Quality Assurance training highlighted the need for the production of a comprehensive pack, aimed at all pre-school providers interested in the delivery of a high quality early childhood service, that would draw together information on all aspects affecting the delivery of that service. The Border Counties Childcare Network has produced this comprehensive information pack which includes the following sections: Legislation Governing the Delivery of a Sessional Pre-School Service; Management of a Sessional Pre-School Service; Planning the Learning Environment; Planning a Pre-School Curriculum; Introducing Irish into your Pre-School Setting; Special Educational Needs. The curriculum section, which has been approved by both the Department of Education, Health and Social Services and the voluntary sector, has been very generously made available to the Network by the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum Examinations.

The pack has been described by Sylda Langford (Assistant Secretary at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in her capacity as Chairperson of the National Co-ordinating Childcare Committee) as "the most useful handbook for childcare practitioners that has been produced in Ireland to date".

The pack is a living document and as such will be constantly reviewed and added to. It is currently being updated to reflect the recent review of The Child Care (Pre-school Services) Regulations 1996/1997and will not be available until early 2004.

Anyone interested in receiving a copy of the revised pack when it becomes available should contact the BCCN office and ask to be added to the list. There will be a small charge for the pack/postage and packaging.