OECD ECEC NetworkOECD ECEC Network

Catherine HynesCatherine Hynes

Department of Education and Department of Education and Science, IrelandScience, Ireland

Country ProfileCountry Profile

Republic of Ireland: Population: 4.23m (April 2006)

Land Area: 68,890 sq km

Number of children birth to six: 418,612418,612 (10 % of population)

Rising birth rate + 16% approx since 2006

Unemployment: 13.2% in 1990

4.3% in 2006

5.9% in 2008

12.5% Nov 2009

Female labour force participation rate: 1985: 30%

2006: 59.39%

Apr-Jun 09: 54% (source: CSO)

Structures- DESStructures- DES

Main legislative basis – 1998 Education ActMain legislative basis – 1998 Education Act– School attendance mandatory for 6-16 year olds. School attendance mandatory for 6-16 year olds. – 45.5% of 4 year olds and 99% of 5 year olds are 45.5% of 4 year olds and 99% of 5 year olds are

enrolled in junior infant classes in primary schools.enrolled in junior infant classes in primary schools.– Targeted interventions in areas of disadvantage Targeted interventions in areas of disadvantage

and special needs and special needs Early Start programme <3% of child cohort are in Early Start programme <3% of child cohort are in

Early Start programmesEarly Start programmes Segregated Traveller pre-schools - 29 segregated Segregated Traveller pre-schools - 29 segregated

Traveller pre-schools remaining. Government policy Traveller pre-schools remaining. Government policy is to phase out segregated provision at all levels of is to phase out segregated provision at all levels of the Education Systemthe Education System

Provision for children with autism. Pre-school classes Provision for children with autism. Pre-school classes attached to primary schoolsattached to primary schools

Structures OMCYAStructures OMCYA

Childcare Directorate formerly part of Dept of Justice Equality and Law Childcare Directorate formerly part of Dept of Justice Equality and Law ReformReform

Main Legislation – 1991 Child Care ActMain Legislation – 1991 Child Care Act– ECCE Sector not regulated until the 1996 Child Care (Pre-School ECCE Sector not regulated until the 1996 Child Care (Pre-School

Services) Regulation. Services) Regulation. – Meant that pre-school services had to be inspected by the Health Meant that pre-school services had to be inspected by the Health

BoardBoard– 1996 regulations revoked by the 1996 regulations revoked by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No

2) Regulations 2006. – The 2006 Regulations focus more on the child’s learning, development

and well-being

Since the 1990sSince the 1990s

1998 saw 2 major policy development consultation 1998 saw 2 major policy development consultation processes almost running in parallel.processes almost running in parallel. – Education - The National Forum on Early Childhood Education Education - The National Forum on Early Childhood Education

March 1998 brought together all stakeholders in the ECCE March 1998 brought together all stakeholders in the ECCE sector in Irelandsector in Ireland

– Consensus on the positive benefits to children, families and Consensus on the positive benefits to children, families and the wider society of high quality ECCE provision. the wider society of high quality ECCE provision.

– National Forum Report, which ultimately led to the National Forum Report, which ultimately led to the publication of Ready to Learn, the White Paper on Early publication of Ready to Learn, the White Paper on Early Childhood Education (DES, 1999)Childhood Education (DES, 1999)

– Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform established Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform established the Expert Working Group on Childcare – main driver was the Expert Working Group on Childcare – main driver was Childcare Provision as a support to participation in the Labour Childcare Provision as a support to participation in the Labour forceforce

– Resulted in the publication of the National Childcare Strategy Resulted in the publication of the National Childcare Strategy (1999)(1999)

Developments since then include the Developments since then include the National National Children’s Strategy 2000Children’s Strategy 2000

Investment Investment Since 2000Since 2000 The Equal Opportunities Childcare The Equal Opportunities Childcare

Programme 2000-2006Programme 2000-2006– Set up a network of 33 City and County Childcare Set up a network of 33 City and County Childcare

Committees. Their job Committees. Their job to develop a co-ordinated strategy for childcare provision to develop a co-ordinated strategy for childcare provision

within the county.within the county. to increase the supply of childcare services, facilities and to increase the supply of childcare services, facilities and

childminders.childminders. – Brought together all the stakeholders through the Brought together all the stakeholders through the

National Childcare Co-ordinating CommitteeNational Childcare Co-ordinating Committee

Investment in InfrastructureInvestment in Infrastructure– Around 41,000 placesAround 41,000 places– Over €500m expendedOver €500m expended

Successor Programme – National Childcare Successor Programme – National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010Investment Programme 2006-2010

Split SystemSplit System

Historically, the care and education of a young child were seen as Historically, the care and education of a young child were seen as separate with care being a health responsibilityseparate with care being a health responsibility

Church influence on the autonomy of the family Church influence on the autonomy of the family Pattern of workforce participation by mothers of young children Pattern of workforce participation by mothers of young children Ireland’s split system has meantIreland’s split system has meant The development of a separate physical infrastructure for pre-school The development of a separate physical infrastructure for pre-school

services and school servicesservices and school services Separate legislative basisSeparate legislative basis Separate inspection systemSeparate inspection system Separate qualification basisSeparate qualification basis Development of a caste system whereby the ECCE sector is low Development of a caste system whereby the ECCE sector is low

paid, without much status compared to the primary school systempaid, without much status compared to the primary school system Disconnect between the play based learning in pre-school services Disconnect between the play based learning in pre-school services

and the more formal curriculum of Junior and Senior Infantsand the more formal curriculum of Junior and Senior Infants Disconnect between the supports available for children with special Disconnect between the supports available for children with special

needsneeds

Ireland’s pattern of pre-Ireland’s pattern of pre-school care and school care and educationeducation

  

Care used for pre-school children (% of

households)

Childcare Type 2002 2007

Parent/GuardianParent/Guardian 65 62

Unpaid relativeUnpaid relative 12 10

Paid relativePaid relative 5 5

Childminder/Au Pair/NannyChildminder/Au Pair/Nanny 13 13

Creche/Montessori/PlayschoolCreche/Montessori/Playschool 14 24

OtherOther 0 1

Total households using non-parental Total households using non-parental childcarechildcare 42 48

Unweighted sample (number of households)Unweighted sample (number of households) 4,049 2,681

Split SystemSplit System

Historically, the care and education of a young child were seen as Historically, the care and education of a young child were seen as separate with care being a health responsibilityseparate with care being a health responsibility

Church influence on the autonomy of the family Church influence on the autonomy of the family Pattern of workforce participation by mothers of young children Pattern of workforce participation by mothers of young children Ireland’s split system has meantIreland’s split system has meant The development of a separate physical infrastructure for pre-school The development of a separate physical infrastructure for pre-school

services and school servicesservices and school services Separate legislative basisSeparate legislative basis Separate inspection systemSeparate inspection system Separate qualification basisSeparate qualification basis Development of a caste system whereby the ECCE sector is low Development of a caste system whereby the ECCE sector is low

paid, without much status compared to the primary school systempaid, without much status compared to the primary school system Disconnect between the play based learning in pre-school services Disconnect between the play based learning in pre-school services

and the more formal curriculum of Junior and Senior Infantsand the more formal curriculum of Junior and Senior Infants Disconnect between the supports available for children with special Disconnect between the supports available for children with special

needsneeds

Evidence of Evidence of integrationintegration The 1999 White Paper on Early Education, The 1999 White Paper on Early Education, Ready to Ready to

Learn, Learn, identified a key role for the Department in identified a key role for the Department in improving the quality of educational provision in improving the quality of educational provision in childcare settings. It also set out the key tenet that childcare settings. It also set out the key tenet that the Department would support the growth of, rather the Department would support the growth of, rather than replace, the wide range of existing provision in than replace, the wide range of existing provision in the early childhood area the early childhood area

Development of Practice Frameworks for 0-6 year olds Development of Practice Frameworks for 0-6 year olds in all settingsin all settings– Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early

Childhood Education (2006) – developed by the CECDE- Childhood Education (2006) – developed by the CECDE- an agency of the Department of Education and Science an agency of the Department of Education and Science

– Aistear, the Curriculum Framework for Early Learning Aistear, the Curriculum Framework for Early Learning (NCCA) 2009(NCCA) 2009

A Workforce Development Plan for the sectorA Workforce Development Plan for the sector

12

One Framework catering for

three overlapping phasesAistear –

Babies

Toddlers

Young children

Pre-school year from Pre-school year from Jan 2010Jan 2010BackdropBackdrop Ireland is in the middle of a recession Ireland is in the middle of a recession It is anticipated that unemployment will be at 13.75% in 2010It is anticipated that unemployment will be at 13.75% in 2010 Extensive savings sought on public expenditureExtensive savings sought on public expenditure

Why introduce universal pre-school provision?Why introduce universal pre-school provision? To meet the 2002 Barcelona targetsTo meet the 2002 Barcelona targets To deliver on Government commitmentsTo deliver on Government commitments

How is it being funded How is it being funded It is being funded by the scrapping of the Early Childcare It is being funded by the scrapping of the Early Childcare

Supplement (ECS) payment. A direct payment to parents Supplement (ECS) payment. A direct payment to parents €480m in 2008€480m in 2008

The ECS had been heavily criticised The ECS had been heavily criticised The OMCYA had argued strongly against the introduction of the The OMCYA had argued strongly against the introduction of the

ECSECS

Other reasonsOther reasons

The belief that the ECCE sector was The belief that the ECCE sector was in crisis - children were being in crisis - children were being withdrawn from pre-school services withdrawn from pre-school services as parents could no longer afford to as parents could no longer afford to pay for that servicepay for that service

The protection of jobs and the The protection of jobs and the current investment within the current investment within the sectorsector

Employment Trend 1998 - Employment Trend 1998 - 20082008

ChallengesChallenges

Quality of pre-school provisionQuality of pre-school provision Equality/Diversity within pre-school Equality/Diversity within pre-school

servicesservices Support services for children with special Support services for children with special

needs needs The implementation of Síolta and Aistear The implementation of Síolta and Aistear Professionalization of the sectorProfessionalization of the sector How to bridge the care/education divideHow to bridge the care/education divide