Introduction

As a member of the NIHR Global Health Research Group, the Early Years team will provide direct guidance and advice to each UNICEF Country Office regarding the design, development and delivery of their respective early childhood development (ECD) programme. A particular emphasis will be placed on maximizing the potential of the ECD programmes for promoting social cohesion and peacebuilding.

Co-investigator: Siobhan Fitzpatrick

About

Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children, is the largest organization in Northern Ireland working with and for young children. It is a non-profit making organization and has been working since 1965 to promote high quality childcare for children aged 0 - 12 and their families.  Over the past 50 years, Early Years has brought together pre-school children and parents from across the religious and cultural divide in Northern Ireland to promote peace and understanding.

Early Years: 

1. Offers a range of programs and services for Playgroup and Daycare staff, parents and those working with children.

2. Delivers a wide range of in-service programs that continue our drive to improve practice by applying an appropriate play based curriculum. Our training is for parents, all adults working with young children in pre-school settings, daycares, SureStart, nursery and foundation stage and management committees.

3. Believes that major investment in young children is critical to ensure the educational, social, emotional and cognitive development of our future generations.

Contributor: Siobhán Fitzpatrick, CBE, MBA, MSSC, CQSW, BSc., serves as Executive Committee Member to the Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC). She is Chief Executive Officer of Early Years – the organization for young children in Northern Ireland.