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British-Irish Council – Annual Report – 2012
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Early Years Policy (Led by the Welsh Government)
The early years are fundamental to a child’s life chances. During a child’s early years his/her
physical, cognitive, social and emotional development is most susceptible to influence, both
positive and negative. At the eleventh Summit in September 2008, the British-Irish Council
adopted Early Years Policy as a new work sector with the Welsh Government as the lead
Member Administration.
This area of work brings together officials from each Member Administration who are
responsible for national, island and regional policy on early years. The work of the group
encompasses, amongst other things, early years education, childcare, health and support for
parents.
There are currently four areas of focus within the work sector:
O Collaboration between all agencies concerned with health, education and social services to
provide a ‘‘joined-up’’ service for children and their parents or carers and to make better
use of resources;
O Transition arrangements (between home and child care settings, and then to school) to
improve outcomes;
O The Early Years work force; and
O Evaluation and obtaining better value for money.