Early Learning Initiative

The Early Learning Initiative is proud to have the support of basis.point, and we are delighted to be featured in their Annual Report 2025. Please take a look at their Annual Report, and the ways in which they've supported ELI and the educational initiatives and opportunities for families, children, and young people across Ireland. We look forward to our continued partnership with basis.point as they help to uphold our mission of working in partnership with local communities to support the educational journeys and achievements of children and families across the country. #changealifeempoweracommunity #earlylearninginitiative #elinci #parentchild+ ParentChild +

A morning of inspiration, partnership and impact. Thank you to our partner, Arthur Cox LLP, for hosting our recent Change a Life. Empower a Community. breakfast event. This wonderful morning celebrated the continuing impact of the Early Learning Initiative (ELI), National College of Ireland (NCI) and our partners in the local Dublin Docklands and North Inner City community, and communities around Ireland.  We were warmly welcomed by Philip Smith of Arthur Cox, who spoke about Arthur Cox’s long-standing involvement with ELI and the firm’s commitment to supporting ELI and the communities it serves over many years.  We were delighted to be joined by NCI’s new President Professor Emma Stokes who spoke about the importance of ELI to NCI’s mission to change lives through education.   Throughout this inspirational event, we heard from ELI’s new Director, Rebecca Moore, who stressed the importance of early intervention in impacting the lives of children and families. We also heard firsthand accounts on the impact of ELI’s Parenting365 Programme by ELI Coordinator, Vickey Kelly, and, a powerful parent impact letter read out by ParentChild+ National Support Coordinator, Lisa Farrelly. Central Model Infant School Principal, Elaine Dunphy, also provided valuable insights on the impact of ELI programmes in a local primary school.   A big thank you to the chair of ELI’s Development Committee, Mike Hartwell from Deloitte, for closing off the morning and for his continued support of the Early Learning Initiative’s work. We were proud to be joined by many of our long-term corporate partners as well as prospective donors, friends, and colleagues. Together, through early childhood interventions, and sustainable family support, we are empowering communities across Ireland to level the playing field for children and families. To find out more about the Early Learning Initiative please follow this link: www.ncirl.ie/ELI. EXL basis.point Rethink Ireland ESB ParentChild +McGarrell Reilly KPMG Ireland PwC Ireland Irish Life Jean Maxwell (Greaney)

On September 24th, ELI's Community Families National Senior Coordinator, Marie Boyne, spoke alongside a panel on Prevention and Early Intervention in Practice. 👏 The conference focused on the importance of interagency collaboration in breaking the cycle of inequality for children and young people through prevention, early intervention and family support. ELI was delighted to be part of such an impactful day! 😊 Children's Rights Alliance Tusla - Child and Family Agency Eurochild #EUBreaktheCycle National College of Ireland

Recently, ELI's Lisa Farrelly sat down for a profile with National College of Ireland for their Alumni series. Check out her profile by following the link below:

Recently, ELI's Marie Boyne sat down for a profile with National College of Ireland for their Alumni series. Check out her profile by following the link below:

Yesterday, we kicked off our first project meeting to launch the TOY4Home Project - funded by the European Union Erasmus+ Programme. We are very excited to be collaborating with International Child Development Initiatives (ICDI) and Step by Step Croatia (OASBS) on the project over the next two years. Our project will be focusing on Integrating Home Visiting into Non-Formal Play and Learning ECEC Settings. The project responds to growing challenges facing children families affected by poverty, migration, social exclusion, homelessness, discrimination, language barriers and limited access to formal early childhood services. It builds upon the success of the TOY4 Inclusion model, which has established 40 Play Hubs across Europe and engaged thousands of children, caregivers and professionals since 2017. By combining this model with ELI's extensive home-visiting experience, TOY4Home aims to create a more comprehensive and scalable approach to supporting vulnerable families.  #supportingchildrenandfamilies

On Thursday, September 17th ELI's Early Literacy & STEM Coordinator, Cathy Steenson, presented at the Annual Literacy Numeracy, and Digital Literacy Forum! This year's forum had a special focus on the ways to address anxiety around mathematics in children and young people. During her presentation, Cathy showcased how ELI's Early Numeracy Programme is delivered within local services, and the way in which it is embedded in the local community. ELI's Early Numeracy Programme is one example for how ELI continues to support the educational achievements and journeys of families, children, and young people across Dublin's Inner City. #earlylearninginitiative #earlynumeracyprogramme #elinci #supportingchildrenandfamilies Department of Children, Disability and Equality National College of Ireland

On September 3rd 2026, ELI's Community Families National Senior Coordinator, Marie Boyne, spoke at Ireland's Child Poverty & Wellbeing Summit. 👏 Drawing on both her lived experience and her professional journey, Marie spoke about the lasting impact that early intervention and Home Visiting can have for children and families — and the importance of ensuring that access to the right support should never come down to chance or luck. 💕 Marie highlighted the power of meeting families where they are, building trusted relationships and providing the right support at the right time. A powerful reminder of what can happen when families are heard, supported and connected — and every child is given the opportunity to participate, belong and thrive. ✨✨ #childpovertysummit2026 #earlylearninginitative #homevisiting #supportingchildrenandfamilies Department of Children, Disability and Equality Government of Ireland National College of Ireland

A big welcome to Dr. Emma Stokes as the incoming President of National College of Ireland. We are looking forward to working with her and continuing both the missions of ELI and NCI. Take a look at NCI's post below for more information.

Last week, Kappa Grealy, the Data and Evaluation Coordinator at the Early Learning Initiative gave a presentation at the European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) Conference in Madeira. The conference this year was themed “The Development of Agency, Participation and Democracy in the Digital Age,” and reflected on how children are active participants in shaping their own learning and social worlds. There were over 800 early years professionals and researchers in attendance, sharing ideas on how to support and facilitate learning for all young children in this rapidly changing digital age.    This year the presentation focused on our interagency work to support coordinated early intervention and prevention programmes in one of the Area Based Childhood programmes in Grangegorman in the North West Inner City of Dublin. To read more about the presentation, please click on Kappa's blog post: https://lnkd.in/dpwZ8bx7. To learn more about the Early Learning Initiative, National College of Ireland research in general please click here: https://lnkd.in/d7rvVSaM