The early years

  • The early years

    NCB Parent Programme blog

    Monthly insights on the work underway in Northern Ireland to support positive infant mental health.

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  • The early years

    Strategies for facilitators

    Some suggested strategies to help programme facilitators deliver parent programme sessions more effectively.

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  • The early years

    Further resources

    Links to a range of organisations and activities that can provide further information and guidance to support parents.

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  • The early years — 24 Feb 2026

    Integration is key: Lessons from A Better Start

    Karla Capstick, the former director of Small Steps, Big Changes and now Director of Programme at Thrive at Five, and Sophie Woodhead, Assistant Director of Systems and Innovation at NCB and the former Assistant Director of LEAP, share their reflections on integration, offering insights from the A Better Start programme on how collaboration, governance, and long-term investment can help systems work effectively for families.

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  • The early years

    Parent programmes

    Find out more about a set of programmes for children, parents and teachers that are designed to improve children’s social, emotional and behavioural skills and school readiness.

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  • Policy — 10 Dec 2025

    NCB convenes second early years leaders summit

    Following the successful first summit in May, senior representatives from the early years sector reconvened to discuss turning the Best Start in Life policy ambitions into effective system-wide action.

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  • Research

    A Better Start: School readiness report

    Read the first of four new Insight Reports on early years and supporting better outcomes for young children, from across the five A Better Start partnerships.

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