- 18th June 2013
Children are the real authors of preschool curricula as seven early childcare & education centres from Cork and Tipperary showcase their Aistear in Action curriculum through simple but highly effective learning stories in an initiative from Early Childhood Ireland and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) …
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- 11th June 2013
Post Primetime Programme ’Breach of Trust’ Early Childhood Ireland presents its ‘Turning Point for Change’ submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health & Children at 5pm today Tuesday 11th June …
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- 7th June 2013
Early Childhood Ireland attends and welcomes the launch of the new National Association of Childhood Professionals and echoes Minister Fitzgerald’s commitment to a preschool quality agenda …
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- 2nd June 2013
Response from Early Childhood Ireland regarding comments made in the media by Gordon Jeyes, Chief Executive-Designate of the Child and Family Agency (Irish Times Saturday and RTE radio today) and by Minister Frances Fitzgerald (Sunday Business Post) …
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- 1st June 2013
Can’t and won’t allow the authorities abdicate their responsibilities to underpin this childcare sector and the investment must come from the State rather than pushing back on the sector and hard pressed parents to foot the bill – Response of Early Childhood Ireland in relation to the reform proposal set out by Gordon Jeyes, Chief Executive-Designate of the Child and Family Agency (in today’s Irish Times). …
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- 29th May 2013
Early Childhood Ireland says focus must switch to targets, timeline and investment to implement preschool quality agenda, as outlined by Minister Fitzgerald in Seanad today …
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- 24th May 2013
Childcare sector facing a crisis of confidence in anticipation of Primetime programme on standards in childcare: Early Childhood Ireland encourages parents to ask questions and to develop a relationship with the childcare professionals charged with their child’s care and early years education …
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- 23rd May 2013
Early Childhood Ireland’s response to the upcoming Primetime programme on standards in childcare, which is currently being mentioned in the media…
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- 22nd May 2013
Early Childhood Ireland response to Minister Frances Fitzgerald’s agenda (published last night Tuesday 21st May) for improving quality in preschool services
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- 20th May 2013
Early Childhood Ireland response to report in Irish Times this morning (Monday 20th May) about quality issues found in preschool tuition
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- 17th May 2013
Early Childhood Ireland welcomes NCSE recommendations on special needs education but Government must address this at preschool level rather than waiting until primary school
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- 15th May 2013
Early Childhood Ireland starts nationwide consultation process with childcare professionals regarding the building blocks for a second free preschool year – kicking off tonight Wednesday 15th May in Red Cow Moral Hotel 7pm to 9pm; Letterkenny tomorrow night and Cork and Galway next week
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- 10th May 2013
“Investment in children’s early years should be economic imperative but workforce development is also key”
Statement from Irene Gunning, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland re ongoing debate about possible second year of free preschool programme and Minister Fitzgerald’s latest comments.
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- 24th April 2013
Early Childhood Ireland, the representative group for over 3,300 preschool, daycare and afterschool centres nationwide, is cautious about the pilot afterschool scheme announced by Ministers Burton and Fitzgerald and will monitor it closely …
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- 21st April 2013
‘We don’t need a Scandinavian model in childcare, what we need is a uniquely Irish model that meets the needs of children’
So said the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald at Early Childhood Ireland’s “Green Shoots” childcare seminar this weekend, to an audience of 150 childcare professionals, students and policy makers from around the country. …
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- 12th April 2013
Early Childhood Ireland welcomes Norah Gibbons’ appointment as chairwoman of new Child and Family Agency
Statement from Irene Gunning, CEO, Early Childhood Ireland … Read More
- 27th March 2013
Debate must shift from one of cost to how the childcare bill should be paid
Statement from Early Childhood Ireland, the representative group for 3,330 childcare professionals who support over 100,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool and full daycare (crèche) provision nationwide: … Read More
- 4th March 2013
Over 35,000 children to wear their pyjamas into preschool this Friday 8th March for Early Childhood Ireland’s National Pyjama Day in aid of the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) Hospice Home Care for Children Programme – Reprint of registration packs ordered this weekend, based on increased numbers taking part … Read More
- 12th December 2012
Early Childhood Ireland recommends an ABC approach to buying toys and gifts for young children this Christmas. These simple ABC steps are guaranteed to save time, money and stress for parents while maximizing fun and play value for children. … Read More
- 6th December 2012
This is a tough budget for families to swallow and the 10 euro cut on child benefit is harsh, especially on families who are hard pressed to put food on the table week in week out … Read More
- 28th November 2012
96% of preschools and crèches nationwide say children would benefit from extension of free preschool scheme to 2 years, according to survey from Early Childhood Ireland … Read More
- 20th November 2012
Early Childhood Ireland urges Senators to ask the right questions of Minister Richard Bruton today – Tuesday 20th November 2012 … Read More
- 22nd October 2012
Early Childhood Ireland tips for inexpensive Halloween midterm fun, with old style traditional family games & rituals – Irene Gunning, CEO, Early Childhood Ireland … Read More
- 13th October 2012
Early Childhood Ireland welcomes Minister Joan Burton’s remarks about an expansion of the free preschool scheme to two years … Read More
- 19th September 2012
Statement from Irene Gunning, CEO, Early Childhood Ireland in relation to sick pay discussion in Leinster House, Wednesday 19th September … Read More
- 17th September 2012
ERP Teams Up With Early Childhood Ireland and Launches a Battery Recycling Competition For Preschoolers … Read More
- 27th August 2012
Taking the stress out of starting “Big School” – Early Childhood Ireland’s FREE leaflets on starting big school and pre-school … Read More
- 22nd August 2012
Early Childhood Ireland seeks urgent clarification on sick pay proposal from Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton … Read More
- 7th August 2012
Early Childhood Ireland, representative group for over 80% of preschools and crèches nationwide, welcomes today’s Irish Independent article on the cost of childcare. … Read More
- 1st August 2012
Over half of preschools and crèches nationwide would close if required to pay the first month’s sick pay for absent staff, if Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton’s sick pay proposal is implemented … Read More
- 20th July 2012
Early Childhood Ireland, representative group for over 80% of preschools and crèches nationwide, welcomes publication of final report on the Child and Family Support Agency … Read More
- 3rd July 2012
Statement from Early Childhood Ireland re Inspection Process on foot of Irish Independent 2nd July feature. … Read More
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21st June 2012
Early Childhood Ireland welcomes the announcement that the Children’s Rights Referendum will take place in the autumn. … Read More
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20th June 2012
Statement from Teresa Heeney, Chief Operations Officer, Early Childhood Ireland in response to new study from UCC and UCD (as part of the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance) warning that nearly a quarter of pre-school children are overweight or obese. … Read More
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30th April 2012
Little Folk Preschool in Our Lady’s School Ballinteer is overall national winner of the Learning Stories Award from Early Childhood Ireland … Read More
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30th April 2012
Little Friends Playgroup Swords (also known as “Joan’s Playgroup”) is overall national winner of the Innovation Award from Early Childhood Ireland … Read More
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1st March 2012
New preschool programme called ‘Exploring & Thinking’ which is a joint initiative between Dublin Zoo and Early Childhood Ireland launches today. … Read More
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27th February 2012
Statement from Early Childhood Ireland in response to Dublin coroner Dr. Brian Farrell’s call on the HSE to ban popcorn from preschool facilities in the wake of tragic incident in Limerick in March 2011 when an 18 month old child died when she choked on a popcorn kernel. … Read More
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26 January 2012
Early Childhood Ireland’s response to Minister Fitzgerald’s announcement of Ireland’s First National Early Years Strategy … Read More
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25 January 2012
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs launches National Pyjama Day 2012 … Read More
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7 December 2011
Early Childhood Ireland calls for clarification on adjustments to free preschool scheme and says that ratios of adults to children can only be increased through change in regulations … Read More
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15 November 2011
Early Childhood Ireland urges caution about Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton’s proposal to transfer responsibility for paying sick pay from her Department to employers in the early childcare and education sector … Read More
