1. EECERA Prague 2007 Making visible ’Parent, Baby and Toddler Groups’ within the Irish Context: Assessing needs to influence policy Mary Quirke IPPA mquirke@ippa.ie

2. EECERA Prague 2007 Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups within an Irish context Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups within an Irish context  Types of Parent, Baby and Toddler Groups  Status and visibility in Irish Early Education Policy  Funding

3. EECERA Prague 2007 Rationale for Study Values within the organisation of IPPA, The Early Childhood Organisation Values within the organisation of IPPA, The Early Childhood Organisation IPPA have always recognised the role of Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups in the community and their benefits to both parents and children IPPA have always recognised the role of Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups in the community and their benefits to both parents and children

4. EECERA Prague 2007 Rationale for Study IPPA have endeavoured to support them IPPA have endeavoured to support them Level of support has varied, dependent on both external and internal influences Level of support has varied, dependent on both external and internal influences

5. EECERA Prague 2007 Research Question How can IPPA develop a range of appropriate supports that meet the needs of Parent, Baby and Toddler Groups and use this as a tool to influence local and national policy How can IPPA develop a range of appropriate supports that meet the needs of Parent, Baby and Toddler Groups and use this as a tool to influence local and national policy

6. EECERA Prague 2007 Literature Review Vygotsky – socio-cultural theory ‘ The child, according to Vygotsky explores and learns most effectively in the company of others. The new schemes being presented by the outside world – peers and adults – are taken by the child.’ ‘ The child, according to Vygotsky explores and learns most effectively in the company of others. The new schemes being presented by the outside world – peers and adults – are taken by the child.’ Gould, K. & Nixon, D. (1999:p.122) Gould, K. & Nixon, D. (1999:p.122)

7. EECERA Prague 2007 Literature Review Rogoff (1991) ‘Vygotsky assumes that social guidance aids children in learning to communicate and plan and remember deliberately. This guidance provides children with the opportunity to participate beyond their own abilities and to internalise activities practiced socially, thus independently managing problem solving.’ ‘Vygotsky assumes that social guidance aids children in learning to communicate and plan and remember deliberately. This guidance provides children with the opportunity to participate beyond their own abilities and to internalise activities practiced socially, thus independently managing problem solving.’

8. EECERA Prague 2007 Literature Review Trevarthen (1979) ‘Young children are social beings, developing through interpersonal exchanges with others.' ‘Young children are social beings, developing through interpersonal exchanges with others.'

9. EECERA Prague 2007 Literature Review Looked at models in other countries and how they supported their P, B & T groups Looked at models in other countries and how they supported their P, B & T groups N. Ireland, England and Scotland N. Ireland, England and Scotland This informed me how IPPA might progress This informed me how IPPA might progress

10. EECERA Prague 2007 Which Approach – Action Research Which Approach – Action Research ‘Action research is a form of enquiry that enables practitioners everywhere to investigate and evaluate their work. They ask ‘What am I doing? What do I need to improve? How do I improve it?’ ‘Action research is a form of enquiry that enables practitioners everywhere to investigate and evaluate their work. They ask ‘What am I doing? What do I need to improve? How do I improve it?’ McNiff, J., Whitehead, J. (2006:p.9)

11. EECERA Prague 2007 Lewin’s Cycle as cited by Smith (1996: 2001)

12. EECERA Prague 2007 Data Collection Sample Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups (50) Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups (50) Research was carried out between June 2006 and April 2007 Research was carried out between June 2006 and April 2007 Methods  Questionnaire  Primary Research  One to one interviews  On-site observation

13. EECERA Prague 2007 Cycle One TaskMethodOutcome Carried out a broad survey of P, B &T groups to gather base line data Questionnaire Profile of groups re: no. of children, hours, fees, organisation structure, premises, funding, getting established

14. EECERA Prague 2007 Emerging Themes Information ‘We really don’t know how to properly establish our group.’ ‘We really don’t know how to properly establish our group.’ ‘Do we need to open a bank account?’ ‘Do we need to open a bank account?’ ‘ We did not know that we should have policies and procedures.’ ‘ We did not know that we should have policies and procedures.’

15. EECERA Prague 2007 Emerging Themes Funding ‘ We normally have to fund raise to cover our budget for the year’ ‘ We never have enough money and are always relying on parents to donate us toys that their own children have grown out of.’

16. EECERA Prague 2007 First Action Step Developed an information leaflet – Developed an information leaflet – ‘Easy Guide to Establishing a Parent, Baby & Toddler Group’

17. EECERA Prague 2007 Evaluation/Reflection on Action Step One More information and detail required on establishing and developing a group More information and detail required on establishing and developing a group We needed to ascertain more specific needs and requirements of the groups We needed to ascertain more specific needs and requirements of the groups

18. EECERA Prague 2007 New government initiative New government initiative National Childcare Investment Programme 2007 (N.C.I.P) National Childcare Investment Programme 2007 (N.C.I.P) Role of Parent, Baby and Toddler Groups now being recognised Role of Parent, Baby and Toddler Groups now being recognised Funding now allocated to support Parent, Baby and Toddler Groups Funding now allocated to support Parent, Baby and Toddler Groups

19. EECERA Prague 2007 Cycle 2 TaskMethodOutcome Research new government initiative on funding for Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups Primary research Members need to be informed of new funding and how to apply

20. EECERA Prague 2007 Second Action Step Information on the funding now available under the new government initiative was issued to all Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups Information on the funding now available under the new government initiative was issued to all Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups Grant applications also issued Grant applications also issued

21. EECERA Prague 2007 Evaluation/Reflection on Action Step 2 Contacted a random selection of groups Contacted a random selection of groups ‘We were able to get some new equipment for our group that we would never have considered buying before.’ ‘We were able to get some new equipment for our group that we would never have considered buying before.’ ‘It’s great to know that we will still have some money left and won’t have to go begging for funds in September.’ ‘It’s great to know that we will still have some money left and won’t have to go begging for funds in September.’

22. EECERA Prague 2007 Cycle 3 TaskMethodOutcome Carried out in depth interviews One to one interviews Detailed information on specific needs. Visited a newly established Parent, Baby & Toddler Groups On site observation Deficit on knowledge on how to establish, develop and move forward with a Parent, Baby & Toddler Group

23. EECERA Prague 2007 Emerging Themes Information ‘How do we encourage more parental involvement ‘ ‘How do we encourage more parental involvement ‘ ‘ How do we organise our mornings and make sure everyone knows who is doing what?’

24. EECERA Prague 2007 Training ‘I would love some interesting ideas on play for the under 2’s’ ‘I would love some interesting ideas on play for the under 2’s’ ‘What about the babies – I would l love to do something exciting with them’ ‘What about the babies – I would l love to do something exciting with them’ ‘I don’t know how to keep my toddler ‘I don’t know how to keep my toddler occupied while I try to get involved with activities for the baby’ occupied while I try to get involved with activities for the baby’ Emerging Themes

25. EECERA Prague 2007 Emerging Themes Premises ‘Our premises are old and dingy. We had an oil leak on our carpet and we are now meeting in each others houses’ ‘Our premises are old and dingy. We had an oil leak on our carpet and we are now meeting in each others houses’ ‘ Our premises are dark and stuffy and you have to go down some steps to get into them.’ ‘ Our premises are dark and stuffy and you have to go down some steps to get into them.’

26. EECERA Prague 2007 Action Step 3 Book on how to establish and develop a P, B &T Group Book on how to establish and develop a P, B &T Group Development of training workshops on Play for under 2’s and Play for under 1’s Development of training workshops on Play for under 2’s and Play for under 1’s

27. EECERA Prague 2007 Implications for Policy and Practice  Going forward  Need for on-going support  Funding needs to be integral part at policy level  Training –tailored specifically

28. EECERA Prague 2007 Implications for Policy and Practice  P, B & T groups are recognised as an important part of the childcare infrastructure in Ireland  Value is placed on P,B & Toddler groups as agents of socialisation in the community

29. EECERA Prague 2007 Thank You Mary Quirke mquirke@ippa.ie