evidence: The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has just launched ‘Shared Island – Early Childhood Education and Care in Ireland and Northern Ireland’. This report examines Early Childhood Care and Education (ECEC) policies in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It compares patterns of participation in ECEC among pre-school children in the two jurisdictions and draws on interviews with stakeholders to outline key developments and challenges. The report highlights important issues that are faced by both Ireland and Northern Ireland in providing a high quality, affordable and accessible ECEC system that addresses disadvantage. The report also explores areas in which Ireland and Northern Ireland can collaborate and learn to improve provision North and South. [...] In terms of ECEC policy on quality provision, the report notes several developments which have made a contribution to improvements in both jurisdictions. In Ireland there has been a new focus on higher qualifications for staff, outlined in the Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan. Both jurisdictions also feature professional and support and development initiatives, with the sector in Ireland receiving support from Better Start, while in Northern Ireland mentoring, leadership and practice support are provided by the Early Years organisation. However, challenges to quality provision in both remain namely through the terms and conditions of the workforce, and both jurisdictions feature high turnover and low remuneration. Issues in Ireland persist in qualification attainment, with more work needed to encourage existing staff to avail of continuous professional development. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland a ‘two-tier system’ of pay disparity remains, with highly qualified staff working in nurseries and low qualifications in private and voluntary provision.