Toybox Project

1. Toybox Project Investing in your future! Shirley Gillespie 25.3.14 “This document is prepared under the project“Exchange and cooperation for better welfare of children”, No.: BG051PO001-7.0.07-0086-C0001, implemented with the financial support of the Human Resources DevelopmentOperational Programme co-financed by the European Social Fund of the European Union

2. Vision Of Early Years To promote and develop high quality, evidence-informed early childhood services for young children, their families and communities. Children are: • Strong, competent and visible in their communities • Physically and emotionally healthy • Eager and able to learn • Respectful of difference

3. Values of Early Years We believe in: • Childhood - in its own right • Listening to children – and those who care for them • A strong voice for children • Play, fun and creativity • Parents as first educators • Participation of children and families • Community involvement and development • Partnership • Inclusion and diversity • Excellence and evidence-based innovation • Effective stewardship and governance • A professional, committed and recognised workforce • Valuing staff, members and their commitment

4. Traveller History Travellers are a distinct ethnic group within Irish Society (recognised through Northern Ireland Equality Act 75). Their lifestyle and culture, based on a nomadic tradition, sets them apart from the settled community. They are widely acknowledged as one of the most marginalised and disadvantaged groups in Irish society, facing social exclusion , wide spread disadvantage and discrimination.

5. Facts and Figures • 2008- Cawt- Published a report which highlighted • Traveller men North and south die 10 years younger than the general population • Traveller women die 12 years younger • 2008- NIHE- published traveller accommodation assessment revealed • 82% were living at their current accommodation for 1 year • 64% were a victim of crime and felt the reason was their ethnic origin • 2010- All Ireland Health Study • 63% of traveller children under the age of 15 years had left school compared to 13.3% nationally • 35% NI and 28% ROI parents had difficulty in reading and filling out forms

6. What is Toy Box? • Toybox in partnership with children and their parents, is a right-based service which aims to significantly reduce social and educational inequalities experienced by traveller children aged 0-4 years. • It was established by Early Years the organisation for young children in 2003 in recognition of the inequalities which exist between travellers and the rest of the population in Northern Ireland. • The project is co-ordinated by Early years and funded by the department of education and is delivered by ten project workers across Northern Ireland Areas covered Armagh/S Armagh Ballymena/Magherafelt Belfast Coalisland/Dungannon Derry Omagh/Strabane Craigavon Fermanagh

7. The role of Toybox Weekly outreach service Play involves parent/s and child Delivers play through HighScope Children age 0 - 4 Signpost families to agencies

8. Play-The Highscope Approach • Staff use natural resources. • Every child is unique. • Adult’s role is to “scaffold” on the interests of the child. • Parents actively involved in all play.

9. Transition • Process encompasses entire year. • Listening to the voice of the parent • and child. • Empowering the parents to • support their children. • Providing a link between the family • and the setting. • Sharing culturally appropriate • information and materials with • settings. • In September 2013, 108 children were supported • with transition.

10. Toybox Logical framework model

11. 2013 Achievements Creation of “Tales of the Road” storybook Tales of the Road was disseminated to:- • Families • Schools • Settings • Libraries • Other agencies • Throughout Europe

12. 1069 children and 528 families have engaged in the project from the period August 2003 – September 2013

13. Launch of Traveller Child in Education Action framework on 13th November 2013 In December 2012 -102 families fed into the Consultation process.

14. DVD - My Child 2 The educational journey of 6 of the children in the “My Child” DVD which was launched in 2010 are being tracked in a new DVD and this will be launched in 2014.

15. Participative Evaluation Approach • Aim of participative Evaluation is to engage key project stakeholders in reflecting and assessing the Toybox project. It is about tracking, measuring change and outcomes. • Stakeholders include parents, children, practitioners, funders, other agencies working with the project etc.

16. Feedback from Stakeholders SureStart The uptake of children in the 2 Year programme is great, they are attending with confidence. It is important Toybox and ourselves maintain contact as it eases Transition for everyone. Parent We are very confident in you, we appreciate your help with the kids learning with the toys and the support you give me with reading letters and filling out forms.

17. Primary school Parents are more confident at approaching staff and asking lots of questions about their children’s development. Toybox Project Worker I realised how important the project was to the children I did play sessions with when they ran to me outside their home saying “You used to come to my home, you used to be my teacher”

19. What has been happening throughout the geographical areas/Partnership with Parents Newry Coalisland/Dungannon Belfast Belfast Craigavon Fathers programmes Omagh/Strabane

20. The Future • Continuation of Toybox • Raising the voice and image of the child • Creation of the Toybox Service Design Model

21. Contact details • shirleyg@early-years.org