National Síolta Aistear Initiative

The National Síolta Aistear Initiative (NSAI) was established in 2016 to support the coordinated roll-out of Síolta and Aistear, the national quality and curriculum frameworks for the early learning and care sector.

The initiative is delivered through an interagency approach comprising of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the Department of Education (DE), Better Start National Early Years Quality Development, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and National Voluntary Childcare Organisations (NVCOs).

Two national Development Officers support the work of the initiative, the Síolta Development Officer and the Aistear Development Officer. A resource development group is responsible for developing CPD materials to support implementation of Síolta and Aistear.

Support organisations Better Start, CCCs and NVCOs provide a range of CPD, training and mentoring supports to Early Learning and Care settings to support the implementation of Síolta and Aistear. These supports include access to introductory and awareness workshops to support familiarity with and understanding of the national Frameworks, which are delivered through CCCs. NSAI also provides Aistear and Play CPD programme which comprises of five individual workshops and two onsite support sessions, which is delivered by Better Start Quality Development Early Years Specialists. For more information on Aistear and Play please email nsai@betterstart.ie.

If you have any queries or would like further information on the NSAI please contact qualitydevelopment@equality.gov.ie.