The early years work within Children in Wales concentrates specifically on the needs of the under eights and their families, and works with a wide range of organisations in all sectors.  See our information on:

• The Sure Start Network,
• The Flying Start Network
• The Early Years Advisory Group,
• The Parenting Network (Fforwm Magu Plant)
• Quality Assurance Scheme

Childcare Information in each authority

Aims

The Early Years work aims to:

• Raise awareness of the needs of young children
• Improve policy and service provision for children across education, health, social services and the voluntary sector
• Support the raising of professional standards of practice
• Respond to the needs of young children and families in Wales and those who work with them

Services Provided

We offer:

• Link with networks in the early years field
• Consultancy and advice
• Support for developing a coordinated approach to service planning
• In service training, through a programme of multi-disciplinary conferences and seminars
• A range of training materials
• Research

What we do

Networking across Wales with:

• 22 local authorities - sharing information on partnership working and policy developments to:
• Early years Development and Childcare Partnerships;
• Sure Start Partnerships;
• Early Years Forums and County Voluntary Councils; 
• Early years and Sure Start partnerships task groups - training, quality assurance, special educational needs
• Under Eights Coordinators/Registration and Inspection Officers
• Early Years Advisers;
• Organisations - Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, Wales PPA, National Childminding Association, Home Start Wales , SNAP Cymru, Chwarae Teg
• Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales

The Children in Wales Early years and Childcare Advisory Group was re-formed in 2005 and holds quarterly meetings.

Organising

• Conferences and training seminars to disseminate latest information and research on early childhood issues
• Campaigns across Wales to influence policy and government in Wales and Westminster

Supporting Parents

• Developing support materials for parents of young children including The Healthy Child Resource materials, and "Us" a set of magazines to support Teenage Parents in groups or on a one to one basis.
• Training programmes for health authorities, Sure Start Partnerships, voluntary organisations, community groups on setting up parenting support initiatives.
• Developing a parenting database.
• Contributing to the National Family Parenting Institute database of parenting services
• Childcare Information Services in Wales

 Working on a UK basis with:

• National Children's Bureau Early Childhood Unit
• Early Childhood Education Forum
• Sure Start Network
• Children in Scotland
• National Family & Parenting Institute