Róisín Shortall
Question:235 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the measures in the White Paper on Early Childhood Education which have been implemented to date. [29968/00]
Written Answers. - Early Childhood Education.
The White Paper on Early Childhood Education, Ready to Learn, which was published in December 1999, sets out a comprehensive strategy for the development of early childhood education for all children aged from birth to six years.
Action is proposed on a wide range of issues, including the promotion of quality of provision, measures to facilitate and encourage parental involvement in their children's early education and the development of a system of evaluation to determine whether providers meet quality standards and to assist them in doing so.
Earlier this year, departmental officials carried out an extensive post-consultation process with all of those who made presentations to the national forum. The aim of the consultations was to seek the views of interested parties with regard to the implementation of the policies set out in the White Paper, on a phased basis, in line with the commitments in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Following the consultation process, officials from my Department undertook considerable planning for implementation. Most recently, as an initial move towards implementation, my Department has invited third level institutions to submit proposals for a pilot project to develop early childhood education provision in pursuance of the objectives in the White Paper. The pilot project will include, in particular, the development of early education quality standards in relation to equipment and materials, staff qualifications, training, learning objectives, methodologics and curriculum; the development of a support framework to encourage compliance with quality standards by early education providers; the co-ordination and enhancement of early education provision with a particular focus on disadvantaged and special needs groups; and the commissioning of a programme of research and development through which best practice in curriculum, teaching methodology and parent involvement may be implemented and evaluated.
Following assessment of these proposals, I will be in a position to make further announcements about future developments in the early education area.