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Early Years, Pre-School Issues
1.The Pre-School Expansion Programme
The Pre-School Education Expansion Programme is part of the Government’s wider strategy to provide an integrated and coherent range of care and education services to meet the needs of young children and their parents.
The Government’s long-term aim is to provide a full year of pre-school education for every child whose parents wish it.
The details of the programme are outlined in a publication titled "Investing in Early Learning - Pre-school Education in Northern Ireland" (ISBN: 8975925070).
Copies are available from:
www.deni.gov.uk
www.deni.gov.uk
2. Review of Pre-School Education in Northern Ireland
The Department of Education launched a review of the effectiveness Pre-School education in Northern Ireland in June 2004. Many key stakeholders, individuals and organisations responded during the consultation process and the final outcomes were published in April 2006. The review dealt with many core issues including integration of early years’ services, duration of sessions, admission age of priorities, reception provision, support for children with Special Educational Needs, staff qualification and training and staff : child ratios. Details of the final report can be accessed on www.deni.gov.uk
3. EPPNI Research
Many of the decisions made in the Review of Pre-School Education were based on the findings of the ‘Effective Pre-School Provision in N.I.’ study. This research explored five key questions in relation to the possible impact of pre-school education on children’s development and to quality issues in different types of settings.
The research report is available for download on www.deni.gov.uk
