Aistear, Siolta & the Practice Guide

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, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, was developed by the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills, published in 2006.

Síolta is comprised of three distinct but interrelated elements: Principles, Standards and Components of Quality. The 12 Principles provide the overall vision of the Framework, while the 16 Standards and 75 Components allow for the practical application of this vision across all aspects of ECCE practice. The Components of Quality are further explained by a set of Signposts for Reflection and ‘Think-abouts’ which are intended to support practitioners in early education settings to become aware of and critical of their practice.

Síolta 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.

Click here to view the Siolta User Manual

The Practice Guide draws Síolta and Aistear together in a practical way and offers suggestions, ideas and examples of how they can be used together to inform the learning and development of babies, toddlers and young children

 

Click here to view the Aistear Siolta Practice Guide

The National Síolta Aistear Initiative (NSAI) has been developed to provide central support and coordination of Síolta and Aistear implementation across the early childhood sector. The initiative has two strands. The first will focus on Síolta, including the introduction of Síolta awareness raising workshops and the expansion of the Síolta Quality Assurance Programme (QAP). The second strand relates to Aistear, and will see the development of workshops and coaching to support practitioners to use Aistear in their setting.

Carlow CCC under the NSAI offer the following support to Early years services in Carlow:

  • The Síolta Aistear Practice Guide Introductory Workshop
  • Síolta awareness raising workshops
  • Aistear Workshops
  • Aistear Síolta Mentor support
  • Síolta Quality Awareness Programme (QAP)

For more information on any of our upcoming NSAI trainings, please see the Training section of our Website or call us on 059-9140244.