In recent months, the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate has provided a number of regulatory notices and updates which have sought to make implementation of the regulations more straightforward and flexible, and provide transparency and accountability to the inspection process. These changes are often flagged for providers on the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate website, along with
A report by the UK Government, released last year, looks at the aims and purposes of Early Years provision in an international context. It also reflects on where England is within the international context. In part three of our review, we looked at what the report says on curriculum and pedagogy, and in this final
At least 80 per cent of workers should be covered by collective bargaining agreements and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) should move on a phased basis to a “genuine living wage,” according to a recent report published by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). In the report, Challenging myths and improving working conditions in
Public Consultation on the Draft Childminding Regulations In this week’s Policy in Action, Early Childhood Ireland looks at the recently published draft childminding regulations, which are out for public consultation from Thursday, 8 February 2024 until Thursday, 2 May 2024. The draft regulations have also been published in an easy-to-read summary here. The Need for
Last week, Early Childhood Ireland launched our Policy Proposal, A Single Agency for the Early Years and School Age Care sector. Since 2019 Early Childhood Ireland has been advocating for a Single Agency for the Early Years (EY) and School Age Care (SAC) sector. We were successful in having this added to the Programme for
The United Kingdom (UK) Government’s plans to provide 30 hours of “free childcare” in England “not only risk exacerbating inequalities, but also worsening the quality of education for all young children,” according to a recent policy briefing entitled ‘Inequality in Early Years Education’, published by the Sutton Trust. The 30 hours of free childcare scheme
Minister Roderic O’Gorman recently launched the 2023 State of the Nation’s Children (SONC) report. This report provides a comprehensive picture of the lives of children in Ireland, including key information on children’s health, behavioural and educational outcomes, and their relationships with their parents and their friends. The SONC report provides the most up-to-date data on
In Policy in Action this week, we examine a recent Irish Times article addressing closures in Early Years settings (available here to publication subscribers). This article features our Director of Policy, Frances Byrne, and Early Years provider and long-time member Louise Kilbane. This piece is an excellent example of how our media and policy teams
Minister questioned on Core Funding requirements at Oireachtas Children’s Committee Financial reporting “We are close to…having something good, some clarity in the next day or two” regarding proposals for Core Funding financial returns, according to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, at the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality,
First 5 Phase 2 (2023-2025) Implementation Plan and new Young Ireland Framework Last week, on Monday 20 November 2023, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) marked Children’s Day by launching the latest implementation plan for First 5, the ten-year whole of government strategy for babies, young children and their families. The
Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, 2018-2027 Company Registration No: 506235
Charity No CHY: 19987
Registered Charity No: 20078904
Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, 2018-2027 Company Registration No: 506235
Charity No CHY: 19987
Registered Charity No: 20078904
Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, 2018-2027 Company Registration No: 506235
Charity No CHY: 19987
Registered Charity No: 20078904
