Talking About Quality

Report of a Consultation Process on Quality in Early Childhood Care and Education

The Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education has conducted a number of consultative seminars on the issue of ‘Quality in early childhood care and education.’ This is in keeping with the Centre’s brief to develop national quality standards “in the areas identified in the White Paper (curriculum and methodology, equipment and materials, staff and qualifications) and in relation to parental involvement.” (CECDE, 2001: 4). Consultation with all stakeholders, including parents and guardians, children, teachers and carers, policymakers and practitioners is a key element in this process.

Six seminars were planned within this initial consultation phase:

• Sheldon Park Hotel, Kylemore Road, Dublin 10 on 20th October
• Rochestown Park Hotel, Douglas, Cork on 23rd October
• Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway on 29th October
• Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan on 24th November
• Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone on 25th November
• Óstán Cheathrú Rua, Co. na Gaillimhe ar an 27ú lá de mhí na Samhna

In addition, the feedback form could be completed on our website www.cecde.ie, for those unable to attend the seminars. The format of each consultation was as follows. Each seminar began with a short presentation on the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education, outlining our origins, functions and progress to date. A second brief presentation outlined the rationale and format for the evening’s consultation. Participants were then divided into small discussion groups, each with a dedicated facilitator to enable and record discussion. Each participant was requested to complete a short feedback form, focusing the discussion around three central issues:

• Defining Quality
• Assessing Quality
• Supporting Quality

The evening concluded with a short feedback session that allowed participants to get immediate feedback on the issues raised in the course of the evening. The comprehensive report of the consultation process may be accessed below.


Please click to access the full pdf version of Talking About Quality - Report on a Consultation Process on Early Childhood Care and Education

Download chapter by chapter as required:
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2. Rationale
Chapter 3. Methodology
Chapter 4. Presentation of Findings
Chapter 5. Discussion
Chapter 6. Conclusions
Appendices

Please click to access the executive summary of Talking About Quality - Report on a Consultation Process on Early Childhood Care and Education