Better Start

Better Start National Early Years Quality Development is a national initiative established by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and hosted by Pobal. Better Start promotes quality and inclusion in Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings for children from birth to six years of age in Ireland.

Better Start offers three operational programmes:

Quality Development Service: The Better Start Quality Development Service works in partnership with ELC Providers to build high quality inclusive practice based on Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education (CECDE, 2006) and Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA, 2009) – the national early childhood frameworks in Ireland.

The Access and Inclusion Model: AIM provides a progressive model of supports designed to ensure that all children can access and participate in the Early Childhood and Care Education Programme (ECCE).  More detailed information on AIM can be accessed on the dedicated AIM website.

Early Learning and Development Unit: The Better Start Early Learning and Development Unit coordinates the delivery of an agreed programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training and resources, including Hanen Teacher Talk, Lámh and National Aistear Síolta Initiative (NSAI).

For further information see Better Start.