ACP response to Early Years announcements in Budget 2016
There are many elements to be welcomed in this budget. As Minister Reilly said, it “represents a good ‘first step’ on the road to achieving affordable, high quality childcare that is accessible for all children.” €85million in new childcare funding is a major step up from the minimal investment in the previous budgets.
In the context of this increased investment it is very disappointing that our qualified, experienced workforce continues to be exploited and bullied into providing high quality early childhood education and care at a price that is more affordable to parents but effectively caps our wages at little more than minimum wage. The rise in the minimum wage is welcome but our workforce aspires to a professional wage and we are far from achieving this objective.
It was obvious from Minister Noonan’s speech that the government is reliant on the provision of high quality ‘childcare’ to meet the needs of the general workforce. Without the cooperation of the early childhood providers and their employees the growth objectives for the country cannot be met. This is to our advantage and is something that we need to use for the benefit of our profession and the children and families that we support.
This budget can be viewed though many lenses. There are numerous organisations who will focus on it from the child’s perspective and others from that of the parent. Our focus is the impact of the budget on the professionals working with our youngest citizens on a daily basis because we realise that these professionals are central to the provision of high quality care and education and that to retain this motivated workforce we need to ensure that they are recognised, respected and remunerated for the work they do.
Our response is divided into budget announcements that we welcome; have concerns about; would query and general comments:
We welcome:
Our queries
General comments
Minister Reilly has introduced many measures that we welcome but it is very obvious that our focus needs to be on influencing and educating the other members of the cabinet and wider government so that they see the benefits of early childhood education and care for children and society rather than primarily as a labour activation measure. Only then will they see us as professionals deserving of professional pay and conditions.
In the context of this increased investment it is very disappointing that our qualified, experienced workforce continues to be exploited and bullied into providing high quality early childhood education and care at a price that is more affordable to parents but effectively caps our wages at little more than minimum wage. The rise in the minimum wage is welcome but our workforce aspires to a professional wage and we are far from achieving this objective.
It was obvious from Minister Noonan’s speech that the government is reliant on the provision of high quality ‘childcare’ to meet the needs of the general workforce. Without the cooperation of the early childhood providers and their employees the growth objectives for the country cannot be met. This is to our advantage and is something that we need to use for the benefit of our profession and the children and families that we support.
This budget can be viewed though many lenses. There are numerous organisations who will focus on it from the child’s perspective and others from that of the parent. Our focus is the impact of the budget on the professionals working with our youngest citizens on a daily basis because we realise that these professionals are central to the provision of high quality care and education and that to retain this motivated workforce we need to ensure that they are recognised, respected and remunerated for the work they do.
Our response is divided into budget announcements that we welcome; have concerns about; would query and general comments:
We welcome:
- Additional funding to support inclusion of children with additional needs. It is great that this journey of inclusion in early years has begun and we look forward to seeing details of the €15m (and subsequent €33m p.a.) spend
- Restoration of capitation payment to pre-2012 level though it is not enough to support the sustainability of many services.
- Streamlining and expansion of schemes to all models of provision. This supports the unity of all providers as ‘government funded’ services rather that ‘private’ and ‘community’.
- Audit of childcare quality as this will provide a baseline view of current provision. This welcome is tempered with concern over what tool will be used to measure quality and also the criteria for defining ‘successful investment’
- By keeping the ECCE Scheme at 38 weeks per year we are continuing to force many of our professionals to ‘sign on’ during the summer months. This, however, is not an option for the provider as they are self-employed and can’t avail of this support.
- Additional weeks in ECCE Scheme - approx. 23
- Reduction of fees for parents is outlined but no mention of cost to providers.
- Level of investment is as per existing ECCE Scheme (including restored capitation) and this is currently creating sustainability issues for many providers.
- This development is positive for some providers who have a low cost base and are currently under subscribed.
- Multiple entry points to ECCE Scheme
- Will the services be funded to keep places open for children who will turn 3years during term time?
- Will administration fees be paid to service providers to input required information at each of the entry points?
- Supporting children with additional needs:
- How will CDP be rolled out?
- At what cost to early childhood practitioners in terms of personal time and personal cost?
- Will CPD days be part of the ECCE Scheme contract?
- Will there be a system of CPD credits for those who avail of this training?
- How will CDP be rolled out?
- Continued investment in current model of inspection.
- We need to go back to the drawing board and develop a new and robust inspection system that is led by qualified, experienced early childhood practitioners.
- Providing supports for after schools services in primary schools and community facilities
- Will there be investment in bricks and mortar before development of standards and regulations resulting in similar difficulties to what is currently being experienced in ECEC?
- What about investing in centres where after school services already exist?
- Can guarantee be given that Quality Framework for After-School Provision will proceed establishment of new services?
Our queries
- Will Learner Fund be open to those studying for L7+ or assistants who aspire to L6 leader role?
- How will Siolta training and accreditation be rolled out? Will CPD days and non-contact time be provided for the early childhood practitioners?
- How much funding will be provided for Project Team to develop Affordable Childcare Programme? Why will it take until 2017 to complete?
- The addition to the ECCE Scheme is for children from three years up until they are five and a half or until they start primary. This is theoretically for 3years as there is no requirement for children to start primary schooling until they are 6 years of age. What will happen in areas that do not have the capacity to provide the additional spaces needed to meet this additional demand?
- Did the government consider reducing the level of employers PRSI as an interim measure until benefits of investment plan are realised. Special VAT arrangements are in place for tourism so why not to support high quality early learning experiences for young children!
- If a child is currently availing of their ECCE Scheme year but won’t be five until November 2016, will they be able to avail of a 2nd year of the ECCE Scheme in Sept 2016 or will the additional time only be available to children from their 3rd birthday?
General comments
- The language used by Minister Howlin was very disappointing and shows little or no understanding of the importance of the foundation stage of development in the continuum of lifelong learning and the support provided to children and parents by their early childhood practitioner.
- ‘Education depends on educators. Teachers have the capacity to transform a child’s life… Education is the engine of economic growth. Our teachers have a big responsibility. They teach our citizens of tomorrow… We have an excellent cadre of highly qualified young people coming into the profession’ (Minister Howlin on Primary Teachers)
- It is demoralising to see issues of early childhood education and care focused on as a labour activation measure to ‘ease burden on parents’.
- Minister Howlin commented that ‘the best form of social protection is a job’. Unfortunately this is not true for many qualified, experienced early childhood professionals who are laid off for the summer and are reliant on social protection at a cost of over €7million.
- It is very frustrating to hear Minister Howlin say that ‘in 2016, subject to successful negotiation with doctors representatives, it is planned to extend GP care without fees to all those under 12’. What of the negotiations with early childhood providers to ensure that government investment truly reflects the cost of providing high quality early childhood education and care. Also need to negotiate and consult in relation to the multi entry points for children.
Minister Reilly has introduced many measures that we welcome but it is very obvious that our focus needs to be on influencing and educating the other members of the cabinet and wider government so that they see the benefits of early childhood education and care for children and society rather than primarily as a labour activation measure. Only then will they see us as professionals deserving of professional pay and conditions.