Cross-departmental approach needed to improve standards in the childcare sector – Keane

Fine Gael Senator for Dublin South-West, Cáit Keane, has urged the Minister for Education & Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly TD, to introduce a strong cross departmental approach in order to improve standards in the childcare sector. The Senator made her comments while speaking at the Association of Childhood Professionals’ rally outside Leinster House gates today (Tuesday).

“With increased focus on the childcare sector in recent years, there is a great opportunity to achieve higher standards through a coordinated cross departmental approach. This rally is an historic event and I think it is important that the debate is opened nationally to raise awareness at both societal and political levels. I have spoken about childcare on many occasions but we must keep highlighting shortcomings until they are addressed.

“We need better coordination in childcare inspections in the early years childcare sector. For childcare workers we need to see the implementation of continuous professional development (CPD) programme.

“This Government is committed to improving childcare in the context of the early years education sector. It has been evident in the establishment of a new national policy framework; ‘Better Outcomes Brighter Futures: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 – 2020’ and the setting up of TUSLA, a new Child and Family Agency tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pre-school children attending childcare services. Since July 1st 2013, their inspection reports on early years services have been published on-line which is really positive and makes the information publically accessible.

“TUSLA also has remit over inspections of childcare facilities in the state as well as the DES section in the Department of Education and Skills who are currently developing an inspection programme. I am calling for the Department of Education and Skills and TUSLA to coordinate their inspection functions to enable a more streamlined approach to carrying out inspections with the goal of better outcomes for the sector. I support what the Government is doing in terms of pursuing better quality in the sector especially in light of recent media reports on malpractice in certain childcare facilities. I think it is vital that the Minister introduce a more progressive and fair pay structure along with a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme for those working in this sector, similar to structures already in place in the primary, secondary and third level sector.

“It is paramount that all stakeholders comprehend the importance of early years education for personal development of individuals in society. We cannot have good childcare and early education with a satisfied and appropriately qualified and remunerated workforce when we do not have all of the necessary structures in place. Therefore, I am calling on Ministers Reilly and O’Sullivan to introduce single and more coordinated inspections, and the introduction of continuous professional development for early years workers.”