The BCCN was initially formed in 1997.  Since its formation members and staff of the BCCN, both individually and collectively, have had a major influence on the development of childcare services and on the support infrastructure that has developed particularly within the Border Region and County Meath. Funding to develop the Network was initially made available through the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and the HSE DNE and West for a two and a half year period from November 1998 until June 2001.  This funding led to the establishment of:

• BCCN office base in Monaghan town
• Employment of an Early Years Co-ordinator and Information/Administration/Finance Officer
• An inter-agency, inter regional, cross sectoral forum
• Production of information resources
• Organisation of workshops and conferences
• Delivery of training work shops  to a broad range of players throughout the sector
• Cross Border collaboration

After accessing the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) funding in June 2001, BCCN recruited an extended staff team and a broader range of activities began to take place during this time to progress the quality agenda. Many of these actions are ongoing and complimentary to the work of the County Childcare Committees (CCC’s) and National Voluntary Childcare Organisations. The BCCN played a key role in supporting the establishment of the CCC’s in order to have local support and development structures at county level.

More recently the BCCN has significantly progressed the quality agenda through the development and implementation of the Quality Development and Accreditation Programme (QDAP) with a cohort of Pre-school services operating throughout the six Border Counties and Meath. Additional funding accessed through collaboration with other agencies, particularly FAS has enhanced this work and enabled the BCCN to develop a range of initiatives to support the sector to deliver services to a higher standard. 

Work to date has lead to:

• Increased development and provision of  information resources for Pre-school, After School and  Childminding services
• Development, delivery and accreditation of nationally certified FETAC training to support practitioners working with the under 3’s, 3-5 year olds and school age children in After School services
• Increased access to Early Years Degree Programmes
• Development and delivery o fin-service training
• An increase in the number of trained trainers in the region  
• Provision of on site mentoring support to Pre-school Services on the BCCN Quality Development and Accreditation Programme( QDAP)
• Development and implementation  of a Self Evaluation System for pre-school services
• Accreditation of Pre-school services achieving BCCN  quality standards 
• Employment of Siolta Coordinators to establish Siolta Networks and support services use the Siolta tools and processes to improve practice and provision
• Engagement in a range of Cross Border Training Projects  to enhance the delivery of services  
• Collaboration with a range of other agencies at local, national and levels to inform policy developments and increase support at all levels  for the development of quality services