Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 10 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 3

Written Answers - Early Childhood Education.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

169 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the significant benefits that can be derived in disadvantaged areas from a three year infant cycle as in St. Mary's national school, East Wall, Dublin 1, where it is possible to have a reception class covering free reading and language development which provides an essential groundwork for further learning; and if he will ensure these initiatives are strengthened where they are already established and extended to other schools where appropriate. [27119/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

There is no doubt that pupils benefit from an appropriately adapted and differentiated curriculum that matches their needs and abilities and builds on prior learning. The development of the pupils' language and the teaching of pre-reading skills are part of that differentiation and of the essential groundwork at the early stages of learning and a considerable part of the success of future teaching and learning will build on those foundations.

The primary school curriculum caters for the adaptation of teaching methods and lesson subject matter to pupils' abilities and levels of attainment. That differentiation is catered for up through the eight years of the primary school cycle and should imbue lesson content and teaching strategies at all class levels. That flexibility will continue to be catered for when the revised primary school curriculum is introduced and curricular documentation will include a discrete manual on the issue of differentiation. There are no plans, therefore, to extend the primary school cycle to nine years.

The strengthening of a differentiated delivery of the curriculum is part of the ongoing thrust of the in-career development of primary teachers and will receive a continuing emphasis through the dissemination of information on the revised curriculum.

The aims of the early start pre-school pilot project, which operates in 40 areas of disadvantage, reflect the issues raised by the Deputy and focus on the overall development of the children in the project centres and on the prevention of school failure. The evaluation report on the project is under consideration in the Department. It is expected that it will form a useful resource, together with the report on the forum on early childhood education, in work on the White Paper on early childhood education that has already commenced. The White Paper will address the questions of provision of and access to preschooling and the important matter of targeting any provision at those children who are most in need of the service.