Citation
Barnardos. (2007). Childlinks Issue 3: Childcare in Transition. https://knowledge.barnardos.ie/handle/20.500.13085/245
Abstract
On 10th December 2007, The
Minister for Children, Brendan
Smith T.D., launched the
Government's vision for Children’s
Services in lreland. This national policy
document, The Agenda for Children’s
Services, ‘is directing us all in a new
way of working with children, their families
and communities to ensure that our
services are evidence-based, accessible,
effective and sustainable... It is intended
that the agenda serves as a broad
statement of principles for all services
concerned with children:
LJ
The broad policy framework and principles
set out in The Agenda are far reaching
and to be welcomed. But what does it
mean for childcare or early childhood
care and education? Childcare in Ireland
is in a transition phase having come
through a significant stage of growth
and development since 1999.
Childcare in Transition is the theme of
this issue of ChildLinks. Dr Noirin Hayes
reviews the developments of the last
decade and argues for reform if Ireland
is to achieve quality, sustainable, affordable
and accessible early childhood education
and care. In other articles, current key
developments including the Framework
for Early Learning, Siolta, the National
Childcare Training Strategy and the
revised Childcare Regulations are
presented. In ‘Farewell to Childcare’,
Professor Peter Moss presents an
outside perspective and looks at how
lreland compares with European and
New Zealand's early years provision.
He acknowledges that Ireland, like other
English-speaking countries, has seen a
recent upsurge in policy attention to
early childhood education and care
services and a rapid growth in services.
He argues that, like most other countries,
Ireland has expanded services without
adequately addressing long-standing
and deep-seated problems and without
sufficient thought to the future.
Returning to The Agenda for Children’s
Services, the document commits the
OMC to publishing more specific policies
in relation to certain aspects of services at
a later stage. The National Childcare
Strategy (1999) has served us well and
much has been achieved. However, this
is a timely opportunity for the OMC, in
consultation with the childcare sector and
parents, to develop an early childhood care
and education policy framework, which
sets out a vision and plan for ECCE for the
next phase of development. Our children
and future children deserve nothing less.