Bridging sectarian divides at Queen's University Belfast

Helping to counter sectarian thinking through early years education

Researchers at the School of Education at Queen’s University Belfast have made a major contribution to early years education in Northern Ireland, and in particular to the way it has been used to counter sectarian thinking among young children.

A 2002 report from researchers at the University provided the first concrete evidence in Northern Ireland that the roots of sectarianism were laid down in the very early years. It resulted in the formation of a joint working group comprising Queen’s academics, practitioners and community relations activists.

The group developed a series of advertisements using cartoon characters designed to treat ‘difference’ in a positive way. This was reinforced by a curriculum package and special training for early years teachers.  Such was the success of the programme, that similar interventions have been implemented at all levels of early years education within Northern Ireland. New advertisements, dealing with bullying and the treatment of Irish Travellers, have been commissioned by the Childrens’ Commissioners for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and discussions are currently underway to develop appropriate materials for use in early years settings in Scotland.