Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:366. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the full cost of implementing the roll-out of the Síolta and Aistear programmes for the year 2017. [12061/16]
View answerWednesday, 25 May 2016
Questions (366)
Written answers
Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, was developed by the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education (CECDE) in partnership with the early childhood sector and on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. It was published in 2006. Síolta is designed to define, assess and support the improvement of quality across all aspects of practice in early years settings where children aged birth to six years are present. Since December 2008, the Early Years Education Policy Unit, in the Department of Education and Skills, has been responsible for the implementation of Síolta.
Aistear, the Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Education, was developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in partnership with the early childhood sector and on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. It was published in 2009. Aistear is designed for early years settings to help them plan for and provide challenging and enjoyable learning experiences that can enable all children to grow and develop as competent and confident learners in the context of loving relationships with others. Aistear describes the types of learning and development that are important for children in their early years, and offers ideas and suggestions on how these might be nurtured. Since 2009, the NCCA has been responsible for the implementation of Aistear.
Adherence to the Síolta and Aistear frameworks is now set out as an obligation for early years settings in contract with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to deliver the funded childcare programmes. This Department is currently building capacity within the sector on the development and implementation of these frameworks, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Skills and the NCCA. €500,000 has been allocated by Government for quality improvement in the sector, including a new Síolta/Aistear initiative, which is being jointly progressed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills. Consideration is being given by both Departments as to how best to progress the roll-out of these frameworks and the costs that would be involved in so doing.