Early Years call upon the Executive to agree an investment strategy for early learning by Q4 2024. Northern Ireland should invest 1% of GDP (£485m) per annum in early learning and care by 2030.
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Early Years Membership
Our members are the heart and focus of what we do. We represent early childhood carers and educators who are part of the mission to be a strong voice for thousands of children on the island of Ireland and beyond.
Our members depend on us to be a strong, sustainable outcomes-focused and evidence-led organisation for young children. What role will you play in moving the sector and early childhood practice forward?
Our 2022-2023 Annual Report is now available
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Early Years is the largest organisation in Northern Ireland working with and for young children. We are a non-profit making organisation and have been working since 1965 to promote high quality childcare for children aged 0 - 18 and their families.
Our goal is to advocate, mobilise and influence early years’ policy developments that are rights-based, evidence-informed and appropriately resourced, to support the rights of young children and deliver outcomes for young children. Over the past 50 years with our members we continue to speak up for children, their family and the early childhood care and education sector.
Early Years focus is evidence-based practice throughout the early childhood care and education sector. We draw from research and academic studies to develop innovative quality programmes which support services within the sector.
Our members ensure that children are immersed in active learning environments, while we support them with their learning and the provision provided through Early Years specialist mentoring and support, committee management, salary and disclosures services, financial support and advice and guidelines on new legislation within the sector.
We focus on meeting the needs of the early childhood care and education providers, promoting available funding opportunities and offering support for members when applying for these. Early Years is currently administrator of the Pathway Fund, the Childcare Sustainability Fund and the Covid-19 Childcare Temporary Closure Fund.
Early Years delivers a wide range of training, programmes and professional learning events that continue our drive to improve practice by applying an appropriate play-based curriculum. We facilitate the roll out of the Reggio approach in Northern Ireland by inspiring reflective communication within a diverse Learning Community, to bring about change for children and communities.
Early Years is passionate in supporting the movement for peace that draws on the power of early childhood development. We engage in a number of international networks and projects to support practice and research innovations.
We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the benefits of our Early Years Specialist Service which provides support for settings delivering the Pre-School Education Programme.
This service is delivered by our in-house team of Quality Mentors, Quality Advisers and Professional Team Leads providing up to 50 hours of support, exclusive training opportunities and discounted membership rates.
The suite of City and Guilds/ILM assured programmes will equip leaders and managers in the early years sector with the skills and knowledge to lead their organisations in critical areas such as Governance, Leadership and Resilience.
These courses will actively engage and support learners on their journey of professional development, building knowledge, skills, confidence and competencies across a range of areas.
The courses are all designed to be hands on and highly relevant to practice. Please check the individual course descriptions to see if the course suits your needs.
HighScope is a quality approach to early childhood care and education which has been shaped and developed by research and practice over a fifty year period. A curriculum used internationally in a variety of settings including daycare, créches, playgroups, nursery and primary schools.
Monthly direct debit is now available! 10 monthly payments will be taken on the first of the month from May 24 to February 25
After the success of our "Strategies to Support Children with SEN" training in February, we're thrilled to announce that we're hosting not just one, but TWO more sessions!
Understanding Children's emotions and behaviours and the use of practical strategies.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Early Years - the organisation for young children took place on 24th November 2023.
This year it has the theme 'Make A Noise About Bullying' and will take place from Monday 13th to Friday 17th November 2023.
Register here to attend the Early Years - the organisation for young children’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023.
