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Objective (2010)
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highlights/successes
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challenges/obstacles
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Critical Issues Moving Forward
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Supporting the implementation of Síolta
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- Engagement of 8 services by the Siolta coordinators to pilot the Siolta tools and processes
- Organisation and successfully delivery of 52 Síolta workshops across seven counties which included::
- Liaising with providers
- Liaising with CCCs
- Liaising with Síolta co-ordinators
- Mailing out to providers
- Accepting bookings
- Preparing resources
- Collating feedback
- Preparation and delivery of reports to EYEPU
- Tracking system
- Establishment of 12 very enthusiastic Síolta awareness raising networks throughout 7 counties. Positive Feedback from over 94% of participants attending awareness raising sessions
- Excellent administration /organisational backup and tracking system established by BCCN support staff and FAS CE workers
- Development and delivery of additional non accredited training to support capacity building around Siolta
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- Volume of work versus ratio of staff. The part time nature of two of Síolta coordinators posts (10 hrs per week) makes it difficult to meet provider demands
- Additional supervision of staff
- Managing internal communications given that just 2 staff work on a full time basis
- Síolta is a self-assessment tool that requires services to be of a standard whereby they are able to cope with self-assessment. Building capacity to develop reflective practices
- Providing a variety of professional development opportunities
- Many services in disadvantaged areas need intensive and on-going support to enable them to engage at the level of self-reflection.
- BCCN along with other agencies needs to look at multi dimensional ways of supporting services to achieve quality standards
- There is currently no national implementation plan for Aistear.
which affects many aspects of Síolta
This needs to be addressed by
- All colleges delivering childcare training need to take more account of Síolta/Aistear in their modules
- The variation in training accessed by the sector from both a content and delivery point of view . Huge inconsistencies exist
- Variation in the inspection process by the HSE
- Disagreement between those concerned about early education and those concerned with environmental/ safety matters
- Providers receiving different messages
- The in crease from 5 points to 150 for FETAC level 6 modules ( huge implications for content, delivery, and assessment).
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- Clearer focus on objectives
- Ensuring adequate administration back up is in place to support a multiplicity of actions
- Ensuring the formal SiOLTA QAP is supported more fully in the testing phase
- Síolta coordinators need more than the CPD provided by the Department,
- Need to ensure that BCCN SC’S can be most effective in their work
- The importance of building the capacity of the sector in a multi-dimensional way
- Investigation of other approaches improving quality
- The challenge of supporting poorer services
- Possibility of working with the education centres and schools in relation to Aistear
- Need to consider leveraging additional funding possibly through a cross border project
- Possibility of extending the concept of partnership with parents in collaborative with IPPA /Life Start/CCC’s
- Relationship building with the HSE/other stakeholders at national level is critical
- Possibility of blending the two frameworks of Síolta/Aistear together
- Working with IT colleges/ curriculum in a variety of ways
- Conduction of providers knowledge gap analysis to inform planning/ workforce development
- Innovation around multi-dimensional ways to support the capacity of the sector
- Continuing to engage effectively with CCC AND RELEVANT VCO STAFF
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2
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Supporting the implementation of NCIP
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- 20 services successfully achieved BCCN accreditation and attained the BCCN QDAP award
- Organisation of highly successful Quality award event and launch of resources with the OMCYA and EYEPU staff
- Engagement with HSE inspection teams and development of an interactive relationship with HSE Director of Inspections at National level which will lead to a more consistent approach to inspections by Local HSE inspection teams especially in relation to regulation 5
- Effective negotiation with the NCCA to agree collaboration on complementary actions in relation to Aistear and Síolta
- Continued linkages with third level Colleges in relation to jointly progressing Síolta and Aistear
- Development and piloting of a non-accredited training package on “Fundamental Play”
- Delivery of 4 Curriculum modules against KPI of 7
- Delivery of a further 5 FETAC Level 5 modules including 1 Smart Start
- Delivery of 6 FETAC Level 6 courses against a KPI of 2
- 6 Play workshops developed and delivery piloted to practitioners working in a multi purpose site with babies, toddlers pre-school children
- Provision of interactive website for tutors
- 3 CPD days organised for trainers including Curriculum Module
- Provision of on-going support to trainers and practitioners – helpdesk facility
- Production of 2 FETAC Level 6 Resource Packs
- Revision of Curriculum module
- Established FETAC exemption service for students
- Self-assessment of FETAC QA due in December
- Website – increasing number of hits looking for information and now interlinked to Facebook Page
- Development of information/marketing materials to incorporate the themes of Aistear/ Síolta / 3 National Frameworks
- Ongoing Administration, accounts , returns, reports, financial returns for stakeholders, IT and administration
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- Demand for the curriculum module has been slow.
- No uptake of Under 3’s module
- Volume of work against time scales
- Volume of work /demand for support against numbers of hours staff have staff to carry out work
- Website needs more time and needs to be updated
- People hesitant to use Facebook
- Lack of contributions and publicity, marketing, and promotion opportunities.
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- The continuation with FETAC Level 6
- Internal Communication between staff (many are part-time, which poses difficulty for information flow)
- Cost of more interactive website *which is needed, as well as dedicated marketing and promotions person to run this with other information dissemination requirements
- The need to build into the job description of other staff members for the time to consult with and contribute to each others work in a proactive and strategic way
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3
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Supporting the implementation of ECCE
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- Providing information on the overall Síolta Framework to a broad range of service providers within the Border Counties and Meath
- Building on the CECDE Awareness Raising sessions by delivering 57 awareness raising seminars and workshops on a number of Síolta Standards to over 600 staff from 300 services
- Providing information on the ECCE scheme/responding to a volume of queries
- Alleviating concerns
- Deflecting criticisms
- Need internal support to drive this agenda. Staff have many jobs roles, which can dissipate the work. Additional support needed
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Joint collaborative actions with the VCO’s. re possibility of producing a Poster highlighting how services can comply with ECCE requirements
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4
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Supporting parents in accessing quality childcare
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- Senior Síolta Coordinator added the child’s perspective to the NCNA’S Publication 9 Steps of quality childcare for parents.
- Development of non-accredited training package – Fundamental Play
- Production of a broad range of information for the website
- Design, development and dissemination of 5 ‘Play Helps me to Grow and Develop’ Posters produced in consultation with providers and parents
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- Supporting and participating in a campaign to highlight early education begins from birth? Need to influence other organisation such as (Start strong) other campaigns e.g. play week.
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5
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Sustaining our own effectiveness and standards as a service provider
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- Compliance with all requirements of being a Company Limited by Guarantee
- Availing of membership of Peninsula to ensure access to information, advice and training regarding all HR matters
- Participating in the NSAI ISO 9000 quality Assurance process and developing polices, procedures, systems to achieve quality award
- Ensuring access to relevant information on an ongoing basis from a range of agencies who can support our work from both a Governance and pedagogical perspective
- Ensuring the BCCN information unit maintains a broad range of information to support our work
- Engaging external facilitation to assist us in both the preparation of our 2011 operational plan and a three year strategic plan
- Facilitating staff access to training and continuing professional development
- Developing a code of practice for the BCCN Board
- Developing an up to date staff manual
- Securing a meeting for Board and staff with the Pobal Programme Manager
- Ensuring continuous analysis of our Síolta Awareness sessions, and both FETAC accredited and non accredited training
- Consulting with various players in the sector: Providers, HSE, CCC’s
- Working with IPPA, NCNA and Barnardos
- Engaging with experienced organisations in other jurisdictions: to seek advice and guidance: NCB within the UK, Children in Scotland, CREC,
- Ensuring we have access to research findings and relevant up to date reports
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Time Frame to implement, develop and support of range of services being offered
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Need to look at new systems and innovative ways of supporting the future goals that organisation can support
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6
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Participating in local, regional and national level structures to ensure integration of childcare issues in cross cutting policy areas
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Local: level
Síolta Support Networks
2 Sligo
1 Leitrim
I Cavan
2 Monaghan
2 Louth
3 Meath
I Donegal
Working with HSE INSPECTION TEAMS
Meeting regularly with CCC staff teams
Attending CCC meetings in Cavan and LEITRIM
Regional
Education Centres in the North East
HSE inspection teams
HSE Health Promotion Teams
National
National Childcare Coordinating Committee Working with VCO’s continually and with EYEPU/OMCYA
Start Strong
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- BCCN can fall between different stools at times, as we are not a CCC , nor are we considered a NVCO by the NVCC. Frequently excluded from mailing lists, web sites. Don’t take time for PR or to market work we do.
- Not being located in Dublin can also be an issue and impacts on our lack of inclusion in certain circles .
- Need to address the issue of not being allowed into the NVCC.
- BCCN has made a major contribution to many national initiatives, (SACCI< QDOSS< Start Strong, delivery of FETAC training, EDEN aas well as working regionally on a cross border basis and locally in many counties
- Need to be involved in the regional children’s services committee ( strategic body for statutory integration implementation at local level)
- New forum is needed with HSE for a continue flow of information in relation to the pre-school inspections.
- Need to solidified relationship with NCCA to ensure we are moving forward with Aistear
- Need to build on the good working relationships with CCC’s
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