Updated Aistear for the Early Learning and Care Sector – March 2025
Updated Aistear for the Early Learning and Care Sector – March 2025
We are currently in a period of dissemination and developing familiarity and understanding of the updated Aistear curriculum framework. A series of information briefings and professional
development activities will be held during 2025, including a national conference on 24th May, 2025. In addition, the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide and other relevant resources will be updated over the coming months to reflect the updates in Aistear. It is important to stress that all you know about the original Framework remains relevant in the update. Resources and supports will be provided in the lead-up to September 2025 and beyond, ensuring that early years educators have the resources they need for sustained professional development to implement the updated Framework.
Key dates and resources for early years educators:
• Updated Framework and further information
You can access the updated Framework and further information here.
o Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework
o Aistear – Guidance for Good Practice
o Frequently asked questions about Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework
• NCCA Resources and Supports
o Videos: There are two introductory videos available on the NCCA website. One provides a walkthrough of the Aistear curriculum framework, and the other offers an overview of the Principles of Aistear. These videos serve as key starting point for early years educators looking to familiarise themselves with the updated Framework. These can be accessed here
o Bi-weekly Blogs: NCCA are currently publishing a series of bi-weekly blogs on their website. These blogs delve into the new concepts and updates in the updated Aistear curriculum framework, providing valuable insights for educators. These blogs are shared widely on social media to ensure broad access and can be found here.
o Research Papers: NCCA recently published a paper on ‘Aistear as a Rights-based Early Childhood Curriculum Framework’ and a series of research papers will be published in May 2025 exploring concepts including rights and agency for babies, toddlers and young children, an emergent and inquiry-based curriculum, and sustainability in early childhood education.
• Family and Child Guides
o Family Guide to Aistear: An easy-to-read guide to understanding Aistear for families will be available online in March. This guide will offer families insight into how their baby, toddler or young child’s learning and development is supported by Aistear.
o Child’s Guide: Child-friendly versions exploring important concepts of the Aistear curriculum framework will be released online later in the year, designed to help babies, toddlers and young children understand the Framework in an engaging, child centred way.
• Hard copy dissemination of Aistear
Beginning in March, DCEDIY, in partnership with CCCs, will distribute hard copies of the updated Aistear to early learning and care settings across the country. This ensures that all
early years educators will have the updated curriculum framework in their hands for practical reference and implementation.
• Information sessions for early years educators
o NCCA in partnership with CCCs will deliver an online nationwide webinar on the updates to Aistear on March 18th at 7pm. You can register here.
o CCCs (City/County Childcare Committees) will offer online and in-person information sessions from the beginning of May to share the updates to the Aistear curriculum
framework. Early years educators are encouraged to get in touch with their local CCC for information on session schedules and registration details.
o Local Communities of Professional Practice will also play a key role in supporting early years educators’ engagement with the updated Aistear curriculum framework. For more details, educators should reach out to their local CCC.
o Support Organisations (Barnardos, Better Start, Blathú, Childminding Ireland, Early Childhood Ireland, Gaeloideachas, National Childhood Network and St. Nicholas Montessori Society) will offer a variety of thematic webinars, blogs etc.
• Updated Aistear Síolta Practice Guide
The Aistear Síolta Practice Guide is being updated to reflect the latest updates to the Aistear curriculum framework. This updated version will be available to early years educators in May.
• NSAI eLearning
The NSAI eLearning module, An introduction to Aistear, Síolta and the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide will be updated to align with the revised Aistear curriculum framework. These updated
modules will be available for educators to access in May, providing an excellent opportunity for ongoing professional development.
• National Conference – May 24th 2025
A national conference will take place on Saturday, May 24th in Dublin. The conference will focus on bringing together early years educators, academics, students, and support organisations to explore the updates, new concepts, and key messages within the updated Aistear. The aim of the conference is to inform and inspire educators to consider how the updated Framework can be reflected in daily practice. Registration information will be circulated shortly.
• Updated support documents from key stakeholders
As part of the dissemination Better Start, the Department of Education Inspectorate, and Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate are updating their support documents to align with the updated Aistear curriculum framework.
• Engagement with higher and further education institutions
NCCA are hosting a series of nationwide information sessions for higher and further education institutions on the updated Framework to support their integration into level 5-8 initial professional education programmes.
• Ongoing supports
The activities being undertaken in 2025 to disseminate the Aistear curriculum framework are part of a long-term process supporting services to use Aistear. Further resources and
supports will be provided to the sector in the lead-up to September 2025 and beyond, ensuring that early years educators have the resources they need for sustained professional
development to support their practice.
If you have any questions about the updated curriculum framework, please contact your local City and County Childcare Committee. Contact details are available here.
Over the coming months we hope you enjoy becoming familiar with and using the updated Aistear framework.