Ireland lags on early child education

IRELAND is one of the few countries in the EU that does not provide publicly funded educational and care services for children under the age of three.

But a child’s early contact with other children and teaching adults results in better language and learning skills, a new study on early childhood education and care in Europe says.

Providing care is also related to families having more children and allowing mothers to return to work, the report says.

The experts who drew up the report say the best time for governments to spend on children is when they are very young, as this ensures a fairer and more efficient education system in the longer term.

The study, the first of its kind, examines national policies in 30 countries, including all 27 EU member states, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and explores how early childhood education and care is organised in Europe.

It also looks at the benefits of the different systems and lists what is needed to provide effective education and care to the youngest members of society.

It finds that 87% of four-year-olds attend an educational institution, which is close to the target of 90% by 2020.

All countries offer some form of early programmes for children before the start of compulsory schooling, but there are major differences between countries, and even within countries, on the starting age, participation rates and the type of education and care available.

Basically there are two main models — the first is where staff have the same qualifications and salary scales regardless of the age of the children in their care. This is the system in Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden.

The second model is where qualifications and funding for the 0 to 3 year- age group is different to that for the 3 to 6 years. This the most popular model.

Ireland is different in that day nurseries and pre-school centres that take children under four do not have to employ staff with educational qualifications. The exceptions are the Early Start programme for at risk groups and pre-school centres for Travellers in the 3–5 year-old category.

Ireland is one of the few countries where there is almost no publicly-funded provision for children under the age of three, and as a result, the number of children getting early education is very low.

Most childcare in Ireland is privately organised with a minder coming into the child’s home. However, the Office of the Minister for Children is committed to expanding childcare provision through the National Childcare Investment programme, the report notes.

The report adds: “In most countries covered by the study, guaranteeing a place for all children and ensuring high-quality childcare provisions would require significant additional funding. Nevertheless, the evidence shows that this is the most effective point to invest limited resources if the goal is to achieve equitable and efficient education systems.”