Brendan Smith
Question:210 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy on the early childhood care and education programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11015/12]
View answerTuesday, 28 February 2012
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Written answers
With the implementation of universal pre-school provision, 94% of children are availing of a pre-school year in the year prior to enrolling in the primary school system. As well as quality improvement in early years settings, my Department's policy is to ensure that there is a continuum of learning from pre-school through to the primary school system. With this in mind, my Department funded the development of Aistear through the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Aistear is a curriculum framework for children aged 0-6 and can be used by parents as well as by early years practitioners and by teachers in junior and senior infant classrooms. Aistear has advanced considerably the thinking underpinning the infant stages of the Primary School Curriculum which is now being reviewed to reflect the approach to teaching and learning that is appropriate for young children from three to six years.
To evaluate how children are experiencing a continuum of learning from pre-school to the junior infant classroom, my Department's Inspectorate will, in 2012, be carrying out joint inspections with the HSE's pre-school inspectorate.