ECCE Sector in Ireland: Historical Context, Provisions, and Employment

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) sector in Ireland. It begins with a historical context, tracing the development of ECCE policies and regulations, including the National Children's Strategy and subsequent legislative changes. The report then outlines the range of provisions within the sector, detailing various roles such as nursery nurses, playgroup leaders, childcare managers, special needs assistants, and public health nurses. It also analyzes the employment rights applicable to ECCE workers, referencing key legislation such as the Workplace Relations Act, the Protected Disclosure Act, and the Protection of Employees Act, among others. Finally, the report discusses the required qualifications and career paths within the ECCE sector, highlighting the importance of specific certifications and educational levels, such as FETAC level 5 and level 7, to ensure quality service provision and career progression. The report concludes by referencing key sources used in the analysis.

ECCE sector in Ireland
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Table of Contents
Historical context.........................................................................................................................3
Range of provision.......................................................................................................................3
Range of employment rights........................................................................................................3
Qualification and career path.......................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
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Historical context
As per the UN right of children the department of health and children in 2000 developed a
10 year National children strategy. The goals were to promote and support in child development.
However, in 2006 number 2 regulations was formed for ECCE service provision. All
organisation has to provide services to 0-6 year old child (Byrne, 2019). It included management,
first aid, etc. In 2008 CECDE was banned and only ECCE was responsible for implementation of
latter. Moreover, in 2010, ECCE introduced free pre school year programme. In this education
and care services were offered to children of pre school age. Along with it, ECCE expanded in
2016 where children until age of 3 years were allowed to participate in it. However, a child can
access ECCE total weeks depend on birth date and age where he begins primary school. In this
scheme child can enter in Jan, April and Sep.
Range of provision
There are range of occupations available in ECCE.
Nursery nurses- they are responsible for providing care and learning to children in nurseries,
child care homes. etc. Nurses work as an assistant.
Playgroup leader- Their role is to organise sessions and activities for children. Besides, they
identify needs of children in formal and informal way.
Childcare manager – they manage team of employees and daily operations of child care.
Moreover, they ensure that care and education of children is maintained and no issue arises.
Special needs assistants- as name depicts they perform various non teaching roles and assist
teacher as classroom helper, etc.
Public health nurse- they are employed by NSE and are registered nurse that offer various types
of health care facilities to society (Murphy, 2017).
Range of employment rights
It has been analysed that there are several employment rights which are to be adhered in
ECCE. They are as follows :
Workplace relation act 2015- it is right which structure and reform workplace relations. It is
governed by commission.
Protected disclosure act 2014- the act protect employee from wrong doing and imposing a
penalty on them.
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Industrial relation act 2012- it reform wage setting mechanism on basis of employment
regulation and agreements.
Protection of employee act 2012- the act state that all workers must be treated equally and fairly
at workplace. Also, working time, leaves, holidays, etc. are to be fairly given to them.
Employees act 2006- The act provide framework and set standards and minimum requirement of
employee right to information about their development and structure (Oke, 2019).
Protection of employees act 2003- It protect long term fixed employees and restricting their
comparison with permanent workers. also, employers can not renew their fixed long term
contract. Moreover, employees are eligible to work 1 fixed term contract of 4 years under this
act. then they are to be given permanent contract.
Organisation of working time regulation act 2001- the act adhere employer to keep record of
working hours of employee’s weekly basis. Also, record of granting leave, detail of payment,
etc. has to be kept.
Protection of employee act 2001- It allows preventing of discrimination against part time
workers. Besides, the goal is to enhance quality of part time job and providing flexibility to
organisation. also, act guarantee that part time worker will not be treated less favourable as
compared to full time.
Qualification and career path
In ECCE there is some relevant qualification and skills required by people to work in it.
This enables in ensuring that qualified people are recruited in providing services to children. The
qualification standards are mentioned in regulation and act. first is as per child care regulation
2006 it is necessary to have a minimum of 50% qualification in care and development of
children. Moreover, it is stated in early childhood care and education scheme that from June
2012 leader of each room must acquire minimum qualification of FETAC level 5 certificate in
childcare (Byrne, 2019). Along with it, employers should hire those who are having FETAC
level 5 award in early childhood care. In addition, as per ECCE scheme leader is paid high rate
per child that is €75 if he is having level 7 certificate or above.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Byrne, D., 2019. Parental involvement in Ireland. Parental Involvement Across European
Education Systems: Critical Perspectives, p.49.
Murphy, R., 2017. Early childhood education in Ireland: Change and challenge. International
Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 8(2), pp.287-300.
Oke, A., 2019. " We Can't Provide a Quality Service on Shoestrings": Irish Practitioners
Perspectives on the ECCE Scheme (2010). The Qualitative Report, 24(2), pp.276-294.
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