1. Early Childhood Education Ireland
Nóirín Hayes
Centre for Social and Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology
School of Education, Trinity College Dublin

2. Introduction
Ireland has seen dramatic changes in policy approach to Early Childhood Education over the last years
Brief context
The 1990s
The 2000s
Since 2010

3. Defining ECE Internationally defined as the first stage of education
Pre compulsory provision (0-6 years)
Incorporates the concept of education and care [of/about]
Includes a variety of services supporting families and children [including infant classes]
Private, community based and state supported

4. Brief Context The Irish Constitution
The Irish State engagement with family
The Irish State longstanding commitment to education

5. The role of OMEP
Training – first national training programme at Dublin Institute of Technology [DIT]
Legislation and Regulation – OMEP influence on the Child Care Act 1991
Research – partnership between UCC and DIT to host research seminars: development of an Irish Journal of Early Childhood Studies [An Leanbh Óg]

6. Defining Early Childhood Education in Ireland
A difficulty of language and auspices
Childcare
Early childcare [0-3]
Out of school care [4-12]
Early Education
Inside school system - junior/senior infants [4-6]
Outside school system - creches, nurseries, preschools [limited recognition of childminding] [birth – 6]
Conceptual and structural distinction between education and care
Privileging education over care

7. Early Childhood Education
An instance of confusion about the concept childcare/early education
Indicator for Early Childhood Education:
Enrolment in early childhood care and education:
The percentage of children under 13 [sic] in various early childhood care and education arrangements. [State of the Nations Children Report, 2008]

8. Education and Care Compulsory school age in Ireland is 6 years
but many 4 and 5 year olds attend and all children at school come under the aegis of the Dept. of Education and Skills
Preschool children defined as:
Children under 6 years of age who are not attending a national school or equivalent --- come under the aegis of a range of departments including Dept. of Children and Youth Affairs and the Dept. of Health.

9. Education v Care Qualifications:
Strict qualification requirements for primary school teachers [BEd – L8]
Limited qualification requirements for early years teachers [Certificate – L5/6]
Regulation/Inspection:
Education:- long-standing with dedicated education inspectorate
Early years – a health inspectorate with no early education training

10. The 1990s Child Care Act 1991 Implementation of Regulations [1997]
Growth of membership organisations and NGO groups
Increasing calls for a national strategy and for clarity re departmental responsibility
Labour Market: Unions and women’s groups
Education equality: target investment on disadvantaged
Children’s rights advocates: universal supports
Politicians

11. The 1990s Emerging relevant policy documents:
Report on National Forum on ECE [1998] ( 0-3/0-6 split)
Strengthening Families for Life [1998]
National Childcare Strategy [1999] (birth – 12/14 years)
White paper on ECE – Ready to Learn [1999] (birth – 6 years)

12. : A decade of activity
Equal Opportunities Childcare programme [EU funding] [ ]
Childcare for working parents
Capital investment in childcare places
Structural supports – local childcare committees
National Childcare Investment programme [Exchequer funding] [ ]
Focus on cash payments to parents
Fee Subsidy
Early Childcare Supplement

13.
Centre for Early Childhood Education and Development [CECDE] established [2002]
OECD thematic review [2004] calls for:
Systematic and integrated approach
Appointment of a lead office
Co-ordination between central and local
Quality improvement and assurance
Universal access for 3-4 year olds

14. 2000 - 2010 Office of the Minister for Children opens [2006]
Childcare Directorate
Early Years Policy Unit
Síolta – National Quality framework [2006]
Aistear – National Early Childhood Curriculum Framework [2009]
Workforce Development Plan [2010]

15. 2000 - 2010 Prevention and Early Intervention Programme (2007)
Closure of CECDE [2008]
Withdrawal of the ECS [2009]
Launch of the Universal Free Preschool Year Initiative [2010]
Capitation grant to settings
Incentivising training

16. 2011 - 2014 National Early Years Initiative (2011-2014)
11 local projects supported
Ministry for Children and Youth Affairs (2011)
Area Based Childhood Initiative (2013)
Early Years Advisory group reports (2014)
Early Years Strategy imminent
National Early Years Quality Support Service announced

17. Summary
Ireland slow to recognise value of early childhood care and education
Split between education and care remains
Investment in spaces rather than the development of an integrated quality service
Limited investment in early years services directly

18. How are we doing? OECD thematic review [2004] called for:
Systematic and integrated approach – not yet
Appointment of a lead office - DCYA
Co-ordination between central and local - improving
Quality improvement and assurance – NEYQSS??
Universal access for 3-4 year olds - FPSY

19. How do we compare? UNICEF Report Card 8 (2008):
Ireland met 1 of the ten indicators; poorest performance of the 24 countries
2014 – Ireland meets 2 of the ten indicators
Starting Well Index (2012) on Quality, Affordability and Access to ECE
Ireland 67.4 [range (India) – 91.8 (Finland)]
Ireland ranking of 18th in 45 countries

20. Challenges Investment remains very low - <.04% GDP
Quality supports limited
Limited funding to support implementation of Síolta – the National Quality Framework
No funding to support the implementation of Aistear – the Early Years Curriculum Framework
Investment in training support fragmented and limited
Salaries and conditions of service poor

21. A shift in emphasis – The Universal Free Preschool Year*
a shift in policy?
an engagement with the idea that Early Childhood Education is good for all children?
Yet to be assessed - -
*In another linguistic confusion the Free Preschool Year is also called the ECCE initiative
perpetuating the confusion on definition!!

22. Thank You 