1.2.4 Early years educators

1.2.4 Early years educators

The number of staff working in early learning and care, and school-age childcare settings is growing

According to the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2019/2020, more than 30,880 staff were working in the ELC and SAC sector across Ireland in 2020. This represents a 20% increase on the estimated number in 2016 (25,6507). While the majority of staff work directly with children, some are in ancillary roles such as management, administration, catering and maintenance.

The provision of continuing professional development opportunities for ELC staff, to ensure children’s learning is of high quality, is a key area of focus for the ELC sector

First 5 commits to furthering the professionalisation of the ELC workforce, including achieving a graduateled workforce by 2028, and Nurturing Skills sets out a series of actions to achieve this commitment, as well as to strengthen supports for leadership and for continuing professional development.

During the period since 2016, DCEDIY, working in collaboration with the Department of Education and a range of agencies including the national Quality Development Service in Better Start and the NCCA, has progressively strengthened supports for continuing professional development. Measures have included the provision of mentoring and training supports for ELC services by Better Start, the National Síolta Aistear Initiative, child protection training, and a range of training supports within AIM to support inclusive practice.

The level of qualifications in the early learning and care workforce increased

The level of qualifications in the ELC workforce has been rising steadily, supported by a range of DCEDIY initiatives. As part of new Regulations in 2016, a minimum qualification was introduced at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) . DCEDIY funding also supports early years educators to upskill to level 7 and 8 qualification. DCEDIY also provides higher capitation payments to ECCE services with lead educators (previously termed ‘room leaders’) who have relevant level 7/8 qualifications. Since 2017, a Learner Fund has supported 2,761 early years educators with the cost of undertaking relevant degrees8. Assisted by these measures, the proportion of early years educators with an ELC qualification at level 7 or higher rose from 12% in 2012 to 34% in 20219. In parallel, the Department of Education and Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) have led processes of raising the standards of qualifications at levels 5 to 8.

Source: Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Source: Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Source: Government of Ireland (2021) Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for ELC and SAC, 2022-2028, p.32.