Eager and Able to Learn Two Year old Programme
The Eager and Able to Learn programme is designed by Early Years for children aged two to three years old in an early years setting. Research shows movement provides a natural context for young children to develop. Eager and Able to Learn places a particular emphasis on physical movement with a series of developmental movement and play activities for the setting to use.
The programme encourages parents to explore play activities with their children in the home environment through the home-based element.
The aim of the programme is to improve the child’s:
The programme places a particular emphasis on physical movement, on the physical design of early childhood programme settings, and on relationships – the practitioner/child relationship, the parent/child relationship and the partnership between the parent and the practitioner to support young children’s development. The theory of change underpinning the programme is that movement provides a natural context for children of this age to develop. The programme has a group-based element, which involves a series of developmental movement and play activities, and a home-based element including home visits, which encourages parents to explore play activities with their children in the home environment.
Evidence shows effective interventions within these areas, during the first few years of life, may have the strongest impact on improving children’s life chances at any point during childhood and adolescence.
An Evaluation of the Effects of the Eager and Able to Learn Programme on Outcomes for 2-3 Years Olds in Early Years Settings conducted by Queen’s University concluded the following:
Improved Child Outcomes in the following areas:
- Improved language and communication skills:
- Increased vocabulary and increased ability to use vocabulary in context.
- Improved social/emotional skills and behaviours: increased independence and self-help skills.
- Improved ability to think and solve problems.
- Improved levels of involvement: increased levels of concentration, persistence and precision
- Improved levels of physical movement: improved gross, fine and sensory motor development.
Pathway Programme
by the Department of Education
This programme is currently funded through the Pathway programme by the Department of Education.
Please keep an eye on our social media channels for information on how to apply.
School Readiness summer scheme
A five week programme for children transitioning from pre-school to P1 focusing on children who are disadvantaged and not “school-ready”.
Children will be referred from 4 pre-schools in the area to avail of intensive support over the summer period for 2 hours per day.
There is a focus of helping children experiencing developmental delays on arrival to the school. It will focus on social and emotional development, physical development and communication.
This will be supported by Children’s Services – RISE NI (Regional Integrated Support for Education in N.Ireland) team through providing staff training and workshop support over the 5 week period, this will also be enhanced with a evidence based parent programme, and following Ofsted good practice in school readiness for disadvantaged children.
The programme promotes the capacity building for parents, promoting them taking an active role in their child’s development.
All the parents who attended last year endorsed the need for project with comments such as:
- Parent: I strongly believe that the programme has helped my child to transition to primary 1 and would highly recommend it.
- Parent: I Definitely feel my child has benefited from the programme. He learnt new things which will hopefully help with the transition. Small groups definitely of benefit.