Charlie McConalogue
Question:78. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the role of his Department in the Government's preschool quality agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53629/13]
View answerThursday, 12 December 2013
Questions (78)
Written answers
My Department is working closely with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to deliver on the Government's pre-school quality agenda. This agenda includes the establishment of a national support service for the early years sector. At the moment, the supports in place for the early years sector include D/CYA funded organisations (whether wholly or partly) such as the Voluntary Childcare Organisations and the City and County Childcare Committee structures. My Department has had the experience of working across multiple organisations (funded through the D/CYA) to implement a quality improvement programme in early years service. We will be publishing the final report on this before the end of the year. The report will identify the issues that need to be addressed if a national support service is to be successful.
Through the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, my Department will also start the process of developing a practice guide which will distil the core elements of Síolta and Aistear for use, not just by early years practitioners but also, by tutors delivering further/higher education programmes.