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Title: Transformation Fund for Early years workforce an absolute priority
Date: 26th September 2007
News Details:
Transformation Fund for early years workforce an absolute priority – NIPPA NICMA and Playboard
The three leading early years organisations representing the entire early years sector have come together to urge the Northern Ireland Executive to support the Transformation Fund which will bring playgroup and day-care sector employees up to graduate level within five years. The fund will also support the professional development of childminders and the play work sector. Speaking after agreeing a joint position on the Transformation Fund initiative the three organisations said that access to affordable high quality early education is a right, and added that childcare needs an injection of funding to make it a reality across Northern Ireland.
NIPPA, the early years organisation have lobbied hard for a fund of five million pounds per year over the next five years, and have already secured all party support for the fund at a Stormont debate in June. However, the three organisations are aware that the fight to make the requirement a reality is far from over. Chief Executive Siobhan Fitzpatrick said that the agreement of a common position by NIPPA, NICMA – the Northern Ireland Childminding Association, and Playboard is a significant development.
“The three organisations are wholeheartedly in favour of the swift implementation of the Transformation Fund so that our children can immediately benefit from the difference of devolution. All Northern Ireland political parties have so far taken a very positive stance in relation to the implementation of a fund which can help the further development of the sector. Early years staff do an outstanding job with high quality play, care and education available across Northern Ireland. Now is the time to build on the early success of the June debate and to take the next step to providing staff with the support they need to achieve third level qualifications and help to bring the early years sector to the next stage of its development. As a new term begins for over 20,000 pre school children and the 12,000 staff who look after their care, play and education needs, we look to our new Executive to provide us with the funding needed to continue to develop a world class early years provision here in Northern Ireland.”
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 to develop and implement a Workforce Strategy.
Recent research has reinforced the importance of the professional development of early childhood educators. The study found that children fare significantly better in language skills development with pre school teachers who have achieved a higher level of education.
Currently in Northern Ireland staff working in community or voluntary and private pre-schools have to pay for their own training and professional development, and face a significant disparity in levels of pay with the statutory sector. On completion of their Early Years Graduate Qualification pre school leaders are £4,000 less well off than new teachers in the statutory sector.
Bridget Nodder, Director of the Northern Ireland Childminders Association (NICMA) agreed,
“With most childminders caring for between three and five children at any one time the support they give to developing children’s social, physical, intellectual and emotional development can not be under-estimated. The right for families to have access to affordable, high quality childcare is fundamental to Northern Ireland’s future economic prosperity, to tackling child poverty and to achieving the best possible outcomes for all our children. Unfortunately, there has been a serious lack of investment in the childminding sector over the years, especially in relation to training and quality. We face a serious issue in that childminders are the only form of early years staff not required to have mandatory training as part of legislation. The Childminding sector needs a Transformation Fund to help the sector improve and enhance standards”. To read NICMA’s ‘Position Paper on the development of a Transformation Fund for the Childminding workforce’ click on read report below.
Playboard’s Jacqui O’Loughlin added,
“Staff in the early years sector need to be properly paid and properly trained. The Northern Ireland Executive has shown signs of agreeing on this issue and we look forward to hearing its plans to take the good work of the debate earlier this year forward. A graduate-led workforce will improve the quality of the care and education our children receive, and this investment in our future will reap financial and educational benefits for children throughout their lives. PlayBoard wish to see this investment leading to an enhancement in the terms and conditions of a dedicated work force in the after schools sector “
ENDS
For further information call Barry Turley on 02890 438677 or 07734 256318
NOTES:
NIPPA - the early years organisation, is the largest voluntary organisation working in early years care and the education sector in Northern Ireland. Formed in 1965, the organisation works to promote the development of high quality care, education and play facilities for children and their families.
Founded in 1984, NICMA - the Childminding Association is a membership organisation and regional charity which works to promote home based childcare and learning for the benefit of children, families and communities.
PlayBoard is the lead agency for the development and promotion of children’s play in Northern Ireland. Established in 1985, the agency works to improve the quality of children's lives by increasing their opportunity to play.
The Motion debated at the Assembly in June read:
Proposed: That this Assembly urges the Executive to consider making available a transformation fund, similar to that in England, Scotland and Wales, to support the professional development of the childcare and early education workforce in Northern Ireland.
Read Report
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