ireland.
The research provides further evidence that a key factor in determining how long a parent remains at home with a child in the first year is the duration of paid leave. Read more
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International review of parental leave 2012
 Every year a global network of researchers publishes an international review of parental leave policies. The 2012 review was published recently.
Payment is critical for leave entitlements to be useful for most families. The review notes that take-up of unpaid leave is generally low for both mothers and fathers. While unpaid leave in Ireland is relatively long, we have little paid leave by international standards. Read more
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Early years practice - a new Irish book
 A new book by Nóirín Hayes has just been published: "Early Years Practice: Getting it Right from the Start".
The book, which is aimed at both students and practitioners, draws together the Síolta quality framework and Aistear curriculum framework, offering guidance for practitioners on how to link their practice to theory. 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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