A new draft framework on quality in early childhood education which is designed as a professional support for early childhood care and education practitioners has been published by the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education (CECDE).
The framework, entitled Síolta, addresses a broad range of issues including the needs of the child, parental involvement, curriculum, professional practice and the importance of play.
Covering children up to six years of age the draft framework will be tested and evaluated in a range of practice settings to ensure that it can support the delivery of quality services for children.
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Children, Brian Lenihan said: "In the longer term, it will enable us to aspire towards the highest standards, based on best international practice while, at the same time, recognising the relatively early stage of development of our early childhood care and education services here in Ireland."
"For the first time in Ireland, Síolta provides a common set of quality standards across a diverse range of settings for children aged birth to six years, such as full day care, sessional services, childminding and the infant classes of primary schools," said CECDE director, Heino Schonfeld said.
"The experiences of children in their formative years have a profound influence on their lives; therefore quality of experience is very important. Síolta also reflects contemporary Ireland, recognising its cultural and linguistic heritage, but also social and demographic change."
The CECDE was established by the Department of Education and Science in 2002. It developed Síolta in collaboration with over 50 organisations representing the early childhood care and education sector in Ireland, including representatives of parents, teachers, child care professionals, policy makers and researchers.