AISTEAR INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework was first published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in 2009. Aistear was the first curriculum framework for early childhood education in Ireland. It celebrates early childhood as a time of being, a time for enjoying and learning from experiences as they unfold, and laying important foundations for later learning and for life. Because early childhood marks the beginning of babies, toddlers and young children’s lifelong learning journeys, the Framework is called Aistear, the Irish word for journey.
An update of the Framework was undertaken to recognise and reflect societal and policy changes that have taken place since the publication of the original Framework. The update was also undertaken to reflect the pace of educational research since the late 2000s and the new learning this gave rise to about how babies, toddlers and young children learn and develop and how educators can enrich and encourage this appropriately. It is envisaged that this updated Framework will continue to support and enrich babies, toddlers and young children’s learning and development. The updated Framework is supported by the Guidance for Good Practice. The Guidance builds on the original Guidelines for Good Practice (NCCA, 2009) and supports educators to understand and engage with new concepts introduced in the updated Framework.

The Framework can be used by anyone who supports babies, toddlers and young children’s learning and development. In Aistear those using the Framework, including parents, childminders and early years educators are referred to as ‘educators’. Each educator comes to Aistear informed by their relationship with the baby, toddler and young child, the family, their knowledge and experience, as well as knowing the features of the different learning environments.

Click here to view Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework & the Guidance for Good Practice: https://curriculumonline.ie/early-childhood/aistear-2024/

SÍOLTA INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education is designed to define, assess and support the improvement of quality across all aspects of practice in early childhood care and education (ECCE) settings where children aged birth to six years are present.

 For more information to go to www.síolta.ie

PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS

Parents and professionals working in partnership benefit children. The essence of partnership is respectful listening and sharing of information between parents and practitioners about children’s learning and development at home and at an early childhood care and education (ECCE) service. The partnership involves responsibility on both sides.

Please click here for more information on Partnership with Parents