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Early Learning Initiative, National College of Ireland

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Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin, Dublin - D01 K6W2

Early Learning Initiative, National College of Ireland

The Early Learning Initiative (ELI) at the National College of Ireland (NCI) was developed to address the problem of educational underachievement in marginalised communities. Building upon tried and tested models of early years’ intervention, ELI’s mission is to work with communities in areas of greatest need, to provide world-class parent and child learning support programmes.

overview

ELI enables children, their families and the community, to acquire the skills and self-confidence needed to fully benefit from the education system.

Sadly, by three years of age, there are already big differences in language and mathematical development between children from rich and poor backgrounds. This gap continues to widen, if it is not addressed before children start pre-school.

Without early intervention, generations of children’s life chances have been determined before they enter formal education. ELI helps parents develop their children’s social, language and thinking skills from an early age; thereby, ensuring that children enter school ready to learn, with the skills they need to be successful throughout their education.   

Prevention and early intervention programmes such as our Parent Child Home Programme (PCHP), have the most influence on children’s long-term educational outcomes and our evaluations are proving this. 

where your money goes

Your support helps to ensure that we can meet the growing demand for our programmes and services.  ELI  helps children in some of the most deprived areas of Dublin, Galway and Limerick giving them the literacy and numeracy skills they need to succeed in school and to dream big.


In 2021-22, over 14,835 children, parents and professionals were engaged in ELI programmes. Satisfaction rates and learning indicators remain high with children’s language, literacies and cognitive skills continuing to improve. 

We sincerely appreciate your support in this important endeavor.

history

NCI is an independent third level institution. A key element of its mission is to widen participation in higher education. Working in partnership with the local community, its Early Learning Initiative (ELI) was established in 2006/7 to address educational disadvantage in marginalised communities through the provision of integrated programmes for children, their parents and families, and educators from early years up to third level. Building upon tried and tested models of early years’ intervention, it is our mission to work with communities in areas of greatest need, providing world-class parent and child learning support programmes. 

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