Curriculum

1
Curriculum
2
Workshop Format

• Introduction to the Centre for Early Childhood
  Development Education (CECDE)
• Overview of Síolta
• Workshop Demonstration
• Introduction to group work
• Small group discussion
• Feedback
• Supporting research
• What Síolta can do
• Resources
• Conclusion

3
The CECDE

• Established by Department of Education and
  Science in 2002
• To coordinate and develop early childhood
  education services
• Development of Síolta
• Research
• Policy advice to Minister for Education and
  Science and Office of the Minister for Children

4
What is Síolta?

• Quality Assurance Scheme
• Children from birth 6 years
• Reflects and recognises Irish practice
• Defining, Supporting and Assessing
• Mediated for ages/settings
• Developmental tool
• Makes a difference in childrens lives

5
Defining Quality

• Principles
• Standards
• Components
• Signposts for Reflection
• Think-abouts

6
Standard 7 Curriculum

• Encouraging each childs holistic
• development and learning requires the
• implementation of a verifiable, broad-based,
• documented and flexible curriculum or
• programme.

7
Sample Discussion Points

• My colleagues and I have the same understanding
  of holistic learning and development
• I am familiar with the curriculum being used in
  my setting
• I use the daily routine to put the curriculum
  into practice
• I observe each child regularly to assess her/his
  learning needs

8
Groupwork

• Your group number is at the top of your page
• Instructions
• Feedback sheet (one per group)
• 20/25 minute discussion
• 3 point action plan
• Next Monday morning
• Dare to be different but practical!
• Mediate for different age groups in your setting

9
Supporting Research

• Siraj-Blatchford (1998) highlights the defining
  features of an effective curriculum as
• Its focus on learning
• Its relevance, breadth and balance of knowledge,
  concepts and skills
• Planning for individual childrens abilities
• Assessment
• A developmental approach to learning, building on
  prior knowledge and interests
• (Siraj-Blatchford,1998)

10
Supporting Research (2)

• Effective pedagogy is characterised by
• The quality of adult-child verbal interactions
  through sustained shared thinking
• Staff knowledge and understanding of the
  curriculum
• Knowledge of how young children learn which is
  mainly through play
• Adults skill in supporting children in resolving
  conflicts
• Helping parents to support childrens learning in
  the home
• Skilled diagnostic assessment of childrens
  learning and consequent strategic planning for a
  wide range of curriculum experiences
• (CECDE, 2007)

11
What Síolta can do

• Promote quality childcare
• Defines what quality is
• Unifying Framework for all quality initiatives
• Tool for practical activities

12
What Síolta can do (2)

• Promote the status of the early years sector
• Raises awareness of the critical importance of
  quality early childhood provision
• Highlights the valuable role of the early years
  practitioner
• Informs the development of education and training
  courses
• Enhances our status internationally

13
Síolta Current Resources

• Website
• All materials
• Supporting research documentation
• Resource information (e.g. web links, contact
  details)
• Feedback opportunity

14
Síolta Current Resources (2)

• Workshops and presentations
• Research Digests
• Síolta A Guide for Parents
• Audit of Research in ECCE in Ireland database
• Library resources
• Newsletters
• E-mail Early.Childhood_at_spd.dcu.ie

15
Go raibh míle maith agaibh

www.siolta.ie
www.cecde.ie