Transcript The Early Childhood

Investing in your future!
Toybox Project
Shirley Gillespie
25.3.14
“This document is prepared under the project“Exchange and cooperation for better welfare of children”, No.:
BG051PO001-7.0.07-0086-C0001, implemented with the financial support of the
Human Resources DevelopmentOperational Programme co-financed by the European Social Fund of the European Union
Vision Of Early Years
To promote and develop high quality, evidence-informed early
childhood services for young children, their families and communities.
Children are:
• Strong, competent and visible in their communities
• Physically and emotionally healthy
• Eager and able to learn
• Respectful of difference
Values of Early Years
We believe in:
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Childhood - in its own right
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Listening to children – and those who care for them
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A strong voice for children
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Play, fun and creativity
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Parents as first educators
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Participation of children and families
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Community involvement and development
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Partnership
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Inclusion and diversity
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Excellence and evidence-based innovation
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Effective stewardship and governance
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A professional, committed and recognised workforce
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Valuing staff, members and their commitment
Traveller History
Travellers are a distinct ethnic group within Irish Society
(recognised through Northern Ireland Equality Act 75). Their
lifestyle and culture, based on a nomadic tradition, sets
them apart from the settled community. They are widely
acknowledged as one of the most marginalised and
disadvantaged groups in Irish society, facing social
exclusion , wide spread disadvantage and discrimination.
Facts and Figures
2008- Cawt- Published a report which highlighted
• Traveller men North and south die 10 years younger than
the general population
• Traveller women die 12 years younger
2008- NIHE- published traveller accommodation assessment
revealed
• 82% were living at their current accommodation for 1 year
• 64% were a victim of crime and felt the reason was their
ethnic origin
2010- All Ireland Health Study
• 63% of traveller children under the age of 15 years had left
school compared to 13.3% nationally
• 35% NI and 28% ROI parents had difficulty in reading and
filling out forms
What is Toy Box?
• Toybox in partnership with children and their parents, is a right-based
service which aims to significantly reduce social and educational
inequalities experienced by traveller children aged 0-4 years.
• It was established by Early Years the organisation for young children in
2003 in recognition of the inequalities which exist between travellers and
the rest of the population in Northern Ireland.
• The project is co-ordinated by Early years and funded by the department
of education and is delivered by ten project workers across Northern
Ireland
Areas covered
Armagh/S Armagh
Ballymena/Magherafelt
Belfast
Coalisland/Dungannon
Derry
Omagh/Strabane
Craigavon
Fermanagh
The role of Toybox
Weekly outreach
service
Children age
0-4
Play involves
parent/s and child
Signpost families to
agencies
Delivers play
through HighScope
Play-The Highscope Approach
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Staff use natural resources.
Every child is unique.
Adult’s role is to “scaffold” on the interests of the child.
Parents actively involved in all play.
Transition
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Process encompasses entire year.
Listening to the voice of the parent
and child.
Empowering the parents to
support their children.
Providing a link between the family
and the setting.
Sharing culturally appropriate
information and materials with
settings.
In September 2013, 108 children were supported
with transition.
Toybox Logical framework model
Toybox Logical Framework Model
INPUTS
All Government policies
promote the optimum
development of children
and families
PROCESSES
Traveller parents have
competence and confidence to
support their children become
healthy and eager and able
learners
OUTPUT
OUTCOME
Young Traveller children
Young Traveller children have Young Traveller children are
have appropriate home
warm caring relationships with confident and independent
interactions and
significant adults
environments which support
their eagerness and ability to
learn
Early Years staff and teachers
have competence and
confidence to support
Traveller children become
healthy and eager and able
learners
Young Traveller children
Young Traveller children can
have appropriate learning solve problems and resolve
interactions and
conflict
environments which support
their eagerness and ability to
learn
Young Traveller children are
socially and emotional strong
and competent
Young Traveller children can Young Traveller children are
use a wide range of vocabulary confident and competent
communicators
Young Traveller children have Young Traveller children are
well developed physical
physically healthy
movement
Young Traveller children have Young Traveller children show
an appropriate diet and nutrition appropriate levels of engagement
and involvement
Young Traveller children are
Young Traveller children have a
engaged and involved in
strong sense of identity and
meaningful playful activities
culture and are respectful of
those from different cultures
Young Traveller children are
aware of and display positive
attitudes towards their own and
other cultures and traditions
All early childhood services,
schools and communities are
inclusive and respect Traveller
culture
IMPACT
Young Traveller children are
healthy, eager and able to
learn and are able to make
successful transitions
2013 Achievements
Creation of “Tales of the Road” storybook
Tales of the Road was disseminated to:• Families
• Schools
• Settings
• Libraries
• Other agencies
• Throughout Europe
• 1069 children and 528 families have engaged in the project
from the period August 2003 – September 2013
Launch of Traveller Child in Education Action framework
on 13th November 2013
In December 2012 -102 families fed into the Consultation process.
DVD - My Child 2
The educational journey of 6 of the children in the “My
Child” DVD which was launched in 2010 are being
tracked in a new DVD and this will be launched in 2014.
Participative Evaluation Approach
• Aim of participative Evaluation is to engage key project stakeholders
in reflecting and assessing the Toybox project. It is about tracking,
measuring change and outcomes.
• Stakeholders include parents, children, practitioners, funders, other
agencies working with the project etc.
Feedback from Stakeholders
SureStart
The uptake of children in the 2 Year
programme is great, they are
attending with confidence. It is
important Toybox and ourselves
maintain contact as it eases
Transition for everyone.
Parent
We are very confident in you, we
appreciate your help with the kids
learning with the toys and the
support you give me with reading
letters and filling out forms.
Primary school
Parents are more confident at
approaching staff and asking
lots of questions about their
children’s development.
Toybox Project Worker
I realised how important the project
was to the children I did play
sessions with when they ran to me
outside their home saying “You
used to come to my home, you
used to be my teacher”
What has been happening throughout the
geographical areas/Partnership with Parents
Belfast
Fathers programmes
Omagh/Strabane
Newry
Craigavon
Coalisland/Dungannon
Belfast
The Future
• Continuation of Toybox
• Raising the voice and image of the child
• Creation of the Toybox Service Design Model
Contact details
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[email protected]