No Reproduction Fee.Children’s education experts learn about Northside language programme

"Happy Talk": Kate Mc Auliffe, Gobnait Burke, Martina O’Donoghue, Niamh Gaine (front) and Mirian Verling at an early years education forum in Blackrock, Cork. Photo Donagh GlavinEarly Years experts learn about Happy Talk language programme Experts in early years childcare gathered in Cork to learn about a successful Northside children’s language development programme. The Happy Talk programme was heralded a success recently when a report found that it achieved a major reduction in delayed language skills among young children in The Glen and Mayfield. To get the message out about Happy Talk’s success, top experts in early years education attended a special Forum at Dundanion House in Blackrock. The Forum was attended by childcare Lecturers, teachers and professionals from UCC, CIT, the College of Commerce, the City and County Childcare Managers, as well as Better Start Quality Mentors and Early Years Specialists from Pobal, all involved in Early Years Education and quality mentoring. Happy Talk Programme Coordinator Aoife O’Shea said: “The event is a chance for those involved in early years education to hear about Happy Talk, to talk about language development and how best we can improve training for early years professionals.” The Happy Talk programme was has found to have achieved measurable improvements of 15% in language skills among Junior Infant children in The Glen and Mayfield between 2011 and 2013. The programme since has been funded up to the summer of 2015, through the Tomar Trust, the HSE, Cork City Council and Cork City Partnership, but will need to secure further funding after that. Parents in Cork’s Northside area have called for Happy Talk to continue being delivered and also considered for other communities. Further InformationRonan Cavanagh: (086) 317 9731