Let’s Grow Together’s core work consists of four interconnected strategies supported by an integrated monitoring and evaluation process. The strategies are underpinned by an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health framework and connected by their common approaches of capacity building, integration, and quality improvement, to get every child’s life off to the best possible start.
The Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy aims to translate the science of early development, to develop and implement the necessary knowledge, skills, practice, and services to support optimal social, and emotional development in the pre-birth to four years period of a baby’s and young child’ development. Supporting early relationships within the context of family and community is a key component.
The Speech, Language, Communication & Literacy Strategy provides prevention, promotion, and early intervention services for parents, caregivers, and educators of infants and young children to support emerging speech, language, communication, and literacy skills. Focus is placed on supporting adult-child interactions and relationships, including babies’ first relationships with parents and caregivers, to promote early language and communication development.
The Early Years Care & Education Strategy provides a suite of quality supports to Early Years Settings and Early Starts. It is aligned to the National Early Years Curriculum Framework Aistear and Quality Framework Síolta. The central resource to the Strategy is the Early Years Mentor, supporting Early Years quality locally.
The Schools Community Strategy works in partnership with primary school communities to promote children’s social and emotional wellbeing and their learning opportunities and environments, through their families and educators. Programmes and supports are provided to school staff, parents, families and children themselves.
