Association of Childhood Professionals

Strength in numbers

Early years and school age care and education is a profession. To ensure that our profession is recognised, respected and valued, we need to stand together as a strong and unified voice. Membership of the Association of Childhood Professionals means that YOUR voice is represented at national level. Join today as there is strength in numbers.

Your membership is the key to our success
Click here to read A Note from the Chair

Key Messages

The Association of Childhood Professionals works to ensure that childhood professionals are an integral part of early years and after-school provision in Ireland and as such must be part of all processes where childcare and education is discussed, planned and decided.
Childhood professionals through their knowledge, practice and values, in partnership with parents, provide for the foundation care and education of our youngest citizens.
Professional development and equitable pay and conditions for childhood professionals must be supported by a formalised system
Children benefit most from quality experiences supported by childhood professionals
Society benefits directly from investment in quality early childhood care and education

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACP Diary

December:
Throughout December: Membership drive, writing policies and procedures for our association, contacting local and national representatives to share our key messages, developing our strategic plan

2nd: Attended round table consultation on 'Right from the Start' the report of the Expert Advisory Group on the early years. Good discussions that will hopefully result in a strengthened early years strategy. We now need to push for meaningful public consultation on a draft early years strategy before the final document is published.
3rd: Had an information stand at Professional Connections – Opportunities to meet and network with Childcare Providers and Support Organisations in the Castletroy Hotel in Limerick. This event was organised by Limerick City and County Committees to celebrate the launch of their unified committee Limerick Childcare Committee. Best of luck to all in the future. There was great interest in starting ACP Limerick and we will hold a public meeting in Limerick in January 2014 to explore this. Details to be confirmed.
4th: Attending the launch of 'Supporting Working Families-Releasing a Broke on Economic Growth. This is Ireland's First report on Childcare Costs for Working Families and Implications for Employment commissioned by Donegal County Childcare Committee.
5th: ACP Kildare are holding a public meeting in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge. Networking over tea/coffee and finger food from 6.30pm and presentation by ACP chair, Marian Quinn, at 7pm.
6th: Attending launch of information booklet for practitioners on supporting children with cystic fibrosis in early years services. This resource was developed by Cork City Childcare Committee. Will provide link once available.
9th: ACP Kilkenny 1st Christmas Get Together @ 7.30pm in Kilkenny Education Centre on Callan Road. Please RSVP by Dec 5th to kilkennybranch@gmail.com
12th: ACP Cork are hosting a briefing on the upcoming registration of early years services followed by a festive celebration. Please RSVP to cork@acpireland.com or 086 272 4013.
13th: Meeting with Irene Gunning, Early Childhood Ireland
16th: Meeting with I.N.T.O. representatives

January 2014
13th: ACP Sligo will hold a public meeting. Details to be confirmed
23rd: ACP presentation in Glenview Hotel, Glen of the Downs, Wicklow @ 7.30pm on the need for a professional association to provide an independent voice for the childhood professional. Click here for further details.

Please see our diary archive for past ACP activities
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

National launch of ACP June 7th 2013

ACP Mentoring Proposal

In the recent budget Minister Fitzgerald announced funding of €2.5 million for the establishment of a national mentoring service. This service will support childhood professionals in implementing the practice frameworks, Siolta and Aistear. For this mentoring service to be effective it must be a respectful process that values all those involved. This respect must begin by listening to the voice of the practitioner from the beginning.
We have made an initial submission to the Minister on the practicalities of setting up the mentoring service. Please see our Mentoring Proposal for details
_________________________________________________

Membership Update

Membership is steadily growing as childhood practitioners across the country realise that we all need to work together if we are going to influence reform in our profession.

Please support us in highlighting the importance of the ACP as an independent voice for the childhood professional. Copy membership forms and share with your colleagues. Remember, there is strength in numbers.

There is also growing interest in establishing branches in various counties. If this is something you would be interested in doing please contact us at info@acpireland.com