From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on 20 May 2024
Last updated on 22 May 2024
What is Equal Start?
Equal Start is a funding model and a set of associated universal and targeted measures to support access and participation in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) for children and their families who experience disadvantage.
It is the fourth element of Together for Better, the funding model for ELC and SAC, which currently comprises the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and Core Funding.
Why is Equal Start being introduced?
Equal Start consists of a series of measures to support children, settings and families. The goals of the Equal Start are that:
- All children , in particular children experiencing disadvantage, have equitable access and participation in ELC and SAC settings.
- All ELC and SAC settings , in particular settings operating in the context of concentrated disadvantage, equitably promote the learning and care of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Parents and families , in particular parents and families experiencing disadvantage, are empowered with the knowledge, tools and supports necessary for children to have equitable access and participation in ELC and SAC.
Equal Start will adopt a tiered approach, which incorporates universal supports, child-targeted supports and setting-targeted supports.
First 5 committed to developing mechanisms to provide additional supports to ELC and SAC settings where there are high proportions of children who are at risk of poverty to mitigate the impacts of early disadvantage.
The work of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for the sector, set out its report Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (2021), explored this commitment further, conducting research on how to identify children and settings in need of additional support and potential funding models to address early childhood disadvantage and made a number of recommendations to take this work forward.
A public consultation process was then undertaken specifically on the design of Equal Start. To engage with ELC and SAC providers, early years educators, SAC practitioners and representative organisations, a number of semi-structured interviews took place, followed by a series of workshops, both online and in-person. Questions covered current barriers, challenges and issues related to disadvantage in accessing and participating in ELC and SAC, priority groups, and possible supports and actions.
Links to key documents
1. Equal Start Model of Supports
2. Equal Start Model of Supports Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
3. Report on NGO Day 1 Workshop Feedback
4. Report on NGO Day 2 Workshop Feedback
5. Report on ELC and SAC Day 1 Workshop Feedback
6. Report on ELC and SAC Day 2 Workshop Feedback
7. Report on Final Workshop Feedback
8. Feedback on Objectives and Outcomes
10. Additional Nutrition Pilot Programme Evaluation