IMPACT Early Education - IMPACT Early Education Update

IMPACT Early Education - IMPACT Early Education Update - March 2017 https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/ en-us 14 Feb 2017 12:29:08 GMT 14 Feb 2017 12:29:08 GMT https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/rss.xml Newsweaver info@impact.ie (Impact Trade Union) support@newsweaver.ie (Newsweaver) 60 true Building progress https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/1tv6rygifku?rss=true IMPACT, as the union representing workers in the Early Education sector, campaigns for the best interests of children when it comes to early years care and education. Ciairín de Buis has joined the IMPACT team and brings her unique and valuable experience to guiding IMPACT on the road ahead, building on the foundations created by Start Strong's Early Years campaign. The newsletter is dedicated to making childcare and family leave a key election issue through our Early Years #IMPACTEarlyEd campaign and to keep you informed of campaign developments. 14 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT bc3c0cdddbaecc468b49f021c091d1bd Feature Article Welcome to the first edition of IMPACT's Early Education newsletter. IMPACT, as the union representing workers in the Early Education sector, campaigns for the best interests of children when it comes to early years care and education. Ciairín de Buis has joined the IMPACT team and brings her unique and valuable experience to guiding IMPACT on the road ahead, building on the foundations created by Start Strong's Early Years campaign. The newsletter is dedicated to making childcare and family leave a key election issue through our Early Years #IMPACTEarlyEd campaign and to keep you informed of campaign developments. IMPACT, as the union representing workers in the Early Education sector, campaigns for the best interests of children when it comes to early years care and education. Ciairín de Buis has joined the IMPACT team and brings her unique and valuable experience to guiding IMPACT on the road ahead, building on the foundations created by Start Strong's Early Years campaign. The newsletter is dedicated to making childcare and family leave a key election issue through our Early Years #IMPACTEarlyEd campaign and to keep you informed of campaign developments. For the first time in many years, the State has money to invest in services that matter. We believe that nothing matters more than our young children's futures. There are three crises in Ireland's early years sector - quality, affordability and accessibility. Our Early Years #GE16 Campaign proposes a plan of investment that addresses all three areas, and asks candidates to make a Promise to Children. But we can't do this alone. In order to make a real impact on the next Government, we need all our supporters to rally behind us.<ul><li>We encourage you all to visit our website and use our materials so that, when election candidates come to your door, you're equipped to ask them if they will commit to early years.</li><li>Download and print our campaign leaflet, or ask us to post some out to you - just email <a href="mailto:info@startstrong.ie" style="color: #0000ff;">info@startstrong.ie</a> with your details and we'll do the rest!</li><li>Get your neighbours, family, friends and work colleagues involved. Discuss the election and why early years matters. Show them our leaflet and point them towards our website.</li><li>Spread the messages of our campaign by using #EarlyYears #GE16 on social media, download our Twibbon for your profile pictures and encourage your followers to do the same.</li><li>Together we can make this election an election for young children!</li></ul> http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/624ac33c3f2777190cbfafba/image-1.jpg http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/624ac33c3f2777190cbfafba/image-1.jpg Early Years promises from the parties https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/1ohcuyq8kyo?rss=true Political parties have already begun to make promises as to what they plan to do about childcare and family leave it they form part of the next Government. Throughout the GE16 campaign Start Strong will be looking closely at these promises. Once all the manifestos have been launched we will publish a full analysis of how they deal with early years policies, but for now you can keep up to date with our responses to recent announcements on our media page or by following us on Twitter or Facebook. 14 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT 78292568cb47d6ef9dee1be6ad085e2b Section Title 2 Political parties have already begun to make promises as to what they plan to do about childcare and family leave it they form part of the next Government. Throughout the GE16 campaign Start Strong will be looking closely at these promises. Once all the manifestos have been launched we will publish a full analysis of how they deal with early years policies, but for now you can keep up to date with our responses to recent announcements on our media page or by following us on Twitter or Facebook. “All political parties made election promises on paid leave and childcare. It’s now time to act. With the Dáil returning today and the political parties manoeuvring for government, we need to focus on what the next government can achieve, not who is in it. “The lack of affordable, high quality childcare was a huge issue on the doorsteps during the election. Families here pay some of the highest costs in the world for childcare but without any guarantee of quality. We also have some of the shortest paid leave available to parents. The next Government, whoever it may be, needs to make early years a priority.” Just today the EU Commission held a briefing on their Country Report for Ireland – in which concerns about the affordability and quality of childcare are highlighted. We know what needs to be done, now we need a government to do it. Investment needed “We need to significantly increase investment in early years services and we need to link that increased funding to quality as well as placing a cap on fees for parents. If we did this, parents could afford to work, knowing their child will be well cared for.” Currently Ireland, at less than 0.2% GDP, lags far behind the OECD average (0.8%), when it comes to investing in early years. Start Strong has written to all the newly elected TDs asking them to make early years a key part of the Programme for Government. Policy changes The coalition group has developed and costed a set of proposed policy changes on childcare and paid parental leave that if implemented would make a real difference to families across Ireland. The proposals include;<ul><li>Increasing investment in early years services, linking funding to quality improvements.</li><li>Extending subsidised quality childcare places and capping fees, to make high quality childcare affordable.</li><li>Introducing paid parental leave, to achieve at least 1 year of total paid leave for parents.</li><li>Regulating and supporting paid childminders, opening up public funding schemes to them.</li></ul>“Sustained investment in early years will be crucial in the next Government term to ensure the State provides the best possible start for all our young children and better support for families .” said Ms De Buis. http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/8eac9ec02c2df4de4aeec44b/hands.jpg http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/8eac9ec02c2df4de4aeec44b/hands.jpg Making a Promise to Children https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/18ejsig3i84?rss=true We're calling on all general election candidates to make an Early Years #GE16 Promise to Children. The promise gets candidates to commit to making early years a priority if elected, by increasing investment to ensure affordable, accessible, quality early years services and by strengthening family leave. Once candidates have signed up for our promise we will add them to the list of signatories on earlyyears.ie [ https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/k26cgvv73hg ] - so please keep an eye on the website for regular updates. 14 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT 812ce6e729a3aef989244c9623de5a9f Section Title 2 We're calling on all general election candidates to make an Early Years #GE16 Promise to Children. The promise gets candidates to commit to making early years a priority if elected, by increasing investment to ensure affordable, accessible, quality early years services and by strengthening family leave.   Once candidates have signed up for our promise we will add them to the list of signatories on <a href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/k26cgvv73hg" target="_blank" shape="rect">earlyyears.ie</a> - so please keep an eye on the website for regular updates. <blockquote> <a href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/1sh0dj9kc3u">See which #GE16 candidates made a Promise to Children </a>We asked all political parties and election candidates to make the following Promise to Children:</blockquote><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">If elected, I will…Make early years a priority by increasing investment to ensure affordable, accessible, quality early years services and by continuing to strengthen family leave.Increase investment to the OECD average (0.8% GDP) within the lifetime of the next government, moving to the UNICEF benchmark of 1% of GDP within 10 years.</div></div></div></div>Quality<ul><li>Link public investment to quality – Invest in quality improvements, higher qualification levels, and professional wages for staff. Reform the current inspection system.  Link increased funding to higher quality, and cut public money from childcare providers who do not meet basic standards.</li><li>Regulate childminders, to provide protection for children. Bring childminders into public funding schemes. No child should be in a poor quality service.</li></ul><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">Affordable<ul><li>Develop subsidised quality childcare, to make high quality childcare affordable for all.</li><li>Subsidised quality childcare means parents can afford to work and know that their child is well cared for.</li><li>Introduce at least 6 months’ paid parental leave, to be taken after existing (paid) maternity leave provision, available to either parent.</li><li>That way a child can be cared for at home, by a parent, until at least their first birthday.</li></ul></div></div></div></div>Accessible<ul><li>Ensure sufficient subsidised places in all areas of the country.</li><li>Make subsidised places available through all providers, including regulated childminders.</li><li>Ensure enhanced support is available for all children who need it, whatever the child’s age or background.</li><li>No child should be excluded because they have additional needs.</li></ul> http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/55e376b87f1b5a8f2f6573cc/early-years-teacher-programme-graduate-mainstream-pathway.jpg http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/55e376b87f1b5a8f2f6573cc/early-years-teacher-programme-graduate-mainstream-pathway.jpg Early Years promises from the parties https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/1vhtvnjp83l?rss=true “All political parties made election promises on paid leave and childcare. It’s now time to act. With the Dáil returning today and the political parties manoeuvring for government, we need to focus on what the next government can achieve, not who is in it. “The lack of affordable, high quality childcare was a huge issue on the doorsteps during the election. Families here pay some of the highest costs in the world for childcare but without any guarantee of quality. We also have some of the shortest paid leave available to parents. The next Government, whoever it may be, needs to make early years a priority.” 14 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT 4f214c0b33c5e7ded9982c530ebea29e Section Title 2 “All political parties made election promises on paid leave and childcare. It’s now time to act. With the Dáil returning today and the political parties manoeuvring for government, we need to focus on what the next government can achieve, not who is in it. “The lack of affordable, high quality childcare was a huge issue on the doorsteps during the election. Families here pay some of the highest costs in the world for childcare but without any guarantee of quality. We also have some of the shortest paid leave available to parents. The next Government, whoever it may be, needs to make early years a priority.” “All political parties made election promises on paid leave and childcare. It’s now time to act. With the Dáil returning today and the political parties manoeuvring for government, we need to focus on what the next government can achieve, not who is in it. “The lack of affordable, high quality childcare was a huge issue on the doorsteps during the election. Families here pay some of the highest costs in the world for childcare but without any guarantee of quality. We also have some of the shortest paid leave available to parents. The next Government, whoever it may be, needs to make early years a priority.” Just today the EU Commission held a briefing on their Country Report for Ireland – in which concerns about the affordability and quality of childcare are highlighted. We know what needs to be done, now we need a government to do it. Investment needed “We need to significantly increase investment in early years services and we need to link that increased funding to quality as well as placing a cap on fees for parents. If we did this, parents could afford to work, knowing their child will be well cared for.” Currently Ireland, at less than 0.2% GDP, lags far behind the OECD average (0.8%), when it comes to investing in early years. Start Strong has written to all the newly elected TDs asking them to make early years a key part of the Programme for Government. Policy changes The coalition group has developed and costed a set of proposed policy changes on childcare and paid parental leave that if implemented would make a real difference to families across Ireland. The proposals include;<ul><li>Increasing investment in early years services, linking funding to quality improvements.</li><li>Extending subsidised quality childcare places and capping fees, to make high quality childcare affordable.</li><li>Introducing paid parental leave, to achieve at least 1 year of total paid leave for parents.</li><li>Regulating and supporting paid childminders, opening up public funding schemes to them.</li></ul>“Sustained investment in early years will be crucial in the next Government term to ensure the State provides the best possible start for all our young children and better support for families .” said Ms De Buis. http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/372f6f8c95522af03bd9a874/images.png http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/372f6f8c95522af03bd9a874/images.png Making a Promise to Children https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/q7r4gg8sf5b?rss=true We're calling on all general election candidates to make an Early Years #GE16 Promise to Children. The promise gets candidates to commit to making early years a priority if elected, by increasing investment to ensure affordable, accessible, quality early years services and by strengthening family leave. Once candidates have signed up for our promise we will add them to the list of signatories on earlyyears.ie [ https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/k26cgvv73hg ] [ https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/k26cgvv73hg ] - so please keep an eye on the website for regular updates. 14 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT af2b0474745eed87b07ad17e9c3a9d9a Section Title 2 We're calling on all general election candidates to make an Early Years #GE16 Promise to Children. The promise gets candidates to commit to making early years a priority if elected, by increasing investment to ensure affordable, accessible, quality early years services and by strengthening family leave.     Once candidates have signed up for our promise we will add them to the list of signatories on <a href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/k26cgvv73hg" target="_blank" shape="rect">earlyyears.ie</a> - so please keep an eye on the website for regular updates. <blockquote> <a href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/1sh0dj9kc3u">See which #GE16 candidates made a Promise to Children </a>We asked all political parties and election candidates to make the following Promise to Children:</blockquote><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">If elected, I will…Make early years a priority by increasing investment to ensure affordable, accessible, quality early years services and by continuing to strengthen family leave.Increase investment to the OECD average (0.8% GDP) within the lifetime of the next government, moving to the UNICEF benchmark of 1% of GDP within 10 years.</div></div></div></div>Quality<ul><li>Link public investment to quality – Invest in quality improvements, higher qualification levels, and professional wages for staff. Reform the current inspection system.  Link increased funding to higher quality, and cut public money from childcare providers who do not meet basic standards.</li><li>Regulate childminders, to provide protection for children. Bring childminders into public funding schemes. No child should be in a poor quality service.</li></ul><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">Affordable<ul><li>Develop subsidised quality childcare, to make high quality childcare affordable for all.</li><li>Subsidised quality childcare means parents can afford to work and know that their child is well cared for.</li><li>Introduce at least 6 months’ paid parental leave, to be taken after existing (paid) maternity leave provision, available to either parent.</li><li>That way a child can be cared for at home, by a parent, until at least their first birthday.</li></ul></div></div></div></div>Accessible<ul><li>Ensure sufficient subsidised places in all areas of the country.</li><li>Make subsidised places available through all providers, including regulated childminders.</li><li>Ensure enhanced support is available for all children who need it, whatever the child’s age or background.</li><li>No child should be excluded because they have additional needs.</li></ul> http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/2663757d84e3fe7e5627069c/building-blocksweb.jpg http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/4dbfa6e853889759a1c7b259/teacher-and-children24820-460x306.jpg A Promise to Children https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/w9nuy0bbo7l?rss=true 14 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT fd791a5c1b5970791d4eb1e6b1a34d6f additional articles <header class="entry-header">A Promise to Children</header><blockquote> <a href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/ccdm5mwprjl">See which #GE16 candidates made a Promise to Children</a>We asked all political parties and election candidates to make the following Promise to Children:</blockquote><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">If elected, I will…Make early years a priority by increasing investment to ensure affordable, accessible, quality early years services and by continuing to strengthen family leave.Increase investment to the OECD average (0.8% GDP) within the lifetime of the next government, moving to the UNICEF benchmark of 1% of GDP within 10 years.</div></div></div></div> http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/a6ada4952e71400006c4df32/special_ed_teacher-642x300.jpg A Promise to Children Call for early years to be ‘top’ priority in new Programme for Government https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/1hx4umv71ko?rss=true 14 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT b97c0910b32564439b8709f4de1c1142 additional articles <a href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/14w4fgib975" rel="bookmark">Call for early years to be ‘top’ priority in new Programme for Government </a><div class="entry-meta"> <a class="entry-format" href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/6xlop1xywt1">Image</a> <a href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/14w4fgib975" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2016-03-10T09:40:53+00:00">10th March 2016</time></a> <a class="url fn n" href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/1le8k1v83rm" rel="author">Early_Years </a></div>Start Strong – a coalition group campaigning to improve government policy on early years in Ireland – is calling for early years to be a top priority in the new Programme for Government. Ciairín de Buis, Chief Executive of Start Strong, said: “All political parties made election promises on paid leave and childcare. It’s now time to act. With the Dáil returning today and the political parties manoeuvring for government, we need to focus on what the next government can achieve, not who is in it. “The lack of affordable, high quality childcare was a huge issue on the doorsteps during the election. Families here pay some of the highest costs in the world for childcare but without any guarantee of quality. We also have some of the shortest paid leave available to parents. The next Government, whoever it may be, needs to make early years a priority.” http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/1d7d3fd8cb3d08c5645e0257/images.jpg Call for early years to be ‘top’ priority in new Programme for Government A Promise to Children https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/lus0pyqkiim?rss=true 14 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT d5f6b12e6d5a949a6ac83d8af2b36a39 additional articles <header class="entry-header">A Promise to Children </header><blockquote> <a href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/ccdm5mwprjl">See which #GE16 candidates made a Promise to Children </a>We asked all political parties and election candidates to make the following Promise to Children: </blockquote><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="section"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">If elected, I will… Make early years a priority by increasing investment to ensure affordable, accessible, quality early years services and by continuing to strengthen family leave. Increase investment to the OECD average (0.8% GDP) within the lifetime of the next government, moving to the UNICEF benchmark of 1% of GDP within 10 years.</div></div></div></div> http://impacttradeunion.newsweaver.com/files/1/63805/180252/5658017/e15fbcf4e39cf909ef486bfb/images1.jpg A Promise to Children Call for early years to be ‘top’ priority in new Programme for Government https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/pjmnmbvxpvq?rss=true 14 Feb 2017 12:00:00 GMT d165f685e00a1bcd4e97c605f14b4d2f additional articles <a href="https://forsatradeunion.newsweaver.com/IMPACTEarlyEd/14w4fgib975" rel="bookmark">Call for early years to be ‘top’ priority in new Programme for Government </a>Start Strong – a coalition group campaigning to improve government policy on early years in Ireland – is calling for early years to be a top priority in the new Programme for Government. Ciairín de Buis, Chief Executive of Start Strong, said: “All political parties made election promises on paid leave and childcare. It’s now time to act. With the Dáil returning today and the political parties manoeuvring for government, we need to focus on what the next government can achieve, not who is in it. “The lack of affordable, high quality childcare was a huge issue on the doorsteps during the election. Families here pay some of the highest costs in the world for childcare but without any guarantee of quality. We also have some of the shortest paid leave available to parents. The next Government, whoever it may be, needs to make early years a priority.” Call for early years to be ‘top’ priority in new Programme for Government