ABSTRACT
This chapter describes John Bennett's involvement in Start Strong. It provides the backdrop to Start Strong's formation and outlining Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) policy in Ireland before 2009, as assessed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports in which John was involved. During Start Strong's early years as an organisation, John's ideas and advice did much to shape the organisation's policy vision, and he continued to give valuable advice right up until near his death. The chapter points to aspects of John's vision, and the links with the vision that Start Strong put forward. It summarises Start Strong's activities from 2009 to 2016, and analyse ECEC developments during those years, arguing that more change has been promised than delivered, but that there is an emerging consensus around the direction of policy reform. The chapter considers the factors shaping ECEC policy in Ireland.
