DiversityAware Course

Early Years

Early Years

Promoting access and participation in Early Years services in the county including the ECCE programme. We collaborate with Donegal County Childcare Committee to promote inclusion and diversity training for early years providers.

Facts

  • The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017–2021 (NTRIS) has recommended that all relevant Government Departments and agencies promote the Early Childcare and Education (ECCE) pre-school scheme, as well as the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) for children with a disability, within the Traveller and Roma communities, in order to facilitate access for every child to free pre-school from the age of three until they start school.
  • A European Union–funded survey of Roma confirmed the strong influence of preschool education on pupils’ competencies. In every aspect monitored, differences were displayed between Roma children who attend kindergarten and Roma children who do not. (Roma Early Childhood Inclusion, 2015)
Early Years activity image
Early Years learning image

Ongoing Work

  • We work to raise awareness and consciousness in the community on the role of education, in particular early years education, in achieving equality.
  • We promote access and participation in early years services in the county including ECCE. This includes collaborating with Donegal County Childcare Committee to promote inclusion and diversity training for early years providers.
  • St Gabriel’s Preschool on Convent Road, Letterkenny is an innovative model combining interculturalism and indoor/outdoor activity for over 40 preschool children from up to a dozen ethnic backgrounds. Designed and led by Travellers, the preschool opened in 1997 and delivers a full curriculum in an outdoor play and learning environment with a strong intercultural ethos, enrolling Traveller, Roma and settled children.

    In 2017, the preschool expanded its outdoor learning and play area to include an outdoor classroom, sensory areas, a playhouse, a storytelling dome, a sand pit and a garden. New additions in 2022 included a climbing feature and tyre challenge aimed at supporting motor development, risky play and turn-taking. St Gabriel’s also joined the Better Start National Early Years Quality Development Programme to further enhance inclusive, high-quality early learning and care.