Minister Foley welcomes over 700 Early Years Educators attending subsidised upskilling courses this month
- Foilsithe: 29 Meán Fómhair 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has welcomed over 700 early learning educators who are receiving state subsidised degree-level courses in Early Learning and Care this month.
The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund is covering 90 per cent of the course fees for the early years educators who undertake a degree course. They can study the course over a three-year period while continuing their regular daily work within the early learning and care sector.
365 early year educators are receiving funding to begin their degree-level courses in Early Learning and Care this September, while 350 early years educators in the second and third year of their courses are being funded to continue their studies.
Current data indicates that the proportion of early years educators with a relevant degree-level qualification has more than tripled, from 12% in 2012 to 39% in 2024.
There is an official target to increase the proportion of early years educators with a relevant degree-level qualification to at least 50% by 2028. This reflects the Government objective of achieving a graduate-led workforce in early learning and childcare services by 2028.
Speaking today, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, said:
“I would like to wish all those who are on Early Learning and Childcare courses very best of luck with their studies especially those early years educators in receipt of support from the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund. There are very talented and dedicated educators working in the early years sector. I am keen to provide them with opportunities for upskilling because it will enhance the quality of care and education provided to children across Ireland.”
First 5, the whole-of-government strategy for babies, young children and their families, recognises that the workforce is at the heart of high-quality early learning and care sector.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality introduced the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund on a pilot basis in 2024. It is aimed at early years educators seeking to upskill by studying for a recognised Early Learning and Care qualification at Level 7 or 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.
The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund aims to enhance the quality of Early Learning and Care services, while supporting the professional development of early years educators, developing career pathways, and supporting recruitment and retention of staff in the sector.
The objective of delivering a graduate-led workforce in early learning and childcare is contained in Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare 2022 – 2028.
The Nurturing Skill Learner Fund is co-funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund+ and by the Government Ireland through the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme (EIST) 2021-27.
It is designed to complement and add to other Government financial supports, such as the Free Fees Initiative and SUSI grants. Funding is provided directly to approved Higher Education Institutions to reduce the upfront costs of studying for early years educators.
Further information on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund can be found at www.gov.ie/NurturingSkillsLearnerFund
