Overview
Better Finglas aims to support early years professionals in delivering quality services to young children. The Early Years Programme will work with existing community childcare settings to enhance the coordination of services with a focus on quality, curriculum, parental engagement, and supporting transitions into primary school. The provision of early years onsite mentoring will support implementation and referral pathways will be facilitated to other services.
Quality Frameworks
High quality early years settings play an important role in promoting children’s well-being and supporting them in their development as confident and competent learners to enable children in reaching their full potential. It is recognised that high quality is essential in providing the best experiences and outcomes for children.
There are two national frameworks to support quality in early years settings in Ireland. These are; Siolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. The Better Finglas Early Years Strand will use the Aistear Siolta Practice Guide developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to support providers to continuously develop quality in their settings.
Parental Involvement
Better Finglas recognises parents as the primary caregivers and educators of their children. The more involved parents are in their children’s learning and development, the greater chance children have to succeed in later life.
Better Finglas will work with early years settings to develop and enhance their processes, policies and procedures for involving parents in their children’s learning.
Transitions to school
Early years settings, primary schools and parents play an important role in ensuring continuity of care for each individual child. Transitions can be stressful for some children and they need to be supported in the process. Better Finglas will support early years settings and primary schools to facilitate transitions in a sensitive, responsive and smooth manner.