Early Childhood Education Ireland Nóirín Hayes Centre for

Early Childhood Education Ireland Nóirín Hayes Centre for Social and Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology noirin. hayes@dit. ie School of Education, Trinity College Dublin noirin. hayes@tcd. ie

Introduction • Ireland has seen dramatic changes in policy approach to Early Childhood Education over the last 10 -15 years – Brief context – The 1990 s – The 2000 s – Since 2010

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

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

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]

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

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]

Education and Care • Compulsory school age in Ireland is 6 years – but many 4 and 5 year olds attend 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.

Education v Care • Qualifications: – Strict qualification requirements for primary school teachers [BEd – L 8] – Limited qualification requirements for early years teachers [Certificate – L 5/6] • Regulation/Inspection: – Education: - long-standing with dedicated education inspectorate – Early years – a health inspectorate with no early education training

The 1990 s • 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

The 1990 s • Emerging relevant policy documents: – Report on National Forum on ECE [1998] ( 03/0 -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)

2000 -2010: A decade of activity • Equal Opportunities Childcare programme [EU funding] [2000 -2006] – Childcare for working parents – Capital investment in childcare places – Structural supports – local childcare committees • National Childcare Investment programme [Exchequer funding] [2007 -2011] – Focus on cash payments to parents • Fee Subsidy • Early Childcare Supplement

2000 - 2010 • 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

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]

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

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

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

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

How do we compare? • UNICEF Report Card 8 (2008): – 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 21. 2 (India) – 91. 8 (Finland)] – Ireland ranking of 18 th in 45 countries

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

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!!

Thank You