Case Study Page Item

Appendix 1

Ten Case Studies: Early Learning and Care Settings in Ireland

The floor plans and images included in this section are from the ten settings that took part in the case study element of the development of the Universal Design Guidelines for Early Learning and Care settings. In selecting the ten settings for the
case studies it was imperative that those chosen were as representative as possible.
 

To enable us to select settings we drew up a typology. The headings included:

• Geographical location: in terms of achieving a spread of settings countrywide.
• Urban/rural location: in terms of urban, sub-urban and rural.
• Setting type: in terms of full day care, sessional or part-time.
• Ownership: in terms of community based or private.
• Building type: in terms of purpose built or converted; single storey or multistorey.
• Setting size: small (under 22 children) medium (22-60 children) large (60 children +).
• Outdoor space: all settings to have some form of outdoor space.
• Diversity of children: diversity in terms of race, ethnicity and family background, gender and ability.
• AIM: Settings that were availing of AIM supports.Varied settings: A representation of varied setting types, for example, settings that are part of a chain, workplace setting, home based, a Naíonra.

The Pobal Early Years Sector Profile 2017 was consulted to ensure that the settings were representative of the sector nationwide. For example, the Pobal data shows that 60% of settings are in urban locations and 40% in rural areas; 73% of settings are privately owned and 27% community based. This is reflected in the selected case study settings. See Table 1 for details.

The team of Early Childhood Specialists in Early Childhood Ireland identified suitable settings (using the typology above) with whom they had worked. This involvement took a variety of forms: engagement in quality initiatives such as Síolta Quality Assurance Programme, Aistear in Action, the National Aistear Síolta Initiative or winners of one of the Early Childhood Ireland Annual Awards. These were narrowed down to ensure a good geographic spread and to avoid duplication. All ten settings were sent comprehensive pre-visit material (briefing documents for all stakeholders and information for children) and associated consent forms. All consent forms comply fully with requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. Visits took place in May-June 2018. On each visit, parents and practitioners were invited to complete a survey and a representative sample were interviewed. We gave the children a camera and asked if they would take photos of their favourite part of the setting, as a way of capturing the views of children. Each setting is profiled in the next section, with a description, floor plans and images.