What is Síolta?
Síolta is the National Quality Framework for the Early Years in Ireland.
The framework is designed to provide guidance and support for all those concerned with the well being, learning and development of our youngest children.
It outlines 16 standards early childhood settings should meet when providing a quality service. Any service for children from birth to six years (including but not limited to child-minders, pre-school services, full day care and junior and senior infant classes in Junior National Schools) can use Síolta to improve their service for children and parents. Síolta defines quality practice so early years professionals can use it to compare and assess their practice, and make improvements.
Since the publication of Síolta in 2006, many early childhood settings and individual practitioners have engaged informally with the Framework, using it to give them ideas, reflect on their practice and change their approach to better meet the needs of the young children in their care. This informal engagement has been supported by the dissemination of Síolta documentation and a large number of Síolta information workshops across the country. To search for upcoming workshops in your area see www.siolta.ie
As Síolta is primarily concerned with improving the quality of early childhood experiences for all children, since 2008 services have had the option of going through a formal quality assurance process. For more information on the structured implementation of Síolta see the ‘formal quality assurance process’.
Síolta is the Irish word for seeds and was chosen for what it says about the potential of childhood and of the Síolta framework to grow and succeed.
Síolta is not...
Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education can be used by in any setting for children from birth to six years including but not limited to: child-minders, pre-school services, full day care and junior and senior infant classes in Junior National Schools.
The framework defines 16 broad standards considered important in early years settings. Síolta defines quality practice so early years professionals can use it to give them new ideas, reflect on their practice and change their approach to better meet the needs of the young children in their care.
• Síolta is not a new curriculum.
It was designed to help individuals and settings to review their curriculum, its outcomes, learning goals and methodology in the interest of young children. However those interested in developing the learning experiences for children in their care can also use Aistear to help work out their curriculum. For further details on Aistear see www.ncca.ie/earlylearning
• Síolta is not an inspection system.
The Síolta Quality Assurance Process (QAP) is a supportive, reflective tool to help individuals and settings to identify areas of strength in their work. It is strengths based and encourages strategic planning to change areas that need improvement. The QAP does allow services to apply for Síolta validation from the Early Years Education Policy Unit.
• Síolta is not a check
Síolta is not a ‘to do’ list. As quality is context specific, settings and individuals must be allowed to tailor their settings to the needs of their children. What may work in one setting may not work in another. Therefore Síolta outlines broad criteria where services can place their practice rather than insisting on a ‘one size fits all’ programme.
Síolta and Aistear
The CECDE launched Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education in 2006 and prior to its closure in 2008 concentrated on disseminating Síolta and raising awareness amongst the sector. Under the education act (1998) the NCCA advises the minister for Education on service and matters relating to curriculum for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools. The NCCA published Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework online in October 2009 at www.ncca.ie/earlylearning
Both frameworks are important milestones in the development of early childhood care and education in Ireland and both play a role in helping practitioners improve the quality of children’s early experiences. However the two frameworks have different aims and purposes as outlined below
Each framework has a clear and specific purpose. Síolta focuses on all the facets of quality with early years settings including: rights of the child, environments, parents and families, consultation, interactions, play, curriculum, planning and evaluation, health and welfare, organisation, professional practice, communication, transitions, identity and belonging, legislation and regulation and community involvement.
Aistear meanwhile focuses on the type of curriculum used in early years services and is designed to help adults provide appropriately challenging, positive and enjoyable learning experiences for children from birth to six years.
In fulfilling these purposes, each framework plays a role in promoting and enhancing quality provision on a national level. In this way the frameworks complement and support each other.