Frances Byrne

In just one week, the world will celebrate the UN #InternationalDayOfPlay! ✨

As we count down to this big day, we’re revisiting insightful blogs, podcasts and research on play, in all its forms.

Let's start by reflecting on why play is so important!

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In tears here

The 2024 Implementation Report on First 5, the ten-year strategy supporting young children & families, is now available.

✅ 56% of the 2024 milestones have been achieved, with progress on others.

🔎 We’re monitoring First 5's progress. Learn more in Policy in Focus.

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🚩 Retention & recruitment continue to be the biggest challenges facing Early Years & School Age Care settings.

National staff turnover rate for settings in Ireland is 25%, according to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

Read more in this week's Policy in Action🎬
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Today’s report by the @ihrec.bsky.social and @esri.ie provides an important examination of the usage of parental leave benefits in Ireland. 👨‍👦

It highlights that only 26% of fathers availed of their Paternity Leave entitlements, compared to 69% of women.

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How to deliver an effective child poverty strategy - Early Childhood Ireland We provide an overview of what is necessary to ensure a child poverty strategy is effective, as reported in the UK.

Affordable Early Years education is crucial in the fight against #childpoverty.

New research from @cpaguk.bsky.social stresses the need to improve access to high-quality Early Years provisions for families in need.

Read our analysis in this week's Policy in Focus🔎

Barometer 2025 and pay and conditions for graduates - Early Childhood Ireland In February’s Making the News, we take a closer look at the Barometer 2025 and the challenges facing Early Years graduates.

🗞️ Media update 🗞️

We share recent coverage on the #ECIBarometer and our call for improved pay and conditions for Early Years and School Age Care graduates in this month's Making the News.

Without improved pay and conditions, we will continue to lose talented Early Years and School Age Care graduates to other areas. 🎓

Learn more about our solutions.

#IWD2025

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Evaluating and monitoring quality is vital for policy development - Early Childhood Ireland Early Childhood Ireland look at how European countries monitor and evaluate quality in their monitoring quality systems

Ireland is one of only a few European countries that undertakes a national evaluation of the quality of Early Childhood Education and Care.

Read more in the fourth article of our series on the EU Commission's Euridyce report. 🎬

Educators’ perspectives on the DEIS programme - Early Childhood Ireland We outline the findings from a recent TASC’s report on Educators’ perspectives on the challenges, successes and opportunities of the DEIS.

Weekend read! 📖

Think-tank for Action on Social Change (TASC) recently launched their report on 'Educators’ perspectives on the challenges, successes and opportunities of the DEIS programme'.

We analyse the findings in this week's Policy in Focus. 🔎

In our latest podcast, our Director of Policy, Frances Byrne (@fraffieb.bsky.social), analyses the results of this year's #ECIBarometer. 📊

Thanks to our sponsors Arachas Insurance.

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Poll shows strong support for early-years care for all children The barometer 2025 data found that in Munster 80% of people believe every child should be guaranteed access to high-quality and inclusive early years ...

📈 80% of Munster adults support guaranteed access to Early Years and School Age Care for all children, yet we are far from this goal.

Our Director of Policy (@fraffieb.bsky.social) discussed the urgent need for more investment with @echolive.bsky.social.

#ECIBarometerWeek

Department of Education Inspectorate Report and Thematic Review - Early Childhood Ireland We provide an overview of the findings from the recent Department of Education Inspectorate Report (2021-2023) and Thematic Review.

We look at the findings of the Department of @Education_Ire Inspectorate Report and Thematic Review (2021-2024) in relation to #EarlyYears settings in this week's Policy in Focus. 🔎

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🇪🇺 How is Early Years and School Age Care changing across Europe?

We're starting a series examining the EU Commission’s new 'Key Data on Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe 2025' report, beginning with workforce composition and working conditions.

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🎤 Two young experts, Heidi and Sean, took centre stage at last week's Barnahus conference.

During a panel facilitated by our Research Manager, Dr @carmelward.bsky.social they shared their thoughts on the new Barnahus logo to help shape the final design.

And the verdict? 👇

Policy in Action 5 February 2025 - Early Childhood Ireland Attracting, training and retaining high-quality early years staff is the cornerstone for a system that delivers quality for all children.

Speaking at the launch of the @oecd-ocde.bsky.social s' latest report, Andreas Schleicher stated that policy makers should focus on the training that #EarlyYears and #SchoolAgeCare staff have to address the needs of children.

Read our full analysis of the report. 👇
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@johnorthside.bsky.social how’ya?

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Heading over to see the young one - she was only home at Christmas - I still asked if anything was wanted. ‘Barry’s Decaf please’ came the reply. So here I am en route to Edinburgh with 160 bags of CARK tea 🤦‍♀️ #ParentingFail

Important conversations are taking place this morning at the @oecd-ocde.bsky.social launch of Reducing Inequalities by Investing in Early Childhood Education and Care, with insightful discussions on the future of #EarlyYears.

Watch out for our analysis in an upcoming Policy in Action.

🆕 New podcast episode! 🆕

Our Director of Policy, Frances Byrne (@fraffieb.bsky.social), and our Press Officer, Emily Clarke, reflect on the #GE24 campaign and discuss the next steps as a new Programme for Government is announced.

Sponsored by @_Arachas_

Hello Bluesky! 👋

Early Childhood Ireland is the largest membership organisation in the sector dedicated to ensuring that every young child is thriving and learning in quality #EarlyYears and #SchoolAgeCare in centre based and Childminding settings.

#QualityforChildren
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Tis addictive!

💙 4 years ago today 💙

Our historic 6 in a row

#UpTheDubs

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It’s our Christmas Eve Suzy!

Charity warns tax decision could leave 2,600 people without a GP It's a busy clinic in Dublin's north inner city with a full patient list that everyone seems to love, yet it is facing closure.

This just has to be addressed. An essential health service in an area of severe disadvantage owing to decades of neglect and deliberate exclusion is under threat www.rte.ie/news/primeti...

He really did!

Ah that’s lovely news. What a lucky baby she is 🥰

The best show!

Cannot wait for all the doings

Well now, that was brave! Great read. Though when I saw GoGo mentioned in Dub MW my jaw dropped. I am intrigued to see who Labour runs in Dub West.