Since 2007, ELI has delivered ParentChild+ to vulnerable families with children aged 18 months to 3 years in Dublin, expanding to Galway, Limerick and more recently Louth. Beginning with 15 families in 2007, numbers have grown to 419 in 2023. Unfortunately, this is only 3.4% of the 12,400 babies born into poverty in Ireland each year and 9% of 4,800 babies born to first-time parents living in poverty (CSO 2019). We would like to do more.   

Extending ParentChild+ to other disadvantaged communities across Ireland is central to ELI’s 2020-25 Strategic Plan as we want to ensure that all children get the support needed to start school with the language, literacy and numeracy skills needed for success in education, no matter what their background is or where they live. The ParentChild+ National Home Visiting Training, Research and Support Centre is committed to scaling up ParentChild+ in a sustainable way. It also ensures fidelity to the programme and high-quality service delivery through its ongoing comprehensive support to ParentChild+ Managers, Coordinators and Home Visitors around the country. 

ParentChild+ is an evidence-based, ‘learning through play experience’ for parents and their preschool children. It is designed to strengthen the natural bond between parent and child and to encourage a love of learning. It employs a non-directive approach and encourages the parent as the child’s first and best teacher. This programme prepares children for later success in school.  

ParentChild+ employs specially trained local women as Home Visitors, to model verbal interaction for the parent and child. The Home Visitor visits the family twice a week, in their own home, for two short (1/2 hour) play sessions, which are run during the (primary) school year only. The family then continue the activities in their own time, thereby enabling the ParentChild+ child and his/her siblings to develop their language, literacy and numeracy skills.  

Expected Outcomes  

• The educational outcomes for children, particularly in pre-numeracy and pre-literacy skills, will be improved as result of their engagement in ParentChild+. They will start school ready to learn, thereby maximizing their chances of success in education and life. 
• Parent involvement in their children’s educational development will increase. Parents will have the self-confidence and skills to support their children’s learning as they progress through the education system and on to employment. 

We are available to discuss and advise interested partners who may want to start the programme in their area.   

If you are interested in setting up a ParentChild+ site in your community, please contact:

Michelle Moore
National Home Visiting Manager 
Phone: (086)4666407
Email: Michelle.Moore@ncirl.ie