Child and adult perspectives on implementing a quality improvement strategy in ECEC settings
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Published Version
Date
2021
Authors
Martin, Shirley
Buckley, Lynn
Harford, Katherine
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
OMEP Ireland
Published Version
Abstract
This article presents findings from a mixed methods research project which sought to include the voices of young children in an ongoing evaluation of a government funded community-based prevention and early intervention programme in Ireland. The main objective of the intervention programme is to measurably improve the lives of children (pre-birth to six years) and their families through universal and targeted services in an urban community which experiences high levels of socio-economic deprivation. A key aspect of the programme is an Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) strategy which involves the delivery of a suite of Early Years quality improvement measures to seven ECEC centres (both crèche and preschool rooms) in the catchment area. The core elements of the quality improvement strategy focused on language supports for practitioners (Hanen Learning Language and Loving It™training), curriculum enhancement (HighScope™ curriculum training),
onsite mentoring for practitioners, and an Environment Enhancement Fund for each centre. The project evaluation utilised a mixed methods approach including pre and post programme Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) assessments (ECERS-3) at seven early years centres. Post programme implementation ERS results show significant improvements in many areas, in particular scores related to adult-child interactions. Using participatory research guided by a children’s rights framework and informed by UNCRC Article 12, children’s voices are being included in the project evaluation through participatory research methods including photo-voice and talk and draw methods. The article presents findings from post-intervention ECERS-3
assessments and qualitative interviews with early years’ practitioners which were merged with the findings in the children’s data to improve the overall implementation of the programme.
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Keywords
Community-based prevention , Early intervention programme , High levels of socio-economic deprivation
Citation
Martin, S., Buckley, L. and Harford, K. (2021) 'Child and adult perspectives on implementing a quality improvement strategy in ECEC settings', An Leanbh Óg: Journal of Early Childhood Studies, 14 (1), pp. 150-170. Available online: https://omepireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/The-OMEP-Ireland-Journal-of-Early-Childhood-Studies.-Vol.-14-Issue-1.-2021-1.pdf
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© 2021, OMEP Ireland 2021 The Authors. Copyright resides with the individual authors. OMEP Ireland has asserted their moral rights to be identified as the authors. All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.