www.early-years.org

ISSUE 37Summer Edition 2015

Partnership announced to protect early years provision

Best Practice - Children and Technology

DE Early Years Fund Constituency Events

Important information regarding Compulsory Charity Registration in Northern Ireland

Dear Readers, welcome to the Summer

Edition of the Early Years Newsletter.

It has been a busy and, indeed, hectic

couple of months for the sector as we

grappled with the possibility of the

end of the Department of Education

Early Years Fund. I would like to thank

all our members, parents, staff and

politicians who have

supported us in

our lobby to have

the decision

rescinded. We

are more hopeful

of a positive

outcome as

we plan

to launch

the 12,000 signed petition in the NI

Assembly on 30 June 2015. We have

a further meeting with departmental

officials at the beginning of July. We will

of course keep our members informed of

any positive developments.

On a much more positive note, we

launched our 50th Anniversary Year at

our recent Annual Conference and AGM

hosted by our Belfast Branch, with the

launch of the 50 year history of the

organisation. The book will be formally

launched in the Long Gallery later

this year and members of the Senior

Management Team will be visiting the

Branch network over the next year to

distribute the book to members. We look

forward to a number of other key 50th

celebratory events over the next year

culminating in our Annual Conference

hosted by the Fermanagh and Omagh

Branches in June 2016.

We can look forward to another busy and

important year as we look forward to

the publication of the Childcare Strategy

and preparations for the NI Assembly

elections next May. In anticipation of

a lot of hard work over the next year,

I wish you all a well-earned summer

break.

Siobhán Fitzpatrick CBEChief Executive OfficerEarly Years – the organisation foryoung children

Welcome

Contents

Members Provide Excellent Quality

If we could skype Vygotsky, what would he say about children and technology?

Family Health Initiative Update

Lack of sleep putting our children at risk of obesity

The longer babies are breastfed, the better

DE Early Years Fund Constituency Events

Zoo Day fun for Early Years members

Members take part in Early Years Folk Day 2015

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The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has commenced compulsory registration of charities. Existing community groups and any organisations which may be a charity should have already completed an expression of intent (by December 2014) if they have not already been ‘called forward’.

If your group has missed the December 2014 deadline, it will still be legally obliged to go forward to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, but will be doing so from a position of having failed to comply with the initial deadline. Please follow the link and click on ‘expression of intent form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=3%2fnoTJav6ko9KCi80NIzRw%3d%3d

Your group will have three months to complete the online application to the Charity Commission once the process is initiated. Over the next three to four years all community groups which have either filled an expression of intent or are currently registered with the HMRC will be called to apply for charity registration! NI Charity Commission Website: https://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/

Members Provide Excellent Quality

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Members receive Early Years Accreditation and All Ireland Centre of Excellence awards

Early Years members have achieved the highest possible grades from their ETI inspections. This recognition highlights the high quality pre-school experience for children provided by the sector.

The commitment from the staff and the voluntary management committees which support them has ensured these great achievements and allows for an outstanding provision for our young children in their early years, something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Congratulations!

ETI Inspections achieving ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Good’ from January 2015

• Park Community Playgroup, Derry/Londonderry

• Magilligan Community Playgroup, Limavady

• Little Rascals Community Playgroup, Limavady

• Mullabuoy Pre-school Centre, Drumahoe

ETI (the Education and Training Inspectorate) is an organisation which provides inspection services and information about the quality of education. Their work covers early years, primary and post-primary schools, special education, further education, work-based learning, youth, initial teacher education, inspection of DCAL organisations, DARD and CJI, as well as policy, planning and improvement work.

For further information and to access ETI reports, please view www.etini.gov.uk/index.htm

Congratulations to the 17 playgroups below which received the Early Years Accreditation award and the five early years settings which received the All Ireland Centre of Excellence award.

Early Years delivers three accreditation programmes for pre-school and day care settings - All Ireland Centre of Excellence, Early Years Playgroup Accreditation and HighScope Accreditation. Developed in line with international research on best practice in early years care and education, the accreditation process provides external verification on the high quality nature of a setting’s service provision.

Congratulations and well done!

Early Years Accreditation:· Atticall Playgroup (March 2015 to March 2018)· Button Moon Pre-School (March 2015 to March

2018)· St Colmcille’s Pre-School Playgroup, Apples Group

(March 2015 to March 2018)· St Colmcille’s Pre-School Playgroup, Pears Group

(March 2015 to March 2018)· Aghadowey Pre-School Playgroup (April 2015 to April

2018)· Ballymoney Community Playgroup (April 2015 to

April 2018)

· Bo-Peep’s Playgroup (April 2015 to April 2018)· Carrowdore Early Years Centre (April 2015 to April

2018)· Jack and Jill Pre-School (April 2015 to April 2018)· Legacurry Pre-School (April 2015 to April 2018)· Lissan Cross Community Playgroup (April 2015 to

April 2018)· Little Acorns Playgroup (April 2015 to April 2018)· Sugar and Spice Early Years Centre (April 2015 to

April 2018)· Twinkle Pre-School, Ardboe (April 2015 to April 2018)· Hansel and Gretel Pre-School (May 2015 to May

2018)· Green Elves Playgroup (May 2015 to May 2018)· First Steps Community Pre-School Playgroup (May

2015 to May 2018)

All Ireland Centre of Excellence · Big Red Balloon Day Nursery, Pre-School and Af-

ter-School Club (March 2015 to March 2018)· Aisling Daycare and After-School (April 2015 to April

2018)· Aisling After-School at Christ the Redeemer (May

2015 to May 2018)· Giggles Daycare and After-School (May 2015 to May

2018)· Adventures Day Nursery (May 2015 to May 2018)

Around the Groups

If we could skype Vygotsky, what would he say about children and technology? Clionagh Boyle, Programmes Manager

Three and a half year old Rosa is urging my mother, her great-grandmother, to come into the garden to help her look for bugs and fairies and all the wonderful things that lurk under the azaleas and hide down the bank. My mother, ever the twenty first century great-grandmother, reaches for her smartphone on the way out. Rosa protests, “Nanny, leave the phone behind, those phones are very, very annoying”. Bemused, nanny leaves down the phone and away the two of them go, three generations apart and completely in tune. Already Rosa knows that the smartphone is a threat to deep engagement and that the ping of a text or an email or even the desire to document the experience in a photo will change it.

Warren Bucklietner playfully invites us to speculate, “What Would Maria Montessori Say about the iPad?” in his chapter in ‘Technology and Digital Media in the Early Years’ ( Donohue, C (eds) 2014). In a playful device, he creates a scenario where some of the greatest theorists of child development - Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, BF Skinner and Lev Vygotsky - consider the iPad. Montessori is concerned about the quality of apps, she says “I typed my last name into iTunes and came up with 500 apps! ... some are good, but others are merely low-rate flash cards.” Skinner responds with a nonchalant, “Really though Maria, what’s the harm with the occasional flash card, as long as it’s used with a reward?” Montessori is incensed, “Some of these apps don’t go deeper than the lowest level ideas shapes, colours, letters and numbers ...”

Piaget nods in the direction of Skinner, “She has reason to be angry, B.F. Some of these apps imply the acceleration of development, even for infants. We should all be concerned with app quality ... I’ve noticed that my own daughters now prefer their iPads to the observation of molluscs! But I’ve been observing them as they play and I’m pleased to report that my stage theory maps well to this digital medium ... A child born 100 years ago developed in much the same way as a child born this year. What is different in the twenty first century are the experiences due to the technology. Parents have genetic screening, antibiotics, and their babies can have bedtime stories read by grandparents who live half a continent or half a world away.

Vygotsky quietly adds, “Mobile devices help ideas flow across the geographic and economic chasms. Services like Google, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter can move ideas from Leningrad to San Francisco at the speed of light.” He starts getting very excited, “The knowledge elite could dissolve.

Every teacher could have a virtual mentor and unlimited professional development. That, my friends, is worth getting excited about.”

This imagined conversation captures some of the polarisation and challenges in our thinking about young children and technology. Should our focus be on the opportunities, the grandparents who can read using Skype from thousands of miles away or on the risks - the ‘lowest level ideas’ and shiny instant rewards offered by games and apps that leave young children hyper stimulated and yet unsatisfied? To explore this issue in more depth, I had a look at recent research and also asked colleagues in Early Years, some of whom have young children themselves, for their perspectives.

One aspect is certain, technology occupies an increasing amount of time and focus in the lives of very young children. Recent statistics show that:

• Children spend an average of seven hours per day using screen media, including 1–2 hours a day for those under age two. Ninety percent of parents report that children below age two watch some form of electronic media.

• While some studies report children aged two to four average two hours a day of screen time (Rideout, 2011), other research finds children aged two to five years spend more than 32 hours a week in front of a screen (McDonough, 2009). “For many children, this is more time than they spend in any other activity except sleeping” (Levin, 2013).

• Fifty-two percent of children aged birth to eight have access to a smart phone, tablet, or similar electronic device (Guernsey, 2012).

In a commentary for the journal ‘Pediatrics’ published earlier this year, researchers at Boston University School of Medicine reviewed available types of interactive media

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and raised important questions regarding their use as educational tools. The researchers said that though the adverse effects of television and video on young children were well documented, society’s understanding of the impact of mobile devices on the pre-school brain has been outpaced by how much children are already using them. The researchers warned that using a tablet or smartphone to divert a child’s attention could negatively impact on social emotional development.

“If these devices become the predominant method to calm and distract young children, will they be able to develop their own internal mechanisms of self-regulation?”

The research team also found that the use of interactive screen time below three years of age could impair a child’s development of the skills needed for maths and science. Electronic books and ‘learn to read’ applications can be useful in teaching vocabulary and reading comprehension but only in children pre-school age or older. Jenny Radesky, clinical instructor in developmental-behavioural pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, published the team’s findings. She urged parents to increase ‘direct human to human interaction’ with their children. Radesky encouraged more ‘unplugged’ family interaction in general and suggested young children may benefit from a designated family hour of quality time spent with relatives – without any television and mobile devices being involved.

Diane Glasgow, Family Health Initiative Co Ordinator with Early Years, would certainly support ‘unplugged’ family time. Commenting on the impact on children’s health and well-being she states “Technology has become so powerful in today’s society, and it has many benefits. However, too much exposure to technology can have a negative impact on children’s health and well-being. Many children are not reaching the recommended guidelines of at least 60 minutes of physical activity for primary school children, due to increased use of computers, TV and other technology. This increases their risk of health problems

and obesity in childhood and later life.”Reflecting on her own childhood, Diane comments “I think technology limits children’s imagination and ability to be creative. When we think back on our own memories of play as a child, this involved very little resources, eg skipping rope, chalk, climbing trees, making dens. Children in today’s society have somehow lost their creativity, and crave technology, and we don’t want our children to lose their ability to be imaginative.”

As well as imagination, Radesky’s research questioned whether the use of smartphones and tablets could interfere with the ability to develop empathy and problem-solving skills, and elements of social interaction, which are typically learned during unstructured play and communication with peers. This concern was echoed by Moira Taggart, Outreach Worker at Rainbow SureStart, who observed that “Children are relying on technology as entertainment rather than having conversations with peers and adults and role playing while being involved in imaginary play. There is less messy and sensory play and children are not used to being exposed to such play.”

Radesky’s research also emphasises the role of parents recommending that parents try applications out before allowing children to access them. Parents are also encouraged to use applications with their children as using interactive media together increases its educational value. A key concern raised by a number of Early Years workers, particularly those working with the under twos, is the amount of time parents of young children themselves spend engaging with other adults on smartphones and other technology, switched off from the face to face interaction with children so vital for development.

Catherine McKnight who supports Traveller children and families in the Early Years Toybox Project explained the importance of partnership with parents in relation to technology when introducing a range and variety of play in the home setting, “We have to always be very aware that it is a privilege to be welcomed into a family home to support young children’s play. Before the play sessions, we would work with parents so that they set the context, ensuring that TV or other technology is switched off or turned down so that this is not a battlefield with the child before the session commences. The children are prepared then and really excited to see me coming with dough or paint or some new experience.” Catherine acknowledges that as a parent herself, it is also an area which she has to navigate with her own children, who are pictured in the images for this article. “Having two boys of my own Corey aged nine years and Zack aged four, I feel it is essential to ensure the boys have a wide range of experiences from playing

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football to using the latest technology. This appears to be the way in which the world is going, but all in moderation. My boys really enjoy using the DS and iPad, however what they enjoy most is spending time at the allotment with daddy and granddad feeding their chickens and collecting the eggs. They have been busy planting vegetables the last few weeks and like to water them, whatever the weather. The other day they chopped wood for the stove out in the shed and boiled the eggs the hens had laid. It was magical. Technology is part of their growing up but so are other things. Its all about achieving a balance I think.”

It is indeed as Catherine says, a balance. Thinking back to the speculative conversation with Montessori and Vygotsky, we must also consider the positive benefits of technology, particularly for children over the age of two. Early Years Specialist Karen Cooke suggested a number of possibilities for creativity and innovation in the hands of a skilled practitioner using ICT as a tool to support learning with pre-school children.

“Children are able to use ICT packages from a young age to demonstrate their creativity and certain programmes offer children an opportunity to develop their problem-solving skills; they offer opportunities for them to predict and hypothesise.” Karen quotes a number of examples of the effective use of technology in practice “I have seen a tablet being used to show children the work which happens within the Dell factory, this was supporting a group of children who were involved in exploring a Dell computer at a tinkering table within a pre-school setting.”Donna Sweeney, Early Years Leader at Rainbow SureStart emphasises the possible uses of technology in supporting school aged children with additional needs, “Having worked very closely with a young family member with Autism, I found an iPad to be very useful as it provided consistency from the setting to the home environment for her and gives her more independence within homework tasks as writing skills is something she finds difficult. It also gives her much needed time out when she finds her emotions too much to deal with.”

In an article published earlier this year, Ann Epstein, Senior Director Of Curriculum Development at HighScope, endeavoured to put together a position statement on the issue of young children and technology. This included a synthesis of the research and addressed both the positive and negative impacts. HighScope believes technology, when appropriately designed for young children over age two and used with the guidance of supportive adults, can promote early learning and development. To use technology as one of many effective teaching tools, they

suggest practitioners apply the following principles and ideas:

1. Incorporating technology in the classroom is a choice, not a necessity. While familiarity with technology is important in today’s world, and access to technology is an equity issue, early learning primarily occurs through interactions with other materials, people, events and ideas. 2. Technology is one of many tools that young children can use to carry out their play ideas, acquire knowledge and skills, and solve problems. Using technology is an interesting end in itself (discovering how it works), as well as a means to an end (extending role play, solving problems). 3. Technology should be used in moderation to supplement, not replace, hands-on learning with real materials that provide a full range of physical, sensory, intellectual, and social experiences. 4. Technology should be interactive and open-ended, and it should promote discovery learning, not emphasise drill and practice. Software should encourage creativity, problem-solving, and reflection. 5. Technology should serve as a catalyst for social interaction. It should allow children to use equipment and programmes together, share observations and discoveries, and assist one another. 6. Adults should act as partners when children choose to use technology, just as they partner and interact with children during other types of play. 7. Choose hardware that is safe and sturdy enough for children to use independently. If concerns about equipment costs or damages are overriding, it will restrict children’s use of the technology and limit the potential benefits. 8. Because new technologies are being developed all the time, their appropriateness for young children’s physical,

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cognitive and social development must be evaluated on an ongoing basis.

One thing is certain, technology is not going away and neither is the debate within the early childhood sector as to its use and misuse. As Radesky concluded “At this time there are more questions than answers when it comes to mobile media.”

This year’s Early Years 50th Anniversary Conference will see some of the questions and answers given centre stage with world experts providing challenging engagement in the technology debate from different perspectives. Based on her latest book, ‘Beyond Remote-Controlled Childhood’, Diane Levin will explore how growing up in a media-saturated environment can influence how children learn and play, what they learn and play, as well as making the job of teaching and parenting harder. She will look at specific strategies teachers and parents can use to help children get beyond remote-controlled childhood, to counteract harmful lessons learned, to promote optimal development, learning and creative play.

To both complement and contrast, Swati Popat Vats will put forward the view that “It’s time to support children with today’s research, yesterday’s learnings and help them grow to survive and succeed in the tomorrow that no-one has seen but can only predict.” Swati will demonstrate how technology and art can be infused in everyday parenting and teaching to “support children with abilities and ethics, conscience and science and thus use their yesterday to prepare for tomorrow today”. Ideas on technology and early

childhood will be flowing in then from the US, from India and from Northern Ireland. I think then if we could skype Vygotsky he would be very excited indeed.

Donohue, C (eds) 2014, Technology and Digital Media in the Early Years, Routledge and NAEYCEpstein, AS (2015). Using Technology Appropriately in the Preschool Classroom, HighScope Institute

Guernsey, L (2012). Screen time: How electronic media – from baby videos to educational software – affects your young child. New York, NY: Basic Books Konigsberg, RD (2013, August 2012). Parents are digital hypocrites: Adults think they’re setting limits but inadvertently teach kids to overuse gadgets Levin, DE (2013). Beyond remote-controlled childhood: Teaching young children in the media age. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children McDonough, P (2009). TV viewing among kids at an eight-year high. Nielsen, 26 October 2009 Radesky et al (2014) ‘Patterns of Mobile device use by caregivers and children’ in journal ‘Pediatrics’ Rideout, V (2011). Zero to eight: Children’s media use in America. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense Media Rideout, VJ, and Hamel, E (2006). The media family: Electronic media in the lives of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their parents. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation

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Family Health Initiative

Paddington Playgroup staff receiving their Family Health Initiative certificate

Family Health Initiative UpdateAveen wins Millennium Volunteer Awards

Congratulations to Aveen Greenan who was recently presented with her Gold Millennium Volunteer Award at the Waterfront Hall on Wednesday 4th March 2015. Aveen completed over 200 hours of volunteering with Early Years – the organisation for young children. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Aveen for all her dedicated work, and wish her all the best for the future.

If you would like more information on Millennium Volunteers visit http://youngcitizens.volunteernow.co.uk/millennium-volunteers

Family Health Initiative Update

The Family Health Initiative Team is delighted to announce that funding by the Public Health Agency has been extended until 31 March 2016, to deliver more healthy lifestyle programmes in the SHSCT area. We would like to thank and congratulate all groups and families which have recently completed the Family Health Initiative including:

· Paddington Playgroup, Galbally

· Little Friends Afterschool, Banbridge

· Carrick Primary School, Lurgan

We are currently delivering programmes in:

· Clonoe Community Centre, Coalisland

· Little Friends Parent and Toddler, Mourneview Community Centre, Lurgan

· Windmill Integrated Primary School, Dungannon

Plans are currently being made for programmes throughout the summer and start September/October in the Southern Trust area. If you know of any families or groups which would benefit from the Family Health Initiative, please contact Diane on 077 9133 4012 or dianeg@early-years.org

Upcoming Health Dates:

Below we have highlighted some exciting upcoming health events which you can promote with children and families in your setting. Further information and free resources can be found on each website.

Health Event DatesNational childhood obesity week 6 to 12 July 2015

Love Parks Week 24 July to 3 August 2015

World Breastfeeding week 1 to 7 August 2015

Children enjoying their snack with ‘Megan’ at the Family Health Initiative in

Little Friends Afterschool, Banbridge.

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Lack of sleep putting our children at risk of obesity

Many parents are aware of the health risks tied to everyday habits of allowing youngsters too many ‘treat’ foods, sugary drinks or

not being active enough. But children getting quality sleep is also a cornerstone for their health and can be another factor in them

becoming overweight as they get older.

Also, too much screen time – whether on TV, games consoles, smartphones or tablets - can have a real impact on your child’s sleep

patterns.

The latest phase of safefood’s Childhood Obesity campaign focuses on the association between sleep and obesity. Significant

evidence now shows that children with less than 11 hours sleep have a 58% increased risk of being overweight than children who

sleep more. Research also shows that for each additional hour of sleep, the risk was reduced by 9%.

The campaign also focuses on the amount of screen time children are currently viewing. At present 11% of three year olds watch more

than three hours of television a day while 16% have a television or electrical device in their bedroom.

Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health and Nutrition, safefood:

“Sleep is such an important part of a child’s development but one that often gets overlooked. While parents are conscious

of the health risks for children associated with everyday habits like too many ‘treat foods’, too many sugary drinks or not

enough physical activity, they may be unaware of how important quality sleep is for our children’s health.”

Getting enough sleep helps a child’s body to grow and develop, while for the brain and emotional growth, sleep gives children the time

to make sense of their day.

Children of different ages need different amounts of sleep:

· For under fives, aim for 11 hours

· For over fives, aim for 10 hours

· For over tens, aim for 9 hours

Establishing a regular routine at bedtime can really improve children’s sleep time. The first step to doing this is establishing a suitable

routine for parent and child and most importantly, trying to stick to it - this helps body clocks develop into their natural, regular rhythm.

Here are safefood’s top tips for setting a good bedtime routine.

· Have wind-down time (at least 40 minutes) which is really important in getting ready for bed, as it helps them all to relax in

the evening.

· Encourage children to be active throughout the day but it’s best not to be active just before bed time.

· Try to have your main meals two hours before bedtime - some active kids may need a small snack before bed time too. A

warm bath can help relax children and help them get ready for rest.

· For younger children, read a story with them or listen to some gentle music.

· For older children, read a book or magazine.

For more practical tips and advice including support from health experts on how to set a better bedtime routine, visit the safefood website www.safefood.eu.You can also follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #itsbedtime

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Each year for the last 10 years, Early Years - the organisation for young children has worked in partnership with Wheelock College in Boston to host a Service Learning Trip for students. Since its founding in 1888, by early childhood education pioneer Lucy Wheelock, Wheelock College has aspired to be at the forefront of higher education innovation. This mindset includes embracing new ideas, new technologies, and new collaborations and partnerships.

Wheelock delivers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate programmes, providing students with a strong foundation in the arts and sciences and outstanding professional preparation in the fields of education, child life, and social work. A hallmark of a Wheelock education is providing students with real-world experiences for many of the semesters they attend.

The annual Service Learning Trip to Belfast is led by Professor Diane Levin, an American author, educator and advocate known for her work in media literacy and media effects on children. As Professor of Education at Wheelock College, Diane teaches a service learning course on the reconciliation process under way in schools in Northern Ireland, and a summer institute on ‘Media Madness and Children’. The annual service learning programme for Wheelock students and alumni to Belfast explores concepts of how schools can help communities affected by conflict heal, with a focus on lessons from Northern Ireland. The aim of the visit is to afford students an opportunity to observe first-hand the work of the organisation, particularly in relation to the Media Initiative for Children Respecting Difference Programme.

Each year onsite work placements are organised for the students in early years settings which are currently implementing the MIFC Programme. This year the following groups facilitated these work placements:

· Little Oaks Pre-School

· Stepping Stones Playgroup

· Mallusk Community Playgroup

· Aisling Playgroup

· St Colmcille’s Pre-School Playgroup

· Fane Street Nursery

The students also visited St Teresa’s Primary School on the Glen Road, where they received a great welcome from the Principal, Mr Rogers, and observed the MIFC Programme being implemented in the Foundation Stage.

Students were also privileged to attend Footprints Women’s Centre in West Belfast, which operates as a social enterprise. The women’s centre has developed a diverse range of services to meet the distinct needs of women and children living within the Colin area. Responding to the needs of local women and their families, Footprints Women’s Centre has filled recognised gaps and offers a relaxing and welcoming environment, where local women are encouraged and supported to build self-esteem, confidence and develop skills through participation in the range of programmes and activities on offer.

Over the years, students have had the opportunity to learn about other projects within the organisation. Early Years staff have delivered workshops on Eager and Able to Learn and Toybox, in addition to the MIFC Respecting Difference Programme.

The content of the Service Learning Programme was enhanced this year with the introduction of a workshop on the Family Health Initiative, delivered by Diane Glasgow and her colleagues Alison Boyle and Elaine Hendry, and a first-hand opportunity to learn more about the Toybox Project, facilitated by Rita Simmonds.

A variety of social events was also organised to complement the visit. This included tours to Crumlin Road Gaol, the Titanic Centre, a day trip up the North coast, including the Giants Causeway and a city bus tour of Belfast, including the Peace Walls.

This year, to celebrate the 10th anniversary, the serving Lord Mayor of Belfast, Nicola Mallon, hosted a reception for the students and lecturers in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour in the City Hall.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Nicola Mallon, hosted a reception for the Wheelock students and staff to celebrate 10 years

of partnership and the Service Learning programme.

Wheelock College celebrates 10 years of partnership with Early Years

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On 5 February 2015 Naiolann Solais Childcare Centre, Milltown, Co Kerry, received an award presented to them by the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Michael O’Shea and Members of the Municipal District of South and West Kerry. This award was presented to this group in recognition of achieving HighScope Ireland Institute accreditation for the second time. “The award is in recognition of attaining such high quality practice as HighScope,” stated the Cathaoirleach Cllr M O’Shea in his address.

HighScope is a research based curriculum with the child at the centre. It is through active participatory learning that the child grows in knowledge and experience of how their world works. The HighScope Curriculum promotes the holistic development of each child as activities are planned on a daily basis to support and extend the ongoing development of individual children. The adult works alongside the child to support and extend the learning. Knowledge of child development is therefore central to the curriculum. Staff observe, evaluate and plan daily for development to happen. Reflection and evaluation is a vital part of this process and essential for positive outcomes for children. Staff use researched and validated tools to enhance their practice and update their training needs on a continuous basis.

This award ceremony was a very positive celebration to attend as it acknowledged the hard work, time, commitment and enthusiasm of this staff team. Each staff member works tirelessly at implementing quality practice. They contribute their individual knowledge, skills and expertise which supports the team as a whole. Directors, committee members, manager, parents and the pre-school team work collaboratively at improving all aspects with this service.

Imelda Madigan, the HighScope Ireland Institute trainer and development worker, who supported this team through the re-accreditation process, was asked to speak on behalf of the group by

Manager Katie Clarke. Imelda acknowledged the hard work and commitment over the years of this very dedicated team. She summarised the HighScope curriculum for all present. Imelda warmly welcomed this award as it is an acknowledgement by the local community of the hard work and indeed positive outcomes for children gained by this staff team. Imelda went on to say that “Childcare and education needs to be honoured and recognised as a most important job and profession. It is one that I am very glad to see is being honoured here today by the local community. To achieve the award and get HighScope re-accreditation is a huge achievement on its own, however to get that achievement acknowledged and honoured in your own community is even better.” She went on to thank the Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael O’Shea and all the committee for this honour. Imelda finished by adding “when we look after our children, support their development in every way, physical, cognitive, emotional and social as well as spiritual … we look after not only the present moment which is vital in the life of a child but we look after our future.”

All those involved were thanked and especially Skillnet which fund in part the ongoing HighScope training, support and development work of this particular group.

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Partnership

Partnership announced to protect early years provision

On 20 May 2015 Early Years – the organisation for young children announced a new partnership with education union ATL (Association of Teachers and Lecturers) to boost staff support and improve services in the early years sector.

This partnership is set to provide vital assistance to the sector’s workforce to continue growing its skills and knowledge base, and give a boost to early years’ provision, especially in the light of recent cutbacks.

It will allow members of the early years sector to join ATL, which operates UK wide, and aims to improve the terms and conditions for the 10,000-strong early years workforce in Northern Ireland.

Mary Bousted, General Secretary of ATL, said that “the two partners are committed to initial and ongoing opportunities for professional development and say that this will improve the terms and conditions of those who work in the sector as well as strengthening the human resources and management arrangements.”

Siobhán Fitzpatrick, CEO of Early Years, said “both organisations have worked together in the past – notably on issues like educational disadvantage and raising the school starting age in Northern Ireland – and believe their similar values mean this new formal relationship will be a great success.”

OFMDFM Junior Ministers, Michelle McIlveen and Jennifer McCann, attended the launch of the new partnership between Early Years and the ATL, which took place at Early Years headquarters in Belfast.

Welcoming the partnership, the Junior Ministers said: “Good quality childcare, which provides positive experiences and promotes children’s opportunities to develop, is a starting point for lifelong achievement. In order to provide quality childcare services, we need to have a dedicated and first class workforce. “This new partnership is a very positive development, which will provide the opportunity for those working in the early years sector to develop skills, build expertise and operate in a professional network. This approach complements the work of our childcare strategy, and we are confident that it will contribute to the recognition of childcare as a valued and professional occupation that plays an important part in our economy and our society.”

Early Years is a membership organisation which supports and promotes early childcare and education, providing information and training for parents, childcare providers, employers and local authorities. Early Years membership is open to all childcare settings, individuals and organisations which subscribe to the organisation’s values and principles.

ATL is the union for education professionals across the UK. ATL is led by members, working for its members.

just smile! because we always protect the things you love

Your Early Years Approved Broker

TEL: 02890 248989FAX: 02890 233902

The Early YearsInsurance Scheme

Lockton is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales at The St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AG. Company number: OC353198. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and a Lloyd’s Broker. A list of the designated

members and individual members of Lockton Companies LLP is available for inspection at the registered office.

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All nine Sure Start Projects in the Southern Board area have recently received the Bronze ONUS Award. The Award recognised the projects’ work to reduce domestic violence and support those affected by it. All nine projects provide a ‘Safe Place’ for any person experiencing domestic violence and will help them gain specialist support from organisations such as Women’s Aid. Sure Starts are committed to eradicating Domestic Violence as:

1. Domestic violence occurs across society regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexuality, wealth or geography.

2. It affects one in five women and one in nine men at some stage.

3. Research undertaken in Northern Ireland conservatively estimates that 11,000 children are living with domestic violence in their lives.

4. It impacts on a child’s social and emotional well-being.

5. More than 20% of employed women take time off work because of domestic violence, and 2% lose their jobs as a direct result of the abuse.

6. Domestic violence can result in deterioration in an

employee’s performance, increased absenteeism or poor timekeeping, threatening job prospects and job security.

7. During 2007/08 eleven people were killed as a result of domestic violence in Northern Ireland.

8. Children can miss school/childcare, be unable to concentrate and they may also demonstrate inappropriate behaviour.

9. Furthermore, those affected may have physical injuries and deep emotional trauma.

10. 30% of domestic violence starts during pregnancy. 11. In 90% of cases children are present in the same

room.If you or anyone you know experiences domestic violence, please contact Onus, Women’s Aid or your local Sure Start Project for support.For more information on the Onus Award please visit – www.onutraining.co.uk

Tackling Domestic Violence Together

just smile! because we always protect the things you love

Your Early Years Approved Broker

TEL: 02890 248989FAX: 02890 233902

The Early YearsInsurance Scheme

Lockton is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales at The St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AG. Company number: OC353198. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and a Lloyd’s Broker. A list of the designated

members and individual members of Lockton Companies LLP is available for inspection at the registered office.

New Benefit for HighScope MembersHighScope Members receive 7.5% discount

with Early Years Insurance Scheme.

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Breastfeeding

For many years research has shown that the benefits of

breastfeeding for mother and baby include:

· Reducing the risk of chest and ear infections in

babies.

· Reducing the risk of sudden infant death.

· Reducing the risk of allergies, diabetes and

childhood leukaemia.

· Reducing the risk of ovarian and breast cancer

in mothers.

· Reducing the risk of osteoporosis in women in

later life.

· Reducing the risk of obesity and cardiovascular

disease in women and children.

Now a long-term research project in Brazil (over 30

years) with 6,000 babies, has shown that the longer a

women breastfeeds her child, increases their chances

of turning into “well educated, higher earning” adults.

IQ tests were carried out on the ‘now 30 year old

adults’ and those who were breastfed had a higher IQ,

spent longer in school and earned more than those

who were not breastfed. Also the longer they were

breastfed made a difference too. Children who had

been breastfed for 12 months had an IQ of at least four

points higher than those who had been breastfed for

only a month.

According to Dr Bernardo Lessa Horda (Federal

University of Pelotar, Brasil) “There is evidence that

breast milk is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids that

are essential for brain growth.”

For more information on breastfeeding, speak to your

Midwife, Health Visitor or your local Sure Start Project.

The longer babies are breastfed, the better

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Surestart

UNICEF Baby Friendly Award for Sure StartEight Sure Start projects in the Southern Board area have

successfully achieved their level one UNICEF Baby Friendly

Award.

The award is designed to acknowledge achievements of

those working with parents who provide information and

support allowing parents to provide the best possible care, build close and loving relationships and feed their babies

in ways which will support optimum health

and development. There are three stages to

the award and at each stage providers are

externally verified by UNICEF.

To receive Level One, Sure Start has

developed a breastfeeding policy, a

breastfeeding information leaflet and

developed a training programme for all

their staff. All Sure Start projects continue

to provide parents with information on the

benefits of breastfeeding and developing

close and loving relationships with their

babies. All projects are now working

towards the Level Two award to further

support families.

For more information on the award or

breastfeeding, visit www.unicef.org.uk/

babyfriendly or contact your local Sure

Start Project.

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DE EARLY YEARS FUND CONSTITUENCY EVENTS

DE Early Years Fund Constituency Events

Early Years – the organisation for young children would like to thank all who have participated so far in combined lobbying and advocacy activity in response to the Minister of Education’s announcement in March 2015 to cut the DE Early Years Fund budget by £2 million.

Particular thanks to those committee members and parents who have hosted, supported and attended the following constituency based evening meetings which have taken place so far:

Date Host Constituency area(s)

23 March 2015 Happy Days Playgroup Newry and Armagh

24 March 2015 Harpurs Hill Children and Family Centre East Londonderry/North Antrim

30 March 2015 Dunnaman Children’s Centre South Down

31 March 2015 Drumellan Children and Young People’s Centre Upper Bann

01 April 2015 174 Trust Ltd Belfast

28 April 2015 Caw Community Playgroup Foyle

30 April 2015 Tober Tinys Community Playgroup Mid Ulster

06 May 2015 First Steps Children’s Centre West Tyrone

The united front presented at each of these meetings has contributed to the provision of a very strong message to attending Westminster MP Candidates; MLA Committee members representing Education, Health, Employment and Learning and Rural Development; and local Council or political party representatives. 

Derry City and Strabane District Council, Causeway Coast and Glens District Council, and Mid Ulster District Council have been the first new District Councils to visibly show unified support in this area in recently passing motions calling on

Early Years lobbying Minister for Social Development, Mervyn Storey MLA.

First Steps Children’s Centre, West Tyrone.

17

the Minister for Education to ensure the Department’s Early Years Fund is protected against cuts.  These motions were brought by Councillors who had attended DE Fund constituency evening meetings in their local areas. In the motions Councillors reiterated many of the concerns and issues raised by attendees during those meetings.  We aim further to engage with other new Local District Councils in terms of seeking similar motions and support against cuts to the Fund.

Constituency-based meetings in other significantly affected areas will continue in order to further lobby on and influence NI Executive discussions around budgetary monitoring negotiations between departments and the importance of the DE Early Years Fund being included within these.

Equally, toward this objective of influencing NI Executive budget discussions, Early Years has met separately a number of key MLAs including the then Chair of the Education Committee and now OFMDFM Junior Minister, Michelle McIlveen MLA; Steven Agnew MLA, who is pushing forward legislation for better co-ordination of children’s services; the Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA. Early Years has been involved in separate meetings with the First and deputy First Ministers as part of NIVCA delegations on cuts to the voluntary and community sector.  The deputy First Minister was joined in his meeting by all his ministerial colleagues including Carál Ní Chuilín, John O’Dowd, Michelle O’Neill and Jennifer McCann.

After a number of requests, a further separate meeting between Early Years and the Education Minister specifically focusing on the Fund took place at the beginning of June in the week immediately following the Early Years 50th International Conference and AGM. 

DE EARLY YEARS FUND CONSTITUENCY EVENTS

Tober Tinys Community Playgroup, Mid Ulster. 174 Trust Ltd, Belfast.

NICVA delegation holds meetings to discuss sector cuts with the First Minister, Peter Robinson, including representation from Early Years.

NICVA delegation including representation from Early Years holds meetings to discuss sector cuts with deputy First Minister, Martin McGuiness, and Minister for Education, John O’Dowd.

18

Dunnaman Children’s Centre, South Down.

Drumellan Children and Young People’s Centre, Upper Bann.

Happy Days Playgroup, Newry and Armagh.

19

Zoo Day fun for Early Years members

Over 1,500 children from playgroups, pre-schools, Sure Starts and parent and toddler groups enjoyed two fun-filled days at Belfast Zoo recently.

The members’ event, which was held on Wednesday 20 May and Friday 22 May 2015 was a memorable occasion for all those who were involved.

Many of the children were on their first visit to the zoo and got to meet some of their favourite animals for the first time, as well as learning lots about all sorts of animals, from anteaters to zebras.

The rain held off for most of the day, so children and adults were able to take their time around the zoo and enjoy picnics in different parts of the park.

Members take part in Early Years Folk Day 2015

Groups in the West, took part in our annual Folk Day event at the Ulster

American Folk Park in Omagh, Co Tyrone, last month.

Children got the opportunity to learn about emigration from Ulster to North

America in the 18th and 19th centuries, following the emigrant trail from

traditional thatched cottages to being on board a sailing ship and then into the

log cabins of the American frontier.

Members enjoyed lots of different activities including

traditional American games, being entertained by a

fur trapper, a visit to a traditional sweet shop and a

demonstration from a blacksmith.

With a day of sunshine and showers, children and adults

were able to sample some pancakes and soda bread and try

out hoopla for a fun-filled day with the staff at the Folk Park.

LKK – Children from Little Kingdom Kids at Early Years Zoo Day 2015.

Portrush PG - Portrush Playgroup children enjoying Early Years Zoo Day 2015.

St Bernards – St Bernards Playgroup at Early Years Zoo Day 2015.

Children meet the fur trapper at the Folk Park

Killycurragh Parent and Toddler Group enjoys traditional games at the schoolhouse

Rascals Community Playgroup feeds the chickens

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