With so much talk about Ireland’s early years strategy and the drive towards quality, accessible and affordable childcare, this seminar is aimed at local early childhood care and education services interested in the quality journey towards Síolta accreditation for early childhood care and education services. Places are still available from www.earlychildhoodireland.ie at a cost of €10 for Early Childhood Ireland members and €15 for non members. The event includes Dr. Maresa Duignan from the Department of Education and Dr. Carmel Brennan from Early Childhood Ireland as keynote speakers.
The 40 plus attendees will see the preschool curriculum in motion and the colourful journey of 4 local services who participated on the Síolta Quality Assurance Programme over the last 3 years and who were all mentored by Early Childhood Ireland namely:
Kilmaine Scribbles Playgroup – Collette McNicholas –Kilmaine
Curious Minds Preschool – Marie Reddington and Ann Halligan – Castlebar
Sharkeyhill Community Preschool – Ann Caine & Gill Gannon – Westport
Benbulben Creche Ltd – Maureen Walsh (Owner) Sylvia Gursinski and Bernadette Flannery – Summerhill, Sligo Town
All 4 services, who have been validated as Síolta Quality Assured services by the Early Years Policy Unit of the Department of Education, will take centre stage on the day and share their colourful stories.
The local services showcased are 4 of only 106 services nationally to have achieved Síolta validation to date. Síolta has 2 main purposes – firstly to guide the development of early childhood education settings in Ireland and secondly to provide an assessment tool for all settings serving children in the birth to 6 age group.
