January issue of our e-newsletter now out
The January issue of our e-newsletter is now out. Read it online, and sign up for future issues to be sent direct to your email address.
Launch of 0-6.ie blog
Our conference on 13 December is just a beginning. We want the debate on the National Children's Strategy and children's early years to carry on after the conference closes. That's why we are now launching a new blog - 0-6.ie - as a forum for policy debate.
The economics of children's early years
'The Economics of Children's Early Years - Early Care and Education in Ireland: Costs and Benefits', published in December 2011, gives an overview of recent research on the economics of children's early care and education. It demonstrates the compelling economic case for Government investment in children's early years.
13 December conference
"The Next Six Years: The First Six Years" - Start Strong's conference on the National Children's Strategy and children's early years - took place on Tuesday 13th December. Find out more about the conference.
Latest Publication: If I Had A Magic Wand
View our publication, 'If I Had A Magic Wand - Young Children's Visions and Ideas for Early Care and Education Services', in a special PDF Flip-Book.
Welcome to Start Strong
Start Strong is committed to advancing high quality care and education as a right for all young children in Ireland. Our advocacy is built on clear evidence of the benefits this brings for children, for the economy and for society.
Five key principles underpin our work:
- Children come first. All children have rights. Children's well-being and development should be the driving force in policies on early care and education.
- High quality. The quality of young children's experiences in all settings - both in the home and in services outside the home - is critical to their well-being and development. The Government must prioritise quality in services and supports for young children and their families.
- All young children. All children matter. High quality services and supports should be universal - provided for all children, affordable and accessible - with additional supports for those who need them.
- All families. Families are central in young children's lives. A wide range of mainstream supports should be readily available to all families.
- Linked services. Promoting children's well-being and development requires well-coordinated services and supports for young children and their families.
Start Strong was originally founded in 2004 as the Irish Childcare Policy Network (ICPN), a coalition of organisations and individuals interested in progressing childcare and early learning policies in Ireland. ICPN evolved into Start Strong in 2009.
