Early Learning Initiative

🧑🏻‍🏫 Summer Courses for Teachers 2026 👩🏾‍🏫

We’re delighted to offer two practical, face-to-face EPV summer courses designed to support teachers and school leaders in supporting restorative practices across schools.

📘 *Restorative Practices for Classrooms and School Communities*
Focus on restorative conversations, classroom relationships, wellbeing and inclusive school culture.

📗 *Restorative Leadership – Embedding Restorative Culture in Schools*
Focus on teachers and school leaders seeking to develop and sustain restorative practice at whole-school level.

📍 Venue: National College of Ireland
🎓 Accreditation: Drumcondra Education Centre
💸 Course Fee: FREE

📅 Course Dates:
• July 1st–7th 2026 (excluding weekend)
• Additional Classroom Practices module: August 17th–21st 2026

📩 To book a place, contact: [email protected]
📞 (086) 4666400

Cruinniú na nÓg is happening this weekend!

Time to get creative and celebrate a day of creativity for young people.

Click on the link below to find out what activities are happening in your area - from painting and music workshops, to learning about birds at the Dead Zoo Lab.

All events are free!

➡ https://cruinniu.gov.ie/events/

Congratulations to Clonmel, Co. Tipperary on the launch of Community Families! 🎉🎉

It was a great morning of celebrations with the Clonmel community! We look forward to continuing our work together by supporting children & families! 🤝🎉

Children across early years services and organisations have been learning about money, through play & fun!

Through role playing grocery shopping, children practiced their skills with money & counting! 💰🛒💳

Please help to evaluate our Numeracy Programme by clicking on the link below or, by scanning the QR code and filling in the questionnaire. Your opinion really matters and supports us to continue to develop the programme to support children's learning the Home Learning Environment!

Link: https://surveys.ncirl.ie/evasys/public/online/index/index?online_php=&p=ZTZHG&ONLINEID=82477896296644269250602474879782694161719

Celebrating Earth Day with sustainable learning and play! ♻🌍

On April 22nd, ELI's Stretch Graduate families were invited to celebrate Earth Day! Through earth themed crafts using sustainable materials and activities that explored how best to take care of our planet, children enjoyed an afternoon of learning & plenty of fun!

Thank you to our volunteers from Arthur Cox & basis.point for your support during this event!

This programme is supported by Research Ireland.

Today our friend and colleague Ali was laid to rest.

A beautiful soul inside & out, Ali had an infectious smile and love of life. She will always be remembered for the love & kindness she showed to everyone she met. Ali had a strong love for children which was always evident during her time as Groups Coordinator.

We are thinking of all her family & friends at this difficult time.

Rest in Peace Ali 🩷

Today we celebrate International Day of Families.

The 2026 theme of observance " Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing" underscores how widening inequalities are shaping family life and influencing children's futures.

Families are central to social economic progress, yet many face income insecurity, limited caregiving support and unequal access to essential services. Without adequate support, families with young children face higher risks of poverty, with lasting effects on children's health, education and overall wellbeing, which can negatively impact children's development.

As we celebrated National Home Visiting Day on May 13th, we reflected on the positive impact Home Visiting is making on children and their families in terms of early education, social inclusion, and sign posting families to additional services should they require this. ParentChild+ continues to support communities to build better brighter futures at equal levels by providing platforms to promote all children in reaching their full potential.

Congratulations to students from St. Patrick’s GNS & St. Mary’s Fairview GNS on completing 8-weeks of Coding Club!! 🤖💻

Students celebrated this impressive achievement by showing off their skills at our Coding exhibition event! Through mazes, balloon popping challenges, and football matches, young coders showed off what they’ve learned throughout the programme! 🎈⚽

Thank you to all the students and teachers who came along to join in the celebratory morning! A big thank you to our volunteers from EXL for this event. EXL is a key sponsor of this round of coding clubs. ELI is delighted to be partnered with like-minded corporations who share our passion for education, and our dedication to encouraging young girls to enter STEAM related fields. ⚛

Congratulations to everyone involved!

Congratulations to the latest site to join ParentChild+ National !

Welcome to Mahon FRC who will be delivering the ParentChild+ Programme in Mahon Cork. ParentChild+ is an early literacy programme designed to support parent child relationships, and promote child development and school readiness in children.
The programme is suitable for children aged between 16 months and 3.5 years.



Mahon Frc Skies Initiative Liffey Partnership St Ultans Louth ABC Programme Cavan County Local Development BRILL Family Resource Centre Youth New Ross- YNR ParentChild+ Parents First 'Laois,Offaly' CLG ParentChild+ Waterford South Dublin County Partnership Daughters of Charity Services Garryowen Community Development Project ParentChildplus BallinasloeTuam

Counting coins, and building confidence with numeracy skills! 💶💰

As we continue to learn about money and celebrate numeracy skills across early years services, children have been having lots of fun incorporating these skills into their play. Through grocery shopping 🛒, paying for cupcakes 🧁and more, children have been strengthening their skills at services and at home!

We want to hear from you! Please help us evaluate our Numeracy Programme by following the link below or, scanning the QR Code on the post. Your opinion really matters and supports us to continue to develop the programme.

https://nci.evasys.ie/evasys/online.php?p=ENWparent