Talking about Quality: Report of a Consultation Process on Quality in Early Childhood Care and Education in Ireland

Abstract

The development of a National Framework for Quality in early childhood care and education in Ireland is the main focus of the work of the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education. A central element of the brief for this groundbreaking initiative is that it must have relevance for all settings where children aged birth to six are present. This paper discusses a key step in meeting this challenge. It outlines a process of national consultation to establish baseline perceptions among all stakeholders in relation to the core elements of the framework (defining, assessing and supporting quality). It discusses the rationale for the consultation that is premised upon a belief that the best interests of the child can only be served by policy and practice that has been informed by the consensus arising from the interface of the multiple perspectives that characterise early childhood care and education in Ireland. The findings, distilled from thematic analysis of the data collected from the series of six consultations in six locations, are presented and their implications for the development of a National Framework for Quality discussed.

Notes

Maresa Duignan is Development Officer at the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education.

Due to the fact that consultation with children is a very specialised process, a specially designed programme of consultation with children has been initiated to address this important element. It is anticipated that this will be reported on in 2005.

The information template comprised eight multiple choice questions designed to collect specific demographic details of participants (no identification details were required and confidentiality was assured) and three open-ended questions relating to the substantive issues of defining, assessing and supporting quality.

As part of its commitment to consultation, the CECDE formed a Consultative Committee in 2003 to advise and guide it in its work. At present, the committee is comprised of 49 stakeholders in the ECCE sector.

The Playgroup Leader should have appropriate childcare qualifications.

Parents should be satisfied and happy with the setting their child is in.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maresa Duignan

Maresa Duignan is Development Officer at the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education.