Our CEO, Teresa Heeney, will be live on Kildare FM at 9:45am to talk all things National Pyjama Day. 🦥 Tune in to hear more about this community loved event and how funds raised will support children and families nationwide. 📻️

Happy National Pyjama Day! 🎉 Today, over 55,000 children will wear their favourite pyjamas to their Early Years and School Age Care settings for a fun-filled day of teddy bear picnics, games, and activities, all to raise essential funds for charity. Read more 📰 buff.ly/27pZMpX

There is just 1 day to go until National Pyjama Day 2026! 🦥 This much-loved event invites children and their educators to wear their cosiest PJs for a day filled with fun and laughter all in the spirit of children helping children. Donations can be made at: buff.ly/i3soT5f

Last week, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, attended a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality to discuss revised expenditure estimates for her Department for 2026. Find out more in this week's Policy in Action 🎬 buff.ly/VMjiRE6

🗞️Pyjama Day is making the news!🗞️ In January’s Making the News, we provide an update on Early Childhood Ireland’s media activity, including coverage of the charity partner announcement for National Pyjama Day 2026.

🆕 Research Published on Childminding in Ireland Childminders play a vital role in delivering enriching, high quality education and care for children across Ireland. We are delighted to share two new research reports that shine a light on different aspects of Childminding practice.

Just one week to go until National Pyjama Day 2026! Almost 55,000 children are getting ready to take part in their cosiest pyjamas, all in support of LauraLynn and Early Childhood Ireland's Eco-Emotions project. Donate now🧸✨https://buff.ly/i3soT5f

National Pyjama Day is a favourite day on the calendar for children and educators nationwide. Rebecca Candon, LauraLynn, and Lorraine Diggins, Early Childhood Ireland, recently joined the podcast to share how funds raised will support children and families across Ireland. 🎧 buff.ly/FuxaCva

In recent weeks there has been focus on the issue of setting closures since 2019. This is an issue Early Childhood Ireland has been proposing solutions for the last few years which we want to see adopted as a matter of urgency. Learn more 🎬 buff.ly/fHSUMUZ

Get your PJs Ready 💤 Just over 2 weeks to go and we have just hit 50,000 registrations for National Pyjama Day! Funds raised this year will go towards supporting LauraLynn's services and our Eco-Emotions project. Donate here: buff.ly/2kNsGdh

A recent report by the European Commission examines effective measures to increase the participation of vulnerable children in Early Years, specifically for children under three. Dig deeper into the report in the latest Policy in Focus 🔎 buff.ly/BnzbolQ

Early Childhood Ireland's Eco-Emotions project, funded by National Pyjama Day, supports educators and families to connect children's emotional wellbeing with environmental learning. By doing so, children not only nurture themselves, but the world around them. 🌻 Learn more:

It was recently announced that the Government has approved a programme of State-funded Early Years and School Age Care settings. This week in Policy in Action, we give an overview of what we know so far. 🎬 buff.ly/HW7qSxE

This week in Policy in Focus, we analyse a new report on the Early Years and School Age Care workforce in the UK. This report highlights the need to ensure the workforce are prioritised and that pay and working conditions reflect the importance of this workforce are achieved. 🔎 buff.ly/CW0fMLL

Shaping the Future: The Early Years Action Plan, was published in December 2025, setting out the government’s implementation plan for increased affordability, quality and access to early years education in Ireland. Read our summary of what is laid out in this plan 🎬 👇 buff.ly/nn3qMhX

Get ready to put on your PJs for a purpose! Find out how National Pyjama Day teaches children about the importance of kindness and community in today's Kildare Nationalist. 🫶

📖 Weekend read! We provide the third and final overview of the OECD TALIS Starting Strong report, with a focus on Early Years settings’ engagement with families and children.

We are excited to partner with LauraLynn for National Pyjama Day 2026! 🧸 Funds raised will contribute to LauraLynn's work supporting children with palliative and complex needs, as well as Early Childhood Ireland's Eco-Emotions project. Learn more in today's Ireland Live 🗞️

🗞️ We reflect on a year in which our media work helped keep Early Years capacity, access, and workforce issues in the public conversation.

We are excited to announce LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice, as the official charity partner for National Pyjama Day 2026. 👏 Save the date, this year's event takes place on Friday, 27 February. 🧸💤 Learn more in our latest press release: buff.ly/6CaLExV

In our latest Oireachtas update, we focus on three key areas of the national Early Years and School Age Care system: 🟠 Capital funding 🟠 Childminding 🟠 Core funding Learn more about the recent discussions held in the Oireachtas on these topics in our latest Policy in Action. buff.ly/Px1RLHw

Weekend read 📖 This week in Policy in Focus, we are continuing our overview of the @oecd-ocde.bsky.social TALIS (Teaching and Learning International Survey) Starting Strong 2024, with a particular focus on staff training and education. Read here 🔎 buff.ly/nb1uYk2

In 2026, educators and children deserve better. This year, Early Childhood Ireland is calling for significant progress towards an equitable, sustainable and high-quality Early Years and School Age Care system. Read more 🎬 buff.ly/yzzg2VN

In a recent podcast, we are joined by Siobhán Barrett, from Cahir Bears Community Creche in Cahir, Co Tipperary, to learn about her experience with our 'Enhancing Leadership Practices' CPD programme. Sponsored by Arachas Insurance. buff.ly/AWGmWFd

As 2025 draws to a close, we're delighted to share some of the key moments and highlights across Early Childhood Ireland's Policy and Research work this year.

Animals teach young children essential skills such as caring and responsibility. Read about our member's, Happy Days Playschool, joyful experience with Cookie the duck, in which the children experienced the full circle of life. 🐣

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ✨ Our office will reopen on Friday, January 2, 2026.

In our latest Policy in Action, we analyse items raised in the Oireachtas, including questions on: 🎬 Workforce and retention 🎬 Inclusion and disability support 🎬 Accessibility and capacity 🎬 Core Funding buff.ly/AtgLqpP

In a recent podcast, we are joined by Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children's Rights Alliance to discuss the areas in which Ireland is performing well in relation to children’s rights and the areas in which improvements are needed. Sponsored by Arachas Insurance buff.ly/TIPb61x

The Children's Rights Alliance recently held a national conference, which explored how breaking the cycle of child poverty requires tackling health inequality and ensuring access to Early Years provision. Read our overview of event 🎬 buff.ly/qz6fhEK

A new report by @OECDEduSkills analyses the stresses faced by the Early Years workforce, their opportunities for career progression as well as the feedback related to the positive aspects of working in the system. Read more 🔎 buff.ly/Xt2nd6K

🌱 Wellbeing is the foundation for learning in Aistear — Ireland’s early childhood curriculum framework. When children feel safe, loved & secure, they can truly thrive. Learn more

🔎A new report by the @esri.ie considers how the type of School Age Care children attend impact their outcomes, highlighting gaps that need to be considered in future policy work. Find out more in this week's Policy in Focus. buff.ly/gABc6te

Early Childhood Ireland was invited to take part in a consultation of Equal Start. In this week's Policy in Action, we give an overview of our feedback, which was informed by engagement with our members. 🎬 👉 buff.ly/y1a7i5S

This week, we attended the @nwc.bsky.social 'Recipes for Gender Equality' event which examined how Ireland can learn from successful European models of Early Childhood Care and Education.

The latest Growing Up in Ireland study provides a stark reminder of the inequalities within Irish society. Read our analysis of the study in relation to Early Years. 🔎 buff.ly/o0ExVgU

Aistear, the early childhood curriculum framework, speaks about how babies, toddlers and young children learn through loving, trusting and respectful relationships. In our latest Scéalta, we reflect on the vital role of trust.

Yesterday, we hosted a discussion on our two new research projects: 1️⃣ Aistear and Síolta: Exploring Childminders' perspectives and application 2️⃣ Exploring children's and Childminders' experiences of mixed-age communities in home-based settings Many thanks to all participants.

Recent parliamentary questions on the #EarlyYears and #SchoolAgeCare sector highlighted the need for significant investment to improve challenges with capacity. Read more 🎬 buff.ly/CkyMSSH

Yesterday, we hosted a discussion on our research project 'From Rhetoric to Reality' which investigates the inclusiveness of Irish Early Childhood Education and Care settings for members of the Traveller community. Many thanks to the participants for their contributions.

Today is World Children's Day 🌍 At Early Childhood Ireland, we work closely with our members, stakeholders and policymakers to help deliver a high-quality, inclusive Early Years and School Age Care system that enshrines the rights of children. Learn more about our work

📣 We are hiring! 📣 We are recruiting a Policy Officer to join our Policy, Advocacy and Campaigning team. The successful candidate will create a positive change in the lives of children in #EarlyYears and #SchoolAgeCare settings. Apply now 👇 buff.ly/DoK1pQc

9 #Communications and #Agency roles on www.prii.ie/job-listing.... this week Communications @svpireland.bsky.social sky.social @samaritans.bsky.social #Circular.ie @bostonsci.bsky.social @earlychildhoodireland.ie @nursinghomesire.bsky.social Agency #Drury #LKCommunications #WilsonHartnell

In October’s Making the News, we provide an update on Early Childhood Ireland’s media activity for Budget 2026, including our participation in key policy discussions at the Oireachtas. Learn more 🗞️ - loom.ly/fuJmLVw

According to the @oecd-ocde.bsky.social, strong Early Years systems consist of: ✅ Availability of affordable places ✅ Inclusive programmes ✅ High-quality services ✅ A professional workforce Learn more in this week's Policy in Action 🎬 buff.ly/O0P8FBQ

⭐The European Quality Framework provides key principles to deliver high-quality Early Years provisions. In this week’s Policy in Focus, we look at the influence that the framework has in the development of Irish policies. 🔎 buff.ly/pjRu9n9

The final quality theme of the European Quality Framework for Early Years Education is Evaluation and Monitoring. This theme is essential in ensuring the development of a high-quality Early Years and School Age Care system. 🔗Learn more: buff.ly/698x9vu #CatalystForChildren

Governance and funding are a key theme of the European Quality Framework for Early Years Education, supporting families with the right to access Early Years and School Age Care provisions. 🔗 Learn more: buff.ly/5njHv6D #CatalystForChildren

The European Quality Framework states that children’s experiences and their active participation should be valued, and the importance of learning through play should be understood and supported in Early Years settings. Learn more: buff.ly/Lu2y1C1 #CatalystForChildren

According to the European Quality Framework for Early Years Education, quality in terms of workforce can be measured by ensuring: ⭐ Strong leadership ⭐ Ongoing professionalisation ⭐ Professional development #CatalystForChildren buff.ly/698x9vu