ISSUE SEVEN - JUNE 2008
This Month
AGM Special Issue
Media Initiative for Children
Zoo Day 2008
TOO FORMAL TOO SOON
Siobhan Fitzpatrick and Guy Claxton visit Rainbow Community
Playgroup in Derry during the Early Years International Conference and AGM
Formal education leaves
small children less eager
and able to learn
A series of internationally renowned speakers have told the Early
Years - the organisation for young children’s international AGM and
annual conference in Derry that introducing young children to formal
education too soon leaves them less eager and able to learn. The
conference also heard that significant investment in pre-school
education makes sound economic sense.
The conference, entitled ‘Eager and Able Learners’ heard Professor
Guy Claxton, Professor of Learning Sciences at the University of
Bristol Graduate School of Education say that children who are
introduced to formal learning too young can be stifled and may not
reach their full potential in later years.
“This is not an idle claim. There is an immense amount of data and
research which highlights how play based learning instils a desire to
learn which helps the student achieve more, enjoy learning more and
retain more information later in life. If formal education begins too
young, children may well be turned off education to such an extent that
they lose their ability to reach their full potential. Sending children to
school at four to begin their formal education is something which
should be the subject of real debate. European experience suggests
that developing a strategy which allows for play based learning until
later on, putting formal educational teaching back until children are six
or even seven would yield significant results, not just in later schooling,
but throughout life.”
Guy Claxton is one of the UK’s leading experts on practical ways of
developing young people’s learning and creative capacities. He is the
author of over 20 books on learning and the mind, including Hare
Brain, Tortoise Mind: Why Intelligence Increases When You Think
Less. He holds Degrees from Cambridge and Oxford, and is a Fellow
of the British Psychological Society and an Academician of the UK
continued on page 5
Academy of Social Sciences.
www.early-years.org
1
DEAR READERS …
Welcome to the June special AGM issue of Early
Years. The last few months have been very busy
for the organisation, culminating in the excellent
International Conference and AGM in Derry. What
a great conference it was, with over 400 people
attending, international speakers, master classes,
gala dinner and a reception in the Guildhall, hosted
by the Mayor of Derry. Congratulations to the
Foyle Branch of Early Years and all the staff for
their hard work in organising the conference, it was
a great success.
Other major events since the last issue have been
the launch of ‘Kathleen Makes New Friends’, the
latest media message and cartoon in the
respecting difference programme tackling the
exclusion of Traveller children.
Our friends from Wheelock College in Boston
spent a week with us as part of the Service
Learning Exchange Programme with the US
College and the celebrations of the Cross Border
Training Project and the Pathfinding Initiative
provided the opportunity to focus on the best
practice in training and professional development
of the early years workforce.
We continue to lobby for a Transformation Fund to
support the development and remuneration of the
early years workforce to graduate level.
Throughout this campaign and at local lobbying
events the Early Years membership have shown
their desire for change and have been a strong
and constant collective voice for young children.
As we approach the end of term, Early Years
members’ day out - Zoo Day - was a great success
this year with over 1,500 children, parents and
staff attending the Zoo in Belfast with face painters
and balloon modellers for entertainment.
Looking forward to next year, we are delighted to
have been asked to host the World Forum on Early
Care and Education in Belfast from 16th to 19th
June. The event will see over 600 early childhood
practitioners from 80 countries come to Northern
Ireland, so start making your plans now.
Enjoy the summer break.
Siobhan Fitzpatrick
Chief Executive Early Years
Early Years - the organisation for young children
2
NEWRY AND MOURNE BRANCH MEETS EDUCATION MINISTER
Newry and Mourne Branch with Catriona Ruane
Playgroup leaders from the Newry and Mourne Branch of Early Years - the organisation for young
children met with Education Minister, Catriona Ruane at the Mourne Country Hotel in Newry on Friday
16th May. The group of 12 playgroup leaders discussed a range of issues affecting their work such as
funding and conditions for playgroup staff, greater support for work with special needs children and the
introduction of a Transformation fund to help develop the pre-school sector to a graduate level.
Speaking after the event Nuala Duffy from Forkhill Playgroup said: “It was a very informal and
constructive meeting and the Minister welcomed all of our questions and queries. It was great to hear
the members or Early Years vocalise the deeply held commitment which exists across the sector, and
to outline practical reasons why the children of Northern Ireland and their parents will be extremely
well served by the development of early yearʼs education.”
Early Years - the organisation for young children strongly believes that a properly remunerated
graduate-led workforce will improve the quality of the care and education our children receive, and that
this investment in the future of our children will reap financial and educational benefits for children
throughout their lives. In Northern Ireland there is no training and development strategy for people
working with young children. In England and Wales £200 million has been allocated for this type of
training.
Deirdre Turley, Chairperson of the Newry and Mourne Branch of Early Years said: “The local branch
network of Early Years is an excellent forum for Early Years Members to debate issues affecting the
sector, exchange ideas and to lobby local politicians.
Any groups interested in becoming a member should call Early Years on 028 9066 2825.”
EARLY YEARS WORKING WITH DOE TO RESOLVE DAYCARE TRANSPORT ISSUES
Early Years - the organisation for young children is working with the Department of the Environment
and the Driver and Vehicle Agency to address the difficulties relating to the transportation of children
by nurseries and day care centres which have arisen as a result of a change in the enforcement of
regulations. The change means that staff using cars and other vehicles to transport children may now
have to license their vehicle as a taxi.
Early Years’ Chief Executive Siobhan Fitzpatrick says this law was due to be enforced in September,
and Early Years would be working with the DOE and DVA to resolve the issue.
“We met with the DVA and are working in partnership with them in order to resolve the situation. We
have relayed the seriousness of the situation, which would have a logistical fall out for our member
groups and particularly parents across Northern Ireland and are encouraged by the helpful stance
taken by the Minister, the DOE and the DVA. We intend to work closely with the DVA to resolve the
situation, and are very confident that a solution can be found in the short term.”
EARLY YEARS INITIATIVE HELPS TACKLE EXCLUSION OF TRAVELLER CHILDREN
A cartoon and educational initiative aimed
at pre-school children was launched in April
to help tackle the exclusion of Traveller
children. The new ʻKathleenʼ cartoon was
shown for a week on UTV, Channel Four and
RTE from the 24th of April, and will be
followed up with an interactive programme
to be rolled out at playgroups and nursery
schools across Northern Ireland. This is
part of a million pound initiative recently
funded by the International Fund for Ireland.
Research carried out by Queens University showed
that by the age of six, one in six children in Northern
Ireland are making sectarian and racial remarks. The
Respecting Difference programme developed by Early
Years - the organisation for young children and the
Peace Initiatives Institute from the USA, provides an
innovative and proven way of helping young children to
understand the need to recognise difference and
include those who are different. The latest cartoon in
this pre-school programme, launched in Coalisland by
the Children’s Commissioner, Patricia Lewsley focuses
on the simple story of a Traveller child ‘Kathleen’
making new friends.
The programme aims to help young children
understand what it feels like when they and Traveller
children are excluded. The programme uses cartoons
and interactive play materials to support young
children to understand and respect those who are
different and encourage inclusion in a very simple
child-friendly way.
Northern Ireland Children’s Commissioner, Patricia
Lewsley said that she was pleased to launch the new
programme: “From NICCYʼs research we know
Traveller children are often bullied. I hope this cartoon
and associated materials will go some way to tackle
this issue at an early age. The character of Kathleen
and her interaction with other children emphasizes that
children and young people often have more in
common than adults sometimes realise.”
The cartoon was shown on TV and will also be shown
within playgroups and nursery schools taking part in
the initiative. This is then followed up by discussions
designed to explore similarities and differences, to
highlight how it feels to be excluded, and why showing
respect for difference is important.
STEPPING UP
Media Initiative for Children launch at Early Years headquarters
Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of Early Years
said that projects such as this one represented a
concrete outworking of the organisation’s philosophy:
“Early Years as an organisation has the development
of respect for difference amongst its key aims and
objectives. Northern Irelandʼs future depends on
learning the lessons of the past, and the development
of respect for difference is crucially important as we
move forward as a society. Early Years is proud of this
programme as it helps very young children work out for
themselves why discrimination is wrong, and why it
should be challenged.”
Continuing, Siobhan Fitzpatrick said: “Traveller
children are the most educationally disadvantaged
group within the education system and it is beholden
on all of us to try to change that. Engaging with
parents of young children and actively changing their
behaviour is a part of that process, but the beauty of
this initiative is that it helps very young children
discover the need for respecting difference for
themselves, making the lesson much more powerful.”
Research has shown Traveller children to be ‘the
Children, parents and staff from Crossgar
Community Playgroup swapped their playroom for
the seat of power recently during a recent visit to
Stormont. The visit, hosted by MLA John McAlister,
was part of the groupʼs annual outing organised by
the playgroup committee who raised funds for the
day out by holding a coffee morning and tombola
event. Crossgar Community Playgroup is a member
of Early Years - the organisation for young children
which provides training and support for parents,
employers and childcare providers. The day out
proved to be a real hit with all the children.
most at risk in the education system’, whilst mortality
rates among children up to ten years of age have
been found to be 10 times that of children from a
settled population. Ninety two percent of travellers
have no GCSEs, with only 35 percent of Travellers
between 16 and 74 are economically active.
Currently, there are just 1,700 Irish Travellers living in
Northern Ireland.
The programme, backed by research and evaluation
from Queen’s University Belfast, has been effectively
tested and piloted to ensure it delivers an effective
respecting difference programme for young children.
David McCay, Chairman of the Peace Initiatives
Institute (Pii) in the USA, said "This newest focus
of the Media Initiative for Children program on the
Travellers is an important addition. We are very
pleased that after 4 years, the MIFC continues to
provide a vehicle through which children throughout
the country, and others in their
communities, can learn about the importance of
respecting others who are different."
Crossgar Group at Stormont
www.early-years.org
3
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EARLY YEARS CONFERENCE - TOO FORMAL TOO SOON
from page 1
The international AGM and conference took place over 3 days at the
City Hotel in Derry and featured a series of internationally renowned
speakers appearing before over 400 delegates from across the world.
The conference programme was carefully planned to provide an
opportunity for professional development, advocacy and networking
with a range of master classes, seminars and field visits to playgroups.
Early Years Chief Executive Siobhan Fitzpatrick says the debate on
how to best equip our children for the challenges of a 21st century
education needs to look not just at post primary or degree level, but
at how education actually begins, and what foundations are laid for
later life.
“Our organisation is convinced, following the development of a wealth of
research into the area of the education of young children that we in
Northern Ireland need to examine every aspect of our childrenʼs
education, including how children are first introduced to school. Is it a
case in Northern Ireland of ʻToo formal too soonʼ and do we need to
examine ways of continuing play based learning until later in a childʼs
education, thus ensuring that they remain eager and able to learn? Our
speakers, who have world class knowledge of the area have clearly laid
out their belief that this is indeed the case. I believe that a debate on
this issue needs to begin here in Northern Ireland, for the good of our
children, our education system and our future economy. Obviously there
are real practical issues to be considered in such a debate, but surely, in
the light of the research available, it is time to begin the debate?”
Pictured at the opening of the conference
with the choir of Holy Family Primary School, Derry are Martina Anderson MLA,
Professor Guy Claxton, Siobhan Fitzpatrick and Barney McNeany from Early Years
EARLY YEARS CONFERENCE - MASTERCLASS BY DR LARRY SCHWEINHART
Dr Larry Schweinhart is an early childhood programme researcher and
speaker throughout the United States and in other countries. He has
conducted research at the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation
in Ypsilanti, Michigan since 1975 and has served as its President since
2003. He has directed the “High/Scope Perry Pre-School Study Through to
Age 40” in which he identified five ingredients of pre-school programmes
that have been found to be highly effective and have proven long-term
benefits.
Before moving on to discuss these five ingredients in detail, Dr Schweinhart began the workshop by
discussing that pre-school enrolment in general is growing because of two pieces of evidence:
• That early childhood experience influences brain development
• That good programmes have long-term effects and return on investment
To link to the above points, he looked at the long-term effects of three such pre-school
programmes: the Perry Pre-School Study as mentioned above; the Abecedrencian Study and the
Chicago Parent Child Study, and outlined the long-term proven effects of the studies as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Childhood Intellectual Performance
Teen School Achievement
Fewer Teen Births
Placements in Higher Classes
High School Graduation
Adult Earnings
Fewer Crimes
Up to $16 return on the dollar
He then went on to note that other more recent studies of pre-school programmes found in contrast,
only modest, short-term effects on children’s literacy and social skills and were poor candidates for
long term effects and return on investment.
The implication of the above formed the beginning of the central ideas of Dr Schweinhart’s
masterclass with the slide and statement:
TO GET WHAT WE GOT - DO WHAT WE DID!
In this section of the masterclass Dr. Schweinhart outlined, one by one, the five ingredients of
Highly Effective Pre-School Programmes which had resulted in long-term effects and a return on
investment, which stand out as definitive and serve as rules for how to design such programmes.
They were:
1. Serve children living in low income families or otherwise at risk of school failure. He also stated it
may be beneficial to serve children not in these circumstances although research is showing that
the best long-term effects are found from programmes for 3-4 year olds in low income families.
2. Have enough qualified teachers and provide them with ongoing support - with the rule of thumb
having a certified teacher and aide for every 16 to 20 pre-schoolers with regular in-service
training, as there is a proven strong relationship between in-service training and child outcomes.
Pictured from left to right at a visit to Park Community
Playgroup during the Early Years International Conference and AGM are
Maeve Conway, Marie Hasson, Majela Carlin and Jacqueline Brady and children
from Park Community Playgroup with Elaine Sterritt, Early Years Specialist
and Dr Larry Schweinhart, President of the High Scope Educational Institute.
3. Have a validated, interactive child development curriculum - enabling children and teachers to
initiate their own learning activities, interact together and share control within a comprehensive,
inclusive programme covering all aspects of child development which has validated evidence
that the programme works.
4. Spend substantial time with children, parents and other caregivers, e.g.
grandparents/childminders - educating them about children’s development and extending
classroom learning experiences, aiming to develop real partnerships with parents and using
home visits to provide one to one time with the child in the presence of the parent/carer in the
home setting.
5. Continually assessing programme quality and child development - to gain confirmation of
programme quality through using e.g. the Programme Quality Assessment (PQA) Tool and of
children’s school readiness using the COR - Pre-School Child Observation Record.
In conclusion, and in relation to the above, Dr Schweinhart discussed how the High/Scope Perry
Pre-School Study demonstrated that the High/Scope curriculum provides solid evidence of
effectiveness, interactive teachers-student relationships and encompasses all aspects of child
development.
He concluded his talk by reminding us of the two mediators of the Perry Pre-School Study, that
commitment to schooling and achievement are inextricably linked. If the child is motivated to learn,
they will achieve and that, in turn, leads to a greater desire to learn.
What a way to make a difference in young children’s lives!
As Dr Schweinhart stated, an extraordinary opportunity to affect people’s lives and the future: an
opportunity Dr Schweinhart implored the group to take up.
www.early-years.org
5
EARLY YEARS CONFERENCE - GUILDHALL RECEPTION
Pictured outside the Guildhall in Derry
(back row L-R) Dr Larry Schweinhart, Mark Durkan MP MLA, Clare Devlin,
Early Years, (front row L-R) Pauline Walmsley, Barney McNeany and Siobhan
Fitzpatrick of Early Years with Alice Diver and Gerard Diver, Mayor of Derry.
Young Irish dancers at the opening event of the Early Years International Conference
The opening event of the Early Years International Conference took place at a reception in the
Guildhall in Derry hosted by the Mayor of Derry, Gerard Diver. The reception had entertainment from
local young children with performances of Irish dancing and line dancing as well as welcome
speeches by the Mayor of Derry, Mark Durkan, MP, MLA and Mary Bradley MLA.
EARLY YEARS CONFERENCE - MASTERCLASS, BEYOND WORDS
How children make
meanings with
interactive media by
Brian McHenry and
Janet Preston
We as adults may view the development of technology
as being relatively new. Yet for a child it is not new at
all, it’s been around for as long as they have and is as
familiar as anything else in their lives.
Within early years settings the trend has tended to be
one where existing thinking around technology and
software has been adapted to fit ‘little minds and little
hands’ and where ICT is seen as something added on
to what settings can offer rather then something with
the capability to transform.
Janet Preston and Brian McHenry, both early years
specialists, explored the role of interactive media and
ICT in early years settings during a master class at the
Annual Early Years Conference.
The aims of the master class were:
• To explore how ICT can be woven appropriately into
children’s learning and development in the early
years.
• To explore how children use media such as
computers, projectors, light boxes and digital imaging
to support their understanding of the world.
• To explore how the adult supports children’s
understanding of their world through the use of ICT.
Interactive group activities were used to enable
participants to explore what we actually mean by ICT,
how adults feel about it and the many different types of
ICT we can use in our settings.
Although participants agreed that ICT is something that
nowadays we could not do without, it was interesting to
see that when thinking about ICT, most adults tend to
Early Years - The Organisation for Young Children
6
focus on computers and not the many other areas of
information and communication that exists such as
overhead projectors, light boxes, digital cameras,
scanners, printers etc.
Janet and Brian showed a video titled ‘Early Years in
Action’ from the Grove House Children’s centre in
which 96% of children had English as an additional
language. The video focused on how the use of ICT
was embedded into practice. The children used
cameras, microwaves, tape recorders, microphones,
laptops and computers with keyboard scanners
and printers.
ICT was even used to follow up on an outdoor activity
where children had been digging up worms. The worms
were brought into the setting and investigated using a
microscope. The children then had an opportunity to
video how the worms behaved in the soil and play this
video back on a plasma screen. Through using the
microscope, video camera and plasma screen the
children were becoming competent in the use of ICT in
a very natural way.
Many adults admit that they are still uncomfortable with
ICT and so tend to put up barriers to using it in their
settings. For children this is not the case, technology is
just another element in a world they don’t understand
completely but they are interested in it enough to
explore and find out how it works and what it can do.
Children are constructors and creators and have
capabilities and competencies that we often
underestimate. They have an astounding level of visual
awareness and will use the media around them to
communicate with us and with each other. This is what
we mean by moving beyond words into other ways of
communicating.
Children will be competent in what they do and in the
way they gather and process this information. While we
will view an overhead projector as a functional
resource to show acetates, children will see it as
something amazing and explore what happens when
they place objects on it. They will be fascinated by light
boxes and learn much about how light works.
We will be amazed what young children are capable of.
An example was referred to of how a child who could
not yet read or write was able to use the internet to
access a website about owls and ended up watching
owl babies being fed by parent birds.
Although we often assume that by having a screen or
piece of technology in front of us that social interaction
will be closed down, research has shown that children
at a computer talked nine times as much as those
using puzzles. (Muller and Permutter, 1985)
A lot of talk was task related with 95% of children’s talk
during these times, either related to what was in front
of them on the computer or helping another child
understand the processes involved.
Janet and Brian stressed the important role of the adult
in planning to integrate ICT resources into the
environment. ICT is everywhere in a child’s life and
needs to reflected in the early years settings. Within
primary education in England there has been a
worrying trend for schools to provide computer suites
for children rather then the natural integration of ICT
into the environment.
It is important that the choice of ICT has an educational
purpose and encourages creativity, learning and self
expression. Adults should plan to encourage
collaboration by supporting children to work together,
negotiate and problem solve.
Adults should also ensure that the application of ICT
supports learning to learn with children engaging in
active information seeking, exploring, experimenting,
imitating and practising.
The need for safety also needs to be considered in
young children’s use of ICT.
In summary, the master class demonstrated how the
thoughtful integration of the many forms of ICT into
early years settings can add to children’s learning and
understanding of the world they are living in. It
provided practitioners with opportunities to become
aware of how children will engage with such resources
and the important role of the adult in providing for and
scaffolding that learning.
ICT is our present and our future. Research suggests
that the approach of combining digital and traditional
resources within a learning environment is a powerful
framework for learning and development.
EARLY YEARS CONFERENCE - MASTERCLASS, LIKE BEES, NOT BUTTERFLIES
Child Initiated Learning in the
Early Years by Sally Featherstone
Sally Featherstone was head of an infant school for 6 years,
before working as a LEA advisor in Leicestershire. Currently Sally
is working as a consultant and independent trainer. She has
written many books on child development and is currently working
on several new series including “Like Bees, Not Butterflies”.
Fundamentally Sally proposed that when early years educators,
“get it right,” children behave like busy bees, not flighty butterflies.
What does this mean? Bees;
• Collaborate
• Concentrate
• Are inquisitive and exploratory
• Persevere
• Be independent
• Problem solve
The key question is: How is bee behaviour facilitated?
It is crucial to support child initiated learning not only for
development but for joining the hundred thousand million cells
which a baby is born with. This is one of the most important roles
of early years professionals and establishes the architecture of the
brain. Children need to initiate their own learning and have time to
practice skills, consolidate previous knowledge and make sense of
the world around them. Sally stipulated that this continual process
“hard wires” the brain, or helps to ensure that the messages are
strengthened and solidified.
An instructive environment conducive to this process
encompasses a mix of child initiated play and adult supported
ORGANISING THE AGM
activities. Bee like behaviour is fostered, within such an
environment, when resources are accessible, transportable and
displayed at child height. Furthermore Sally indicated that such an
environment lets the brain explore, and facilitates the neural
motions required to strengthen its architecture, build foundations
and fosters independent problem solving. This ensures that
children remain motivated, challenged and purposeful. They
experience success and become intrinsically motivated to
continually learn and develop.
The adult’s role within a child initiated environment is to interact
sensitively, support and collaborate with children’s play, and allow
freedom of choice and creativity. This promotes sustained
involvement and opportunities for continuum of play. Providing
spaces where children can leave their work in progress, to
facilitate revisiting over a period of time, and adding materials to
extend the play also encourages child initiated learning.
One thought provoking aspect discussed was that in school we do
too much. This suggested that planned provision should be
flexible, allowing for adaptation and indicated that;
“… planning may change at any time in the interest of children’s
learning.” Such planning encourages independence and
autonomy.
In conclusion, Sally proposed that when early years educators
provide children with the freedom to explore and initiate their own
learning through play, the essential architecture of the brain is
constructed. The key, according to Sally, is having courageous,
early years professionals, who facilitate environments where
children have the freedom and the time to develop self initiated
ideas and concepts, within a flexibly planned curriculum. Therefore
early years professionals are the people who can facilitate bee
behaviour - or not!
The Early Years AGM was a great
success this year and none of it
would have been possible
without the work of the Foyle
Branch of Early Years and the
Early Years staff who put many
months of excellent work and
organisation into the AGM - a
great job well done.
Early Years Foyle Branch hosting this years AGM
Early Years Headquarters staff at AGM-
www.early-years.org
7
PLAYGROUPS RECEIVE EARLY YEARS ACCREDITATION
Early Years Quality Accreditation was awarded to six
playgroups and staff at the Early Years AGM Gala Dinner.
Early Years has delivered an accreditation programme
since 1991. Developed in line with International Research
on Best Practice in Early Years Care and Education, the
Lower Mourne Pre-School Playgroup in Annalong
Pictured from left to right are
Clare Devlin, Early Years Director of Programmes,
Roisin Greene, Rebecca McAlinden from Lower Mourne Playgroup and Barney
McNeaney, Deputy Chief Exceutive of Early Years.
Woodburn Playgroup, Carrrickfergus
Pictured from left to right are Jenifer Reith and Mary Doherty of Woodbrun
Playgroup, Barney McNeaney, Deputy Chief Executive of Early Years, Judith
Ferguson and Phyllis Cooke of Woodburn Playgroup and Clare Devlin,
Early Years Director of Programmes.
process ensures that service providers can have external
verification on the high quality nature of their provision.
Good quality early years experiences are vital to the
health and development of young children. Providing a
quality early years experience ensures a stimulating,
Eglinton Community Pre-School Playgroup
Early Years - The Organisation for Young Children
8
Hansel and Gretel Pre-School Playgroup, Glynn, Larne
Pictured from left to right are
Barney McNeaney, Deputy Chief Executive of Early Years,
Carol McCluskey, Peggy McMahon and Karen Parke from Eglinton
Playgroup and Clare Devlin, Early Years Director of Programme.
Pictured from left to right are Karen McElroy, Anita Bell, from Hansel and
Gretel Playgroup, Barney McNeaney, Deputy Chief Executive of Early Years,
Clare Devlin, Early Years Director of Programmes with Lorraine Robinson
and Anne McRoberts of Hansel and Gretel Playgroup in Glynn.
Smallfry Community Playgroup, Maguiresbridge
Kindertree Community Playgroup, Derrylinn
Pictured from left to right are Joanne Beatty of Smallfry Community Playgroup,
Barney McNeaney, Deputy Chief Executive of Early Years, Clare Devlin,
Early Years Director of Programmes with Maureen Breen, Theresa
Hannigan and Helen Wallace of Smallfry Community Playgroup.
Pictured from left to right are
Clare Devlin, Early Years Director of Programmes, Shirley Hamilton
and Angela Lynam from Kindertree Community Playgroup and Barney
McNeaney, Deputy Chief Executive of Early Years
Barnardoʼs Traveller Pre-School Service, Belfast
Barnardoʼs Day Care Strabane Pre-School Room
PRE-SCHOOL GROUPS RECEIVE HIGH/SCOPE AWARDS
High/Scope
Accreditation was
awarded to four
playgroups and staff
at the Early Years
AGM Gala Dinner.
The High/Scope
awards were
presented to the
groups by Dr Larry
Schweinhart,
President of the
High/Scope
Educational Institute.
warm, nurturing environment with well trained, highly
motivated staff will enable children to have positive early
years experiences, develop their social and intellectual
ability and give them a good start in life whereby they will
be eager and able to learn.
Pictured from left to right (back row) are Bertha Hilliard, Jennifer Collins, Christine O’Neill, Roberta Marshall, Colette O’Neill, (front row) Dr Larry Schweinhart,
High Scope President, Hellen Bigger, Anita Mulholland and
Barney McNeaney, Deputy Chief Executive of Early Years.
Barnardoʼs Day Care Strabane, Baby and Toddler Room
Pictured from left to right are
Melanie Pollock, Dr Larry Schweinhart,
High Scope President, Ann Fleming and Barney McNeaney,
Deputy Chief Executive of Early Years.
Pictured from left to right are
Roberta Marshall, Julie Devine, Dr Larry Schweinhart,
High Scope President, Jane Benhassine and Barney McNeaney,
Deputy Chief Executive of Early Years.
Lavey Early Years Group
Pictured from left to right are
(back row) Anne Marie Dillon, Dette O’Neill, Zoe Marron, Geraldine Scullion,
(front row) Dr Larry Schweinhart, High Scope President, Mairead McGill and
Barney McNeaney, Deputy Chief Executive of Early Years.
SIOBHAN WEINIGER
New Early Years Director
of Finance and Corporate
Services
Siobhan Weiniger has been recently appointed as
the new Early Years Director of Finance and
Corporate Services. Siobhan has worked in
finance and corporate services for many years
starting with management consultants Price
Waterhouse Coopers before moving on to work in
the voluntary sector as Finance Manager within the
Northern Ireland Region of the mental health
charity Rethink, formerly known as The National
Schizophrenia Fellowship.
After a four-year period in this role Siobhan then
worked with local charity Action Cancer as Director
of Finance and Human Resources for a six-year
period. This role included responsibility for the full
range of corporate services required by a multi-site
organisation, as well as developing knowledge of
strategic fundraising and retail approaches to
ensure the ongoing stability of the charity’s funding
base.
Siobhan then spent almost four years working in
the public sector as Corporate Services Manager
within the Office of the Commissioner for Children
and Young People in Northern Ireland. A
significant element of this role included set-up of
the office and management structures, including
implementation of an Audit and Risk Committee to
deal with risk management.
Siobhan is highly qualified for this Early Years
position with membership of the Chartered Institute
of Management Accounts and the Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development.
The main responsibilities of the post as part of the
Senior Management Team include finance, IT, legal
issues, governance, facilities and administration.
CROSS BORDER TRAINING
Pictured at the Cross Border Training event in Armagh are
Denise McCormilla, BCCN, Barry Andrews, Minister for Children (ROI), Danny Kennedy
MLA, Adrian McNamee, Special EU Projects and Siobhan Fitzpatrick of Early Years
Early Years - the organisation
for young children (NI) and
Border Counties Childcare
Network (ROI) has said there
needs to be increased
investment in services for
young children especially those
with special needs.
Speaking at the event to celebrate the
achievement of 1,000 early years practitioners
who participated in the Cross Border Training
Programme and Respecting Difference Training
Programme, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, CEO of Early
Years paid tribute to programme’s
achievements, but added that there is still a long
way to go.
“The first six years of a childʼs life are crucial in
terms of their social and cognitive development
and yet ironically this is the time when least
funding is made available.
We in the early childhood sector in Ireland
North and South are thankful for the
Government and European funding which has
supported young children in Ireland to date but
we would be failing in our duty to children,
families and those who work with them if we did
not continue to lobby for increased investment
in services for young children. This project has
highlighted many strengths in cross border
early childhood initiatives but it has also
identified the need for action. The need for a
robust training strategy for the sector with
associated remuneration. The need for
adequate investment in services for children
with special needs on both sides of the border.
The need for a harmonisation of standards and
regulations in relation to early childhood services
especially here on the Border Corridor.”
Despite the need for more investment on both
sides of the border, Siobhan Fitzpatrick paid
tribute to the work done so far, in particular to the
fact that over 1,000 people have now availed of
the training and respecting difference
programmes. Over the past two years the funding
enabled us to make a positive contribution to
peace and reconciliation by providing accredited
cross border training for staff working in the early
years sector in Northern Ireland and the Six
Border Counties.
The project increased the employment prospects
of people working in the sector and assisted them
to fulfil their potential by achieving recognised
qualifications. The Training Programme and
Respecting Difference Programme is part
financed by the European Union through its
Programme for Peace and Reconciliation
managed for the Special EU Programmes Body
by Cross-Border Consortium.
The event, which took place at the City hotel in
Armagh featured contributions from Republic of
Ireland Minister for Children and Young People,
Barry Andrews, and Chair of the OFMDFM
Committee at the Assembly, Danny Kennedy MLA.
Denise McCormilla, Manager, Border Counties
Childcare Network said that the work of the Peace
Building Programme throughout the border region
has been invaluable: “Financial support from the
Peace Programme has been invaluable to the
early years sector in Northern Ireland and the
Southern Border Counties. It has allowed us to
provide additional training for Early Years Services
which has helped improve experiences for young
children in a range of early years settings.”
www.early-years.org
9
GILDERNEW WELCOMES RURAL CHILDCARE REPORT
childcare so that they can make the most of opportunities such as
employment or training and employers need childcare so that they
can attract and retain a skilled and committed workforce. Quality
childcare services for young children bring long-term benefits - not
only to them, but also to their parents and wider families, to their
communities, and to society at large.”
Rural Development Minister
Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA
has been presented with the
Report of the Rural Childcare
Stakeholder Group during a
visit to Ardboe SureStart.
Praising the work of the SureStart Centre the Minister said: “This
project is an excellent example of a rural childcare facility that
meets the needs of families in the local community. This project
has the potential to bring about great improvements in the lives of
local women and children, support families and contribute to the
economic and social development of the area.”
The Minister continued: “The provision of good quality, affordable
childcare is no less important to rural parents and children than to
those in towns. But the particular circumstances of rural areas can
make childcare services difficult to deliver. Parents need access to
In June 2007 the minister took the first step towards more
accessible childcare for rural families by commissioning a Rural
Childcare Stakeholders’ Group to take a fresh look at the question
of childcare in rural areas. She said: “I asked the Rural Childcare
Stakeholdersʼ Group to identify the main factors affecting access
to childcare in rural areas, including special-needs childcare, and
consider ways to advance matters.”
The report identifies the main factors that affect access to
childcare in rural areas and makes recommendations on how
current and future provision can be improved. The minister
continued: “I intend to work with my colleagues across the
Executive to ensure good quality, accessible and affordable
childcare is available in every part of the country. As a starting
point, at least 5% of funding of the Quality of Life measure of the
new Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is targeted
towards children and young people. In addition I plan to establish
a Rural Childcare Programme as part of my departmentʼs antipoverty and social inclusion framework and I expect it to be
operational by autumn 2008.”
The stakeholder group was chaired by Siobhan Fitzpatrick of
Early Years - the organisation for young children. She said: “I
would like to congratulate the minister for showing such
commitment to the issue of rural child care and adopting such an
innovative approach to developing solutions to an issue which has
been of great importance to rural communities across Northern
Ireland. I was delighted to be asked to Chair the Rural Stakeholder
Group which has produced a report outlining the problems facing
rural child care and has suggested a number of recommendations
which could create world class rural child care services. I look
forward to working with colleagues to support the implementation
of the report.”
FINAL CELEBRATION OF PATHFINDING FOR WOMEN
The final celebration of Invest NIʼs
Pathfinding programme to provide free
training for women thinking of starting
their own childcare business took place
in the Templeton Hotel, Templepatrick in
March. The event was attended by
participants in the pathfinding
programme and had several talks on
childcare and the problems in starting
your own childcare business.
Early Years - The Organisation for Young Children
10
Celebration of the Pathfinding programme with Early Years Board Member,
Kit Williamson, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Joy Knox, Invest NI and Margaret Alton
EARLY YEARS - WHEELOCK COLLEGE SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAMME
Wheelock College is based in Boston, USA and for the third year
running they have visited Early Years as part of the Service
Learning Programme. Lucy Wheelock founded the college in 1888
with a powerful and simple charge: “Plant in the land of children
whatever you wish to put into the life of our times.”
Today, Wheelock College is one of the premier institutions in the USA
preparing students for work in Education, Social Work, Child and Family
Studies and the Human Services fields.
Pictured during the Wheelock College visit are
from left to right Diane Levin, Professor of Education at Wheelock College,
Siobhan Fitzpatrick and Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President of Wheelock College.
The service-learning program with Wheelock College is now in its third year
and offers students a unique opportunity to experience the healing process
that is currently underway in Northern Ireland after decades of sectarian
fighting. The program is hosted by Early Years - the organisation for young
children. In addition to visiting an exemplary pre-school and primary school as
a group, students are placed in pairs into early childhood settings for two and a
half days. These settings are implementing The Media Initiative for Children, a
groundbreaking anti-bias/anti-sectarian program. Students attend seminars,
organised by Early Years and Queens University, that cover the history of the
conflict in Northern Ireland, the impact it has had on children and schools, and
especially the programs that have been developed to promote anti-bias/antisectarian/anti-violence in early childhood settings. On the weekends, students
toured the Peace Line in Belfast and the magnificent North Antrim Coast.
US ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS DANGERS OF SEXUALISATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN FOR COMMERCIAL GAIN
A leading American academic, visiting Northern
Ireland as part of the Wheelock College Visit to
Early Years has warned that the sexualisation of
young children for commercial gain is reaching
harmful proportions.
Professor Diane Levin of Wheelock College in Boston, has warned that toys
such as the ‘Bratz’ range, and the growing use of sexualised imagery in
television programmes aimed at teenagers and even young children is having
a harmful effect.
Speaking as she visited a number of playgroups and gave a series of
lectures across Northern Ireland, Professor Levin said that there is no
question that children’s behaviour and long term ability to form mature
relationships is being impacted upon: “It is not the fact that children are
learning about sex when they are young that is a problem, the problem is
what todayʼs sexualized environment is teaching them. The sexual content
in the popular culture of today bombards girls with large doses of sexual
content that they cannot understand and that can even scare them. But
even when media is not involved, more and more toys and other products
are marketed to young girls that focus girls on sexy appearance (defined as
ʻbeing skinnyʼ) and behaviour - for instance, in their dolls (e.g., Bratz dolls
with very short skirts and big breasts and lips) and clothing (e.g., shirts that
expose belly buttons). All of the strategies combined get girls focused on
having skinny bodies and buying the clothes, make-up and accessories
that make you look ʻpretty,ʼ ʻgrown-up,ʼ and ʻsexy.ʼ This focus on
appearance and what you need to buy to achieve the correct and sexy one
serves the interests of manufacturers and marketers, but it very harmful
for children.”
adults - to market child-sized sexualized clothing. Tight belly-baring shirts,
tiny halter tops, ‘low rider pants’ are regularly marketed to pre-teens.
Early Years‘ Chief Executive Siobhan Fitzpatrick said that the issue is
becoming more and more worrying here in Northern Ireland: “We have had a
number of our staff and indeed parents of children who attend playgroups
affiliated to Early Years raise this issue with us. We know that a number of
larger stores have in the past stocked clothing which we see as inappropriate
for young children, especially young girls. This is a real cause for concern and
we appeal to parents who notice material, such as clothing, DVDs etc which are
aimed at young children to voice their concerns, both to us at Early Years and
also directly to retailers. It is only when retailers are aware of the concerns of
parents that they will take action to examine what they are selling to children.”
MEIGH COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Meigh Community Playgroup celebrated its 25 year anniversary at the
Killeavy social club with a large attendance of parents, past members
of staff, committee members as well as visitors from other groups in
the Newry & Mourne area. The celebration night had a 'This is your
life!' presentation and photos were shown of the young Ms Owens
when the playgroup opened in 1984 as well as other entertainment and
dancing for everyone. A great night was had by all.
Sexualized messages are prevalent across a variety of mainstream media
that target children including TV, the internet, games, movies, music and
magazines. In 2005, 70% of the episodes of the top twenty shows among
teen viewers contained some sexual content, including 8% with
sexual intercourse.
Sexualized media and toys are marketed to younger children and ‘tweens’.
Cosmetic companies like Bonne Bell lure pre-schoolers - whom marketers
now refer to as ‘pre-tweens’ - to makeup with lip gloss spiked with M&Ms,
Dr. Pepper, and other flavours. Marketers use aspirational advertising exploiting young childrens’ natural tendency to idealize older kids and
Catherine Russell, Early Years EYS, Biddy Kauffmann,
founder of Meigh Community Playgroup Brigid Owens, Leader
of Meigh Community Playgroup, Mary Colgan Early Years, Senior
EYS and Geraldine Donaghy, Confederation of Community Groups
www.early-years.org
11
SESAME TREE ARRIVES IN BELFAST
A new media project aimed at
encouraging Northern Ireland
children to explore and appreciate
the world around them, and
promoting respect and understanding
began on BBC Two Northern Ireland
television in April.
Sesame Tree is produced by SixteenSouth, part of the
Inferno Group, a leading and award-winning creative
television production and facilities house based in
Belfast, in association with Sesame Workshop, the
producers behind Sesame Street.
Aligned to the revised Northern Ireland Statutory
Curriculum, the television series will present engaging
educational messages through stories and characters.
Sesame Tree will also serve as a valuable resource for
children, parents and those working with children by:
• Presenting positive images to children of the self
and others;
• Emphasizing a range of objectives including valuing
diversity, developing problem solving skills, and
becoming aware of our common humanity;
• Helping the early childhood community in Northern
Ireland achieve its strategic goals including personal
and mutual understanding in the local and
wider community.
“Sesame Workshop is proud to work with dedicated local
partners like SixteenSouth, BBC Northern Ireland,
TREASURE CHEST!
Queenʼs University, and the projectʼs funders to create
relevant, inspiring content that can bridge gaps and
make a positive impact,” said Gary E. Knell, President
and CEO of Sesame Workshop. “The images we share
and the stories we tell have the potential to extend far
beyond the television screen to become a valuable
resource for children growing up today in
Northern Ireland.”
Tune in to Sesame Tree each week on BBC Two
Northern Ireland Saturdays and Sundays at 6.45am
and Tuesdays at 2.15pm. (A repeat of the previous
weeks programme will be shown at 6.15am on
Saturdays and Sundays). You can watch again at
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer.
Colin Williams, Executive Producer said: “It has been an
honour to produce Sesame Tree for our children of
Northern Ireland, by the people of Northern
Ireland, Working with our friends at Sesame
Workshop, and amazingly talented
local writers, performers and production
staff, the series is beautifully rich in local
culture and completely current with
teaching based on the new Northern
Ireland Curriculum. The characters,
stories, and whole concept is very innovative
and really charming. We know the children of
Northern Ireland will have as much fun watching the
series as we had making it.”
With the title song written by local singer songwriter
Duke Special, and music by well-respected composer
John Anderson, the 20 original 15-minute episodes
are aimed at children aged 3 to 6 years. Each
episode of Sesame Tree features Muppets Potto
and Hilda on an adventure filled with laughter and
learning. The duo will answer questions on many
topics posed by children and introduce local live
action films that will showcase the diversity of
Northern Ireland.
Pictured are Hilda, Potto and Claribelle,
the characters of Sesame Tree, Northern
Irelandʼs version of Sesame Street.
Do you know of a child starting P1 in September 2008? Have they
collected their Bookstart Treasure Chest? If the answer is no,
please read on.
A Bookstart Treasure Chest Pack is available free to every child starting Primary One in September 2008 and is available from libraries
throughout Northern Ireland.
Each Treasure Chest contains 2 picture books, colouring pencils, pencil sharpener, colouring book and set of bookplates to encourage them
to build up their own book collection. All of these goodies will be presented in a cardboard treasure chest with secret compartment. The total
value of the gift is £15.00 and is funded by the Department of Education Literacy Strategy group and also the Department of Culture Arts
and Leisure.
In order to receive the pack parents need to go along to their local library by the 30th June 2008 and register their child as a library member or
confirm they are an existing member.
The Bookstart coordinators for each Education and Library Board are:
BELB
NEELB
SEELB
SELB
WELB
Patricia Jordan
Kim Aiken
Lorraine Dunn
Maurice McDonagh
Mary Jo Curran
Tel 028 9050 9234
Tel 028 2566 4145
Tel 028 90424232
Tel 028 37520777
Tel 028 8224 4821
e-mail [email protected]
e-mail [email protected]
e-mail [email protected]
e-mail [email protected]
e-mail [email protected]
A Bookstart Treasure Chest worth £15 is now available FREE to every child starting Primary One in September 2008 who is
a library member.
NES ARNOLD AND EARLY YEARS - WORKING TOGETHER
NES Arnold are delighted to be
working alongside such a well
renowned and successful organisation
as Early Years. We have enjoyed a
successful relationship since 2004,
and will be a key supporter at the Early
Years 2008 AGM and look forward to
many more years working with Early
Years and its members.
Early Years - The Organisation for Young Children
12
As market leader within both the Early Years and Primary sectors
NES offers an innovative, curriculum-based product range with many
of our products having been recommended by early years and
teaching professionals.
Early Years Member Offer
Early Years members are entitled to an exclusive 10% OFF all orders.
Simply quote NESM100 when placing your order by phone, freefax or
online at www.nesarnold.co.uk. New Early Years members can also
benefit from 20% OFF their order, by simply quoting NESM101.
To request your FREE comprehensive Early Years or Primary
catalogue please call our Contact Centre Team on 0845 120
4525 or visit www.nesarnold.co.uk for further details. You can
also register online at www.nesarnold.co.uk for exclusive offers
including sale previews and new product news.