yblive Summer 2009, 3,4,5 Learning Years
Norah Gibbons
Norah Gibbons, Barnardos Director of Advocacy, has worked with Barnardos since the early 1990’s. She was a member of the CICA (Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse) and she is currently Chair of the Independent Investigation into the Roscommon Child Protection Case.
Greetings from Barnardos to all who are linking in with yblive. Barnardos is delighted to be embarking on an exciting new adventure with youngballymun and the community childcare and pre-school services working in Ballymun in 3,4,5 Learning Years.
As anyone working in childcare knows, giving a child a high standard of education and care in their early years can make all the difference to the rest of their lives. Quality early education and care services are hugely important in helping children to develop their life and social skills and giving them the right start in their education, making their transition to primary school easier and improving their learning ability. More than that, quality early education and care gives children the chance to explore their own potential and promise and build their self-esteem, giving them hope and opportunity for the future. For children living in disadvantaged communities, this is particularly important.
Barnardos’, in partnership with youngballymun, is working together with childcare and pre-school services in Ballymun to implement the Síolta National Framework for early childhood education standards. Joanne Waters, the youngballymun Siolta coordinator, is a member of the Barnardos’ Training and Resource Service team. Barnardos are also designing, with local service providers and youngballymun, how the Highscope / school readiness programme can be implemented in Ballymun.
Barnardos is working closely with youngballymun, childcare and pre-school services and the children and families in Ballymun to ensure the highest standard of practice for early childcare services in the community.
Early years services in Ballymun have long been at the forefront of community development, showing the difference that effective, quality services can make to children and families and here they are again right at the forefront of new kinds of outcomes-focussed services with children and families.
I personally am thrilled that we have the opportunity to work with youngballymun on this project. Ballymun is inspirational in its efforts to build effective services that give children the best possible start in life and support the development of children and young people through the life journey to adulthood. We look forward to being part of that journey and supporting the ongoing development of these vital community services in Ballymun.
Norah Gibbons
Director of Advocacy
Barnardos
