An updated version of Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework has been prepared by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and was published this week. You can access the framework here, the guidance document here and the FAQ document here.
The website is available in English and Irish.
Updates include:
- Aistear retains the similar structure of the original Framework.
- The Principles of early learning and development have been reduced from 12 to nine.
- The Themes of Wellbeing, Identity and Belonging, Communicating and Exploring and Thinking have been retained and updated.
- The number of Learning Goals within each Aim of the Themes has been reduced. They remain broad, but observable statements that support babies, toddlers and young children’s learning and development.
- Those using the Framework, including parents, childminders and early years educators are referred to as ‘educators’.
- There is an acknowledgement of Irish cultural and linguistic history and story. Irish words, phrases and proverbs have been embedded throughout the Framework.