Better Start Quality Development Service
is a national initiative established by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) to bring an integrated national approach to developing quality in Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings for children aged from birth to six years in Ireland. Better Start delivers State-funded supports, including

• professional mentoring and coaching,
• continuing professional development, and
• expert early learning and care advice,

based on the Síolta and Aistear Frameworks and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) principles, to Early Learning and Care services in a coherent and consistent way, so that those services are of high quality and deliver positive outcomes for children. It extends the wide-ranging choice of supports and services already provided through City and County Childcare Committees, Voluntary Childcare Organisations and other organisations.