Efforts to improve Early Years across European countries
Many countries across Europe face similar challenges in their Early Years and School Age Care systems. Affordability and accessibility issues, workforce shortages, low job satisfaction and low pay and conditions characterise systems that all aim to achieve high quality provision for all children. We provide an overview of efforts being taken by different European countries to tackle issues currently being experienced within the Irish Early Years system.
Bill for nearly free Early Years in the Netherlands
In recent months the government in the Netherlands announced that over the next few years, subsidies will be gradually increased to ensure that Early Years will be nearly free for all working parents by 2029. This will guarantee that parents will no longer lose part of their allowance as a result of working extra hours, making work more financially rewarding. The government also commits to simplifying the Early Years system, ensuring greater security and predictability for parents. Under the new system:
- The government will pay subsidies directly to providers, eliminating the need for parents to apply
- Parents will no longer receive uncertain advance payments or face retrospective repayment claims
- All working parents will receive the maximum reimbursement rate of 96%, regardless of income. This will encourage parents to work more hours
To manage increased demand, the government will introduce the changes on a phased basis and support the system in tackling staffing challenges, including through initiatives to help group assistants attain a qualification. The new arrangements will also streamline administrative requirements for providers, with additional supports in place to assist smaller organisations throughout the transition.
A public consultation on the draft bill was held to invite stakeholder feedback on the changes. You can read more about the Bill here.
Educator Wellbeing Strategy in Malta
Malta recently launched a new Educator Wellbeing Strategy for public consultation as an effort to improve support systems for educators and increase overall job satisfaction within the education system. Within the strategy educator refers to includes “heads of departments, heads of schools, deputy heads of schools, education officers, teachers, kindergarten educators, and learning support educators”.
A Wellbeing Unit that provides professional, on-demand mental health support and that adopts a holistic definition of educator wellbeing is set to be established. The Unit’s mission is to position educator wellbeing as central to a thriving educational system. A combination of outreach initiatives, tailored professional development opportunities and evidence-based practices will make up the support delivered. The strategy’s vision goes beyond supporting individual wellbeing to driving wider, systemic change. It sets out an ambition for an education system in which wellbeing is embedded at every level, underpinned by strong leadership and prioritising the needs of educators. One of the intended outcomes is increased capacity to attract and retain skilled professionals. The public consultation provides stakeholders with the opportunity to contribute feedback before the strategy is finalised.
You can read more about the strategy here.
Funding more staff and lower parental fees in Denmark
The Danish government recently decided to provide increased funding to municipalities for the purpose of supporting more staff in Early Years and reducing parental fees. The new funding package totals DKK1.7 billion which is equivalent to €227.46 million to strengthen Early Years services. The two key goals of the funding are:
- More pedagogical staff in day-care centres, nurseries and kindergartens
- Lower fees for parents who use publicly subsidised Early Years services
The funding is being provided as a monthly general grant to municipalities throughout 2026. The funding will help to prepare for upcoming changes in legislation that will:
- Remove pedagogical leaders from staff-to-child ratio calculations, requiring more frontline pedagogical staff
- Lower the maximum share of parental fees charged to families
In addition, the Ministry for Children and Education a draft amendment to the Early Childhood Education Act for public consultation which outlines reduced parental fees, greater transparency in the calculation of subsidies and Support for both public and private providers to ensure fair access.
You can read more about the initiative here.
Conclusion
It is positive to see a range of efforts being taken across member states to improve Early Years systems. It is also encouraging that stakeholders are given the opportunity to have their say on changes coming into effect that will impact their interaction with the Early Years system.
Early Childhood Ireland will continue to monitor changes that tackle issues also being experienced here in Ireland while the Irish Early Years system navigates its own changes.
If you have any questions or queries about our work, please contact [email protected].
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International Students – Everything you need to know
Key Requirements for International Students
International students play an increasingly important role in Early Years and School Age Care settings. Ensuring that robust Garda Vetting processes are followed is essential to safeguarding children, supporting services, and protecting students themselves.
Why Garda Vetting Matters
Garda Vetting is a key safeguarding measure and a legal requirement for anyone who will have access to children or vulnerable persons. For international students, vetting requirements are more detailed due to time spent living outside Ireland.
International students aged 16 years and over, cannot begin placement until all vetting requirements have been fully completed and cleared.
Garda Vetting Requirements for International Students
Identity validation is a critical step to ensure compliance and the safeguarding of children. As international students are abroad, the requirements of the identity validation process differ, so it’s important to understand what applies to you as the validator before you start. To make things easier, we’ve created a Tip Sheet with everything you need to know for validating your applicant’s identity.
The Tip Sheet has two different pathways explaining the Identity Validation process:
- For applicants living in Ireland
- For applicants living outside of Ireland
Each pathway is designed to guide validators through every step of the identity validation process, ensuring clarity and compliance. To make this even easier, you can download and print our Tip Sheet, which you can display in your service for quick reference whenever needed.
Download our Tip Sheet here.
Important: Police clearance certificates are still required in addition to Garda Vetting — one does not replace the other.
Timing: Plan Ahead
Due to ECRIS additional checks, any applicant who has previously lived or living in another EU Member State (other than Ireland) or the UK will experience longer Garda Vetting application processing times. Please keep in mind the following current processing timelines:
Standard applications (Irish addresses only):
- 18–20 working days (previously shorter)
Note: Around 20% may take longer, especially if an applicant’s details are entered incorrectly
Applications with EU address history:
- Add up to 10 extra working days
Total: approx. 28–30 working days
Applications with UK address history:
- Add up to 20 extra working days
Total: approx. 38–40 working days
Best practice: Begin the vetting process as soon as placement is being considered.
Students Aged 16 but Under 18 Years of Age
International students aged between 16 and 18 will be subject to the same application processing timelines outlined above. Garda Vetting for students aged 16–17 is referred to as Under 18s vetting and to begin, validators will need to obtain the following documents:
- The parent/guardian must complete this form
- The parent/guardian must sign and date their consent
- Must be completed in full and be legible
- Parent/guardian must provide their own email address and phone number (not the student’s) on the Vetting Invitation NVB1 Form
- Consent box ticked (digital tick not accepted)
- Signed and dated by the applicant using a handwritten signature (digital signatures not accepted)
- Proof of Identity and Written Reference from the Accepted Document Table
- Students must provide either of the following as proof of identity:
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Students need to provide a written statement by their school principal confirming attendance
- Letter must be on school letterhead paper
The Most Common Issue that causes Delays
The most common cause of delays in the vetting process is a lack of follow-up with applicants. It is your responsibility as an Early Years and School Age Care setting to follow up with your applicants to ensure that they have:
- Received the link sent by the NVB to complete their application
- Completed and submitted the link correctly sent by the NVB
If the applicant cannot access or has not received the link from the NVB, the vetting process cannot begin.
Common reasons for applicant’s not receiving links from the NVB include:
- Incorrect email address (e.g., spelling mistakes)
- Incorrect date of birth entered
To prevent this, it is vital that all information entered online matches the hard-copy documents (NVB1 form and the Identity Document Validation Form) identically.
Avoiding delays is essential, but is particularly important for international student applications, as placement timelines are often time sensitive. Given current processing times, delays must be avoided, so please ensure you follow up with applicants to confirm their applications are completed promptly
Key Takeaways
- Garda Vetting and Police Clearance are both mandatory
- Police clearance is required from each country of residence (6+ months)
- Plan ahead: Keep in mind current application processing times
- Follow up with your applicants to ensure link has been received and completed
- No placement may begin until garda vetting is complete
Helpful Information
Practical Tools and Resources to Guide Affiliates:
Early Years provision based on children’s needs in England
Early Years and School Age Care Staffing Issues Need Urgent Action
Share this post
More to explore
International Students – Everything you need to know
Key Requirements for International Students
International students play an increasingly important role in Early Years and School Age Care settings. Ensuring that robust Garda Vetting processes are followed is essential to safeguarding children, supporting services, and protecting students themselves.
Why Garda Vetting Matters
Garda Vetting is a key safeguarding measure and a legal requirement for anyone who will have access to children or vulnerable persons. For international students, vetting requirements are more detailed due to time spent living outside Ireland.
International students aged 16 years and over, cannot begin placement until all vetting requirements have been fully completed and cleared.
Garda Vetting Requirements for International Students
Identity validation is a critical step to ensure compliance and the safeguarding of children. As international students are abroad, the requirements of the identity validation process differ, so it’s important to understand what applies to you as the validator before you start. To make things easier, we’ve created a Tip Sheet with everything you need to know for validating your applicant’s identity.
The Tip Sheet has two different pathways explaining the Identity Validation process:
- For applicants living in Ireland
- For applicants living outside of Ireland
Each pathway is designed to guide validators through every step of the identity validation process, ensuring clarity and compliance. To make this even easier, you can download and print our Tip Sheet, which you can display in your service for quick reference whenever needed.
Download our Tip Sheet here.
Important: Police clearance certificates are still required in addition to Garda Vetting — one does not replace the other.
Timing: Plan Ahead
Due to ECRIS additional checks, any applicant who has previously lived or living in another EU Member State (other than Ireland) or the UK will experience longer Garda Vetting application processing times. Please keep in mind the following current processing timelines:
Standard applications (Irish addresses only):
- 18–20 working days (previously shorter)
Note: Around 20% may take longer, especially if an applicant’s details are entered incorrectly
Applications with EU address history:
- Add up to 10 extra working days
Total: approx. 28–30 working days
Applications with UK address history:
- Add up to 20 extra working days
Total: approx. 38–40 working days
Best practice: Begin the vetting process as soon as placement is being considered.
Students Aged 16 but Under 18 Years of Age
International students aged between 16 and 18 will be subject to the same application processing timelines outlined above. Garda Vetting for students aged 16–17 is referred to as Under 18s vetting and to begin, validators will need to obtain the following documents:
- The parent/guardian must complete this form
- The parent/guardian must sign and date their consent
- Must be completed in full and be legible
- Parent/guardian must provide their own email address and phone number (not the student’s) on the Vetting Invitation NVB1 Form
- Consent box ticked (digital tick not accepted)
- Signed and dated by the applicant using a handwritten signature (digital signatures not accepted)
- Proof of Identity and Written Reference from the Accepted Document Table
- Students must provide either of the following as proof of identity:
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Students need to provide a written statement by their school principal confirming attendance
- Letter must be on school letterhead paper
The Most Common Issue that causes Delays
The most common cause of delays in the vetting process is a lack of follow-up with applicants. It is your responsibility as an Early Years and School Age Care setting to follow up with your applicants to ensure that they have:
- Received the link sent by the NVB to complete their application
- Completed and submitted the link correctly sent by the NVB
If the applicant cannot access or has not received the link from the NVB, the vetting process cannot begin.
Common reasons for applicant’s not receiving links from the NVB include:
- Incorrect email address (e.g., spelling mistakes)
- Incorrect date of birth entered
To prevent this, it is vital that all information entered online matches the hard-copy documents (NVB1 form and the Identity Document Validation Form) identically.
Avoiding delays is essential, but is particularly important for international student applications, as placement timelines are often time sensitive. Given current processing times, delays must be avoided, so please ensure you follow up with applicants to confirm their applications are completed promptly
Key Takeaways
- Garda Vetting and Police Clearance are both mandatory
- Police clearance is required from each country of residence (6+ months)
- Plan ahead: Keep in mind current application processing times
- Follow up with your applicants to ensure link has been received and completed
- No placement may begin until garda vetting is complete
Helpful Information
Practical Tools and Resources to Guide Affiliates:
Early Years provision based on children’s needs in England
