Minister Frances Fitzgerald announces preparation of Ireland’s first National Early Years Strategy

25th January 2012

The Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD has today announced that during 2012 her Department, in consultation with key stakeholders, will develop Ireland’s first National Early Years Strategy, for children aged 0-6 years.

Minister Fitzgerald stated: “We know that early-intervention in children’s lives and quality early childhood experiences are crucial to a child’s emotional, cognitive and social development. As a society we need to work to promote quality childhoods for Irish children not just for their enjoyment but for the good of families, society and the economy.”

“I have therefore asked my Department to prepare, in collaboration with key experts and stakeholders, Ireland’s first National Early Years Strategy. I want this to be an innovative and exciting blueprint for the future strategic development of Ireland’s Early Years Sector.”

“The Strategy will support Irish families in bringing up their children, identifying the services they want to have access to and the information that will help them to be confident and secure parents and to improve outcomes for their children.”

“But this Strategy will also play a significant part in Ireland’s future economic planning. There is an increasing acceptance and focus internationally on the economic benefits accruing from investment in the early years. Longitudinal studies in the US, England France and New Zealand cite returns to the economy of between three and ten times the original investment. In these studies, children who experience high quality preschool are higher achievers in education and in employment and these benefits also transfer to the next generation.”

“In Ireland’s case, the OECD in its 2011 Economic Survey of Ireland emphasized that in order for Ireland ‘to preserve its strengths in human capital’ we should recognise the importance of pre-school education in having ‘both a positive impact on later educational performance and an equity-enhancing effect.”

The proposed Early Years Strategy will cover all aspects of children’s experiences in their early years including health, family support, care and education and will identify the structures and policies needed to improve early year’s experiences in Ireland.

The Minister announced the Early Years Strategy while addressing an OECD High Level Conference in Oslo on January 24th 2012 which was attended by ministers from around the world as well as by experts from the OECD, academics, senior public servants and representatives from the early childhood care and education sector.

Ends…/

The ‘parent’ sent a cheque to the childcare provider to pay for the fees in advance. The cheque amount was higher than the fees quoted. The parent advised the service to cash the cheque and lodge the balance of the ‘accidental overpayment’ to her account as soon as possible as her travel arrangements to Ireland depended on it. Sterling cheques take up to two weeks to clear and the childcare service spotted the scam, which was confirmed by the bank.

We wanted to draw your attention to this scam should you be an attempted targeted.  Please be vigilant.

The email/letter that the creches get is below

Hello,

My name is Audrey Fletcher ; I got your details from the daycare directory. I am a single mother of 2 children and will be coming to county in Ireland on the 22nd of January 2012 for a 6weeks market research on behalf of my client. Since I will be very busy with work during my stay, I would like to register my two kids (Ages: 2years and 3years old) in your daycare.

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and recommendation if you have availability (Monday - Friday) at your daycare and the total costs for 6weeks for keeping my two kids starting from 23rd January to 2nd March 2012.

I'm 36 years old and a senior research personnel working with Gamp ESQ Market Matters here in the United Kingdom. My kids do not have allergies and are always calm.

I look forward to hearing from you, have a great day and God bless.

Many thanks,

Mrs. Audrey Fletcher,
26, Winders Rd,
London, SW11 3HE
United Kingdom.

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

 I want to confirm to you that I consider that article (in the Sunday Independent) outrageous scare mongering. I have worked hard to protect funding for the free pre-school year.

The ECCE programme cost €153.5mil in 2010 and is expected to cost €166mil in 2011. I have ring-fenced money to cater for this need and am fully committed to protecting this scheme.

My full budget statement outlining how I have protected this spend is available at -
http://www.dcya.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?Docid=1725&CatID=11&mn&StartDate=01+January+2011

I would appreciate it if you could communicate this to other local providers.

Yours sincerely,
Frances
 

 CCS Appeal Guide 

Please click here for CCS Appeals Form & Guide.  Please note that all CCS appeals must be receievd by Childcare Directorate by Friday 3rd February 2012.

 UCD Transitions Survey

Christine O'Farrelly, a postgraduate researcher with the University College Dublin School of Psychology is currently carrying out an online survey to develop a better understanding of transitions in Irish early childhood care and education services and the practices used to facilitate these moves.

Your assistance with this survey would be very much appreciated.  Please click here to access the information sheet and details on how to the complete the survey.

Budget 2012 Changes to Childcare Schemes.

Questions & Answers on Budget changes see here.

ECCE New Entrants:

Please note that Service Providers will be funded for New Entrants entering the ECCE programme at any time during a term.  Service Providers and the Parent/Guardian must complete a new entrant form (ECCE Form 1).  A copy of the child’s birth certificate/passport and evidence of the PPS number, i.e. a copy of a letter from the Department of Social Protection or HSE medical card must accompany this form to ensure payment.

All New Entrant applications should be marked for  the attention of Ann Tarpey in the Childcare Directorate.

A child my also  increase their level of service, (e.g., from 3 to 5 days) during a term.  ECCE form 6 should be used for an increase in level of service.

Value Every Moment.. Our Role in Shaping our Baby & Toddlers Future Conference Oct 7th, Cavan Crystal Hotel

This exciting conference will focus on the 0-3 age group. Key note speaker is Dr Florence Dineen, formerly Head of Dept of BA in Early Childhood Care & Education in Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. Dr Florence will also deliver a workshop on supporting early learning through discovery. Other speakers and workshops will focus on supporting child's speech & lanaguage, parents supporting their childrens learning, healthy balanced diet for babies & toddlers, babyroom project, supporting interactions using marte meo.

The conference is aimed at childcare leaders, assistants, managers, other childcare related professions, health care professionals, parents & students.

Download the brochure for details of the conference schedule. Telephone bookings accepted.

Please visit our page on training to download our Autumn 2011 training and events calendar.

National Strategic Plan 2011 - 2013

H1N1

Please find enclosed information for schools on preventing the spread of H1N1(The main principles can be used in pre schools/creches etc Click here for details. Click here for information for parents including parents of childcare services.

Relief Panel of Childcare Workers

This panel of workers have been Garda vetted. The panel can be shared between all childcare servies in the county and it is up to each individual service to contact those listed on the panel. Please click here to download the relief panel. This is a continuous process and as we receive Garda vetting forms we will continue to update the list. If you wish to be included on the relief panel, you need to complete a Garda vetting form and a short application form to us. Please contact us for more details.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Health Service Executive recently investigated an outbreak of E. coli O157 in a crèche.To help you prevent a similar incident in your childcare facility, please find download copies of our leaflet E. coli O157: Protecting the Children in Your Care.

Young children are particularly vulnerable to VTEC infection, and a recent report shows the main transmission route of infection in Ireland is person-to-person spread – especially in childcare facilities, or among families with young children.  Therefore, I urge you and your staff to read the enclosed leaflet, as it highlights four crucial areas where you can help prevent the spread of VTEC in your childcare facility:

1.      Food preparation and storage

2.      Toilet and hygienic practices

3.      Avoiding the spread of infection between children

4.      Using a safe water supply

If an outbreak does occur in your childcare facility, it is essential that you cooperate with the public health authorities so that the outbreak can be controlled and further cases can be prevented.

 If you have any questions, please contact our Advice Line: (Tel) 1890 33 66 77

 Free Pre school Scheme

Cavan CCC have developed a Leaflet on Free Pre-School Scheme with useful information on the scheme. A full list of the services operating the scheme are also on the leaflet. This leaflet gives guidelines on what to expect from childcare services in relation to enrolment and optional charges, a explanation of how you can claim the free year and what the eligibility age criteria is.

Community Childcare Subvention Scheme.

Community Subvention Scheme is a scheme for parents in receipt of various types of social welfare where you can access reduced rates of childcare in community based childcare settings. Please see our leaflet on CCS - A Guide for Parents.

Preventing the Spread of Measles

Please check vaccination records of all children in your care and maintain an up-to-date record of vaccinations. This information is needed for public health in the event of a measles case being reported in a child attending your crèche. Please inform parents of children aged 12 months or older who have not received the first dose of MMR. These children are recommended MMR vaccine as a matter of urgency.

If you are aware of any measles or suspect measles case in your crèche please inform public health immediately so that risk to others can be minimised. If there is a measles case in the crèche, any child who is not immunised with at least one dose of MMR will be recommended to stay out of crèche from day 5 to day 21 after exposure to a measles case.

Any staff member who thinks they may be at risk of measles (never had measles or a measles containing vaccine) should speak with their GP about vaccination