Timeline Consultation – “Improving the Lives of Children and Young People” – June-July 2012

2. Timeline • Consultation – “Improving the Lives of Children and Young People” – June-July 2012 • Expert Advisory Group – formed June 2012 • Monthly meetings – Sep. 2012 to Sep. 2013 • Publication of “Right from the Start” – Oct.2013 – with ADVICE to the Government

3. Members of Expert Advisory Group • Chair = Dr. Eilis Hennessy (UCD) • Catherine Byrne • Siobhan Feehan (Deansrath Family Centre) • Fergus Finlay (Barnardos) • Irene Gunning (Early Childhood Ireland) • Prof. Noirín Hayes (CSER, DIT) • Fiona McDonnell (Early Years Inspectorate) • Roisin McGlone (Sligo IT) • Breda McKenna (Monaghan CCC) • Patricia Murray (Childminding Ireland) • Gerard O’Connor (St. Ultan’s Cherry Orchard) • Patricia O’Dwyer (PHN Consultant) • Biddy O’Neill (HSE) • Kathryn O’Riordan (Cork City CC) • Thomas Walsh (DES Inspectorate) • Ciarín de Buis / Toby Wolfe (Start Strong) Supported by: • Sean Denyer (DCYA/HSE) • Claire MacEvilly (CES) • DCYA • Centre for Effective Services • Jane Clarke

4. Terms of reference • To review and advise on the proposed topics and themes for inclusion in the EYS to ensure that they are appropriate and comprehensive. • To review and comment on the content of the literature review and other relevant research or submissions in the context of the key themes identified • To consider and advise on future developments of programmes and services required to deliver on the objectives of the Strategy

5. Vision and principles

6. Vision The National Early Years Strategy will be for all children from the ages of 0-6 years. • All children from 0 to 6 will flourish and thrive within healthy and supportive families and communities. They will be happy, healthy, secure, hopeful and will have a sense of belonging. • Young children will grow up in nurturing environments in which the quality of their experiences supports their learning, development and well-being. This will allow them to make the most of their early childhood and maximise their individual life chances. • Society will recognise its responsibility for the health, care, education and nurturing of all young children. It will value all young children as competent, capable, able doers who have histories, potential and who matter here and now. • All Government policies should be informed by the rights of children and be child-proofed for their impact on children aged 0-6.

7. Vision The National Early Years Strategy will be for all children from the ages of 0-6 years. • All children from 0 to 6 will flourish and thrive within healthy and supportive families and communities. They will be happy, healthy, secure, hopeful and will have a sense of belonging. • Young children will grow up in nurturing environments in which the quality of their experiences supports their learning, development and well-being. This will allow them to make the most of their early childhood and maximise their individual life chances. • Society will recognise its responsibility for the health, care, education and nurturing of all young children. It will value all young children as competent, capable, able doers who have histories, potential and who matter here and now. • All Government policies should be informed by the rights of children and be child-proofed for their impact on children aged 0-6.

8. Vision The National Early Years Strategy will be for all children from the ages of 0-6 years. • All children from 0 to 6 will flourish and thrive within healthy and supportive families and communities. They will be happy, healthy, secure, hopeful and will have a sense of belonging. • Young children will grow up in nurturing environments in which the quality of their experiences supports their learning, development and well-being. This will allow them to make the most of their early childhood and maximise their individual life chances. • Society will recognise its responsibility for the health, care, education and nurturing of all young children. It will value all young children as competent, capable, able doers who have histories, potential and who matter here and now. • All Government policies should be informed by the rights of children and be child-proofed for their impact on children aged 0-6.

9. Vision The National Early Years Strategy will be for all children from the ages of 0-6 years. • All children from 0 to 6 will flourish and thrive within healthy and supportive families and communities. They will be happy, healthy, secure, hopeful and will have a sense of belonging. • Young children will grow up in nurturing environments in which the quality of their experiences supports their learning, development and well-being. This will allow them to make the most of their early childhood and maximise their individual life chances. • Society will recognise its responsibility for the health, care, education and nurturing of all young children. It will value all young children as competent, capable, able doers who have histories, potential and who matter here and now. • All Government policies should be informed by the rights of children and be child-proofed for their impact on children aged 0-6.

10. Principles • Early childhood is a significant and distinct time in life that must be nurtured, respected, valued and supported in its own right. • Relationships and interactions with significant others, and the environments in which they take place, play a central role in the quality of children’s experiences in early childhood. • Services and supports to children and their families should be of a high quality, affordable and accessible to all, while recognising that some children and families will need additional support. • The provision of quality services requires everyone working with children and families to communicate and cooperate with one another and with children and families in an atmosphere of mutual respect and common purpose/partnership. • Society must value and support parents/guardians, families and everyone who promotes the well-being, learning and development of young children. • Government policies pertaining to children should be informed by evidence, by international standards of best practice and by children’s rights.

11. Principles • Early childhood is a significant and distinct time in life that must be nurtured, respected, valued and supported in its own right. • Relationships and interactions with significant others, and the environments in which they take place, play a central role in the quality of children’s experiences in early childhood. • Services and supports to children and their families should be of a high quality, affordable and accessible to all, while recognising that some children and families will need additional support. • The provision of quality services requires everyone working with children and families to communicate and cooperate with one another and with children and families in an atmosphere of mutual respect and common purpose/partnership. • Society must value and support parents/guardians, families and everyone who promotes the well-being, learning and development of young children. • Government policies pertaining to children should be informed by evidence, by international standards of best practice and by children’s rights.

12. Principles • Early childhood is a significant and distinct time in life that must be nurtured, respected, valued and supported in its own right. • Relationships and interactions with significant others, and the environments in which they take place, play a central role in the quality of children’s experiences in early childhood. • Services and supports to children and their families should be of a high quality, affordable and accessible to all, while recognising that some children and families will need additional support. • The provision of quality services requires everyone working with children and families to communicate and cooperate with one another and with children and families in an atmosphere of mutual respect and common purpose/partnership. • Society must value and support parents/guardians, families and everyone who promotes the well-being, learning and development of young children. • Government policies pertaining to children should be informed by evidence, by international standards of best practice and by children’s rights.

13. Principles • Early childhood is a significant and distinct time in life that must be nurtured, respected, valued and supported in its own right. • Relationships and interactions with significant others, and the environments in which they take place, play a central role in the quality of children’s experiences in early childhood. • Services and supports to children and their families should be of a high quality, affordable and accessible to all, while recognising that some children and families will need additional support. • The provision of quality services requires everyone working with children and families to communicate and cooperate with one another and with children and families in an atmosphere of mutual respect and common purpose/partnership. • Society must value and support parents/guardians, families and everyone who promotes the well-being, learning and development of young children. • Government policies pertaining to children should be informed by evidence, by international standards of best practice and by children’s rights.

14. Principles • Early childhood is a significant and distinct time in life that must be nurtured, respected, valued and supported in its own right. • Relationships and interactions with significant others, and the environments in which they take place, play a central role in the quality of children’s experiences in early childhood. • Services and supports to children and their families should be of a high quality, affordable and accessible to all, while recognising that some children and families will need additional support. • The provision of quality services requires everyone working with children and families to communicate and cooperate with one another and with children and families in an atmosphere of mutual respect and common purpose/partnership. • Society must value and support parents/guardians, families and everyone who promotes the well-being, learning and development of young children. • Government policies pertaining to children should be informed by evidence, by international standards of best practice and by children’s rights.

15. Key messages: ‘Five Peaks Over Five Years’

16. ‘Five Peaks Over Five Years’

17. Structure of the report

18. 10 themes

19. Structure For each theme: • Why the issue matters • The situation in Ireland today • Recommendations 54 recommendations in total Five background papers with data and literature reviews

20. Theme 1: Investment

21. Clear evidence of social and economic benefits of investing in early years. • Spending in Ireland is well below internationally accepted targets.

22. Theme 2: Families

23. Parents and guardians have primary responsibility for children’s upbringing. • All parents need some support at some time in child’s life. • Many parents do not have sufficient time at home in first year. • Health and parenting supports are not sufficiently available.

24. Theme 3: Health

25. Ireland has lowest rate of breastfeeding in the EU. • Almost a quarter of 3 year olds in Ireland are overweight or obese. • Provision of basic vaccinations and developmental screening is variable around the country.

26. Theme 4: Inclusion

27. Not all children / families have equal access to services, whether health or early care and education. • Even when children do have access, services are not always inclusive.

28. Theme 5: Quality

29. Early care and education services only benefit children when high quality. • Quality is variable – “the foremost policy challenge in early care and education today”.

30. Theme 6: Training

31. Quality depends above all on skills and competencies of staff. • Levels of training in early care and education are below EU recommended levels, and concerns about quality of some training.

32. Theme 7: Regulation

33. Continuing reform of Pre-School Inspectorate is required. • Lack of regulation of childminding and after-school services exposes children to unacceptable risk and limits action on quality.

34. Theme 8: Governance

35. Stronger collaboration and coordination needed at all levels of service provision, from national to local. • Need for strong leadership and a political champion for the early years.

36. Theme 9: Research & data

37. Data and information-sharing are essential to achieve high quality, evidence-informed services. • There are significant gaps in data on early years services in Ireland, in relation to both quality and access.

38. Theme 10: Implementation

39. The Early Years Strategy will be of no value if it is not implemented effectively.