Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework

Aistear Workshop

Roscommon County Childcare Committee have arranged a workshop for childcare practitioners on Aistear, the National Curriculum Framework. This workshop will cover the themes of Aistear, as well as sample learning outcomes, interactions, and working with parents. This practical workshop will be of benefit to childcare practitioners working with children from 0-6 years. It will take place on Wednesday, June 29th in Greenfields Childcare Centre, Lisnamult from 7-9p.m, and the subsidised cost is €10 per childcare service. To book a place in this workshop, please complete a booking form and send it to RCCC along with payment.

What is Aistear?

Aistear, the Irish word for journey, is the new curriculum framework for all children from birth to six years across all early childhood settings, the child's own home, and junior and senior classes in primary schools. It provides information, ideas and suggestions to help you support children's learning and development.

Contents of Aistear

The two main parts of Aistear are the Principles and Themes, and the Guidelines for Good Practice. Other elements include: The User Guide and Key Messages from research papers.

Principles of Aistear

Aistear is based on 12 principles of early learning and development. These are presented in 3 groups:

Children and their lives in early childhood:
- the child's uniqueness
- equality and diversity
- children as citizens
Children's connections with others:

relationships
parents, family and community
the adult's role

How children learn and develop:
- holistic learning and development
- active learning
- relevant and meaningful experiences
- communication and language
- the learning environment.

Aistear's themes

Aistear presents children's learning and development using four themes. They are:

The themes describe what children learn - the dispositions, attitudes and values, skills, knowledge, and understanding. Each theme has four aims, and each aim has six learning goals.

Aistear supports many other developments including:

Aistear Leaflets

The following leaflets provide useful information to parents, childcare providers, childminders and infant class teachers. To read more, please click on the links below:

How was Aistear developed?

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) developed Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework in partnership with the early childhood sector: practitioners, children, parents, people in education and training, researchers, and policy makers.

Where to find more information:

Click here to read more about Aistear, or to listen to audios relating to Aistear, or if you would simply like to learn more about The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

You also may be interested o read about the similarities and differences between Síolta and Aistear.

Can I purchase copies of Aistear?

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is pleased to announce that print copies of Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. English and Irish copies are available through Government Publications from mid-January 2011 at a cost of €5.00 per copy.

Contact details for Government Publications are as follows -Telephone: 01 647 6834/37 or 1890 213434

Email: pubsales@opw.ie Website: http:www.opw.ie

This second print run of Aistear has been organised by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and the Early Years Education Policy Unit (OMCYA and DES).

Disseminating Irish copies of Aistear to settings in the ECCE Scheme

In 2010, one English copy of Aistear was made available through the City and County Childcare Committees to each setting in the ECCE Scheme. Through the current second print run of Aistear, one Irish copy will be available to each Irish-medium setting participating in the Pre-school Initiative. The NCCA will send these copies to Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta and to Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta in January.