Early childhood training programmes are designed to ensure that practitioners have the skills and competencies to provide for the holistic and developmental needs of babies and young children. The continuing validity of all training programmes is kept under review by the relevant Awarding bodies. The process of programme development and validation in further and higher education is as follows:
1. An application for programme development is made by a training provider to an awarding body, i.e., FETAC, HETAC or a University or IoT with delegated authority. The application will include rationale/identified need for the programme, proposed content, level of award, duration, delivery methods, assessment methods and quality assurance details.
2. Programme Development. Upon approval by the relevant awarding body, the education and training provider will develop the programme according to their proposal and will submit the detailed content for validation by the awarding body.
3. Programme validation. Programme validation is usually for a specified period of time after which programme review processes will have to be undertaken towards renewal of validation.
In line with this process and as set out in the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, my Department will work with the Awarding Bodies and other Government Departments to ensure that training courses in early childhood care and education continue to have validity.