Sharing from the Start

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Sharing from the Start (SfS) is an evidence-based approach in delivering Shared Education (SE) aimed at improving educational outcomes and cross community cohesion. The Early Years, Fermanagh Trust and National Childhood Network partnership demonstrates a high degree of expertise on SE, a strong experience in successfully delivering EU-funded education projects and a 20-year history of collaboration in the field of education and cross border socio-economic initiatives. The project aims to bring about positive attitudinal and behavioural change among children, parents, pre-school teachers and the wider community. This will be achieved through the implementation of an evidence-based approach to purposeful, direct and sustained curriculum-based contact between children of different religious backgrounds. The main activities of the project include: Developing a regional advisory group comprised of key stakeholders in NI and ROI. Developing 4 sub-regional school/community partnerships. Engaging 99 pre-schools (67 in NI and 32 in ROI): (that have not yet participated in SE). Developing shared education pre-school Clusters (2-3 schools). 9,914 pre-school pupils will participate in shared education classrooms by December 2021. Training of 157 pre-school teachers on a shared basis. Supporting 99 Boards of Governors to develop and implement a SE policy. Involving 1,100 parents in workshops and activities. By increasing the number of children taking part in SE, strengthening diversity at school and improving community relations, SfS will contribute to achieve the objectives highlighted in the NI Draft programme for Government 2016-2021 and in the ROI May 2016 Programme for a Partnership Government. Research shows that children develop prejudices from an early age, which further highlights the need for SE to improve community relations. Research and experience show there is demand for SE among pre schools. This application presents the preferred option for these reasons: a strong and experienced partnership, value for money, excellent and effective evidence-based programme design, and strong community involvement. Early Years will be responsible for the financial management, with the assistance of a Project Management Group. Publicity will be achieved at each stage of the programme through media work, website, social media and newsletters. Qualitative monitoring will be carried out by project specialists using a baseline and yearly academic questionnaires. Pre-schools will be supported to carry out self-evaluation. Data collected will be reviewed on a monthly basis and an external evaluation will be conducted. Training of teachers and involvement of the community and parents will ensure that they continue to be drivers for SE long after funding ends. Monitoring and evaluation evidence will be used to advocate for continued support to SE.

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