Schools and institutions which teach infants will face increased inspections and have to meet new standards under a £74 million Government plan to improve early childhood education.
The Minister for Education, Mr Martin, said education for young children up to now concentrated on "creating places" rather than on the quality of the education provided.
Under proposals included in a White Paper, providers who receive State funding will be required to obtain a Quality in Education mark (QE) which is intended to assure parents that their children are receiving a "quality early education".
The QE mark will only be awarded if the providers meet certain standards in relation to curriculum, methodology, learning objectives and staff qualifications.
According to the White Paper, the possibility of getting the mark will provide an "incentive" to providers to raise and maintain quality. "The awarding of the QE mark may be used by providers in their advertising, giving them an advantage over other competitors who have failed, or opted not to meet the standards," it says.
Providers will be given "sufficient time" to upgrade their service and qualifications before the system is established on a formal footing. While State-funded institutions will be required to have the mark, private providers will only be "encouraged" to obtain one, according to a briefing note accompanying the White Paper.
A new independent agency, the Early Childhood Education Agency, will be established to review standards. This agency will also have responsibility for inspection of childhood education services.
The State's health boards already carry out inspections under the Child Care Regulations, 1996, but these focus on health and safety issues and do not extend to "the developmental or educational component" of early childhood education. Under the proposals in the White Paper those providing early education services will be required to undergo inspections by the health board and the new agency.
Emmet Oliver is at eolive@irish-times.ie