Better Start Quality Development Service

Better Start Quality Development Service is a national initiative established by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
(DCEDIY) to bring an integrated national approach to developing quality in Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings for children aged from birth to six years in Ireland. Better Start delivers State-funded supports, including:

• professional mentoring and coaching,
• continuing professional development, and
• expert early learning and care advice,
based on the Síolta and Aistear Frameworks and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) principles, to Early Learning and Care services coherently and consistently, so that those services are of high quality and deliver positive outcomes for children. Through their Learning and Development Unit, they offer the following training opportunities

Hanen ‘Teacher Talk’ Workshop A online

Teacher Talk Workshop A ‘ Encouraging Language Development in Early Childcare Settings’ is available for practitioners in ECCE rooms receiving support under AIM. The course consists of 3 x 2.5-hour workshops. If your setting is interested in attending the course, please discuss with your AIM Early Years Specialist and email: AIMtraining@betterstart.ie

For more information on the Hanen approach to speech and language development, go to their website 
Sensory Processing in Early Learning (SPEL)

This is an e-learning course and has 4 modules:
1. What is Sensory Processing?
2. Development of Sensory Processing in an early learning environment.
3. Practical strategies.
4. Supporting a child’s needs.
To apply for the course go to the First 5 CPD resource page www.first5.gov.ie You will also find a recorded webinar with Fiona O’Farrell, Paediatric Occupational Therapist, who developed the course, available on the page.

Lámh Module One
The Lámh Organisation are working at bringing Module One online. For updates, go to the Lámh Organisation website.