Early Years Education Policy Unit

The Early Years Education Policy Unit in the Department of Education is co-located with the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY)to ensure that education policy developments in the early childhood sector are developed within an overall strategic policy framework for children.

The Early Years Education Policy unit supports the development and delivery of high quality educational provision in the early learning and care sector through the implementation of the two national practice frameworks, Síolta and Aistear and through the promotion of high quality initial education and training, CPD opportunities for practitioners and workforce development and professionalisation.

The Unit is responsible for:

• the implementation of Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Aistear, the Early Childhood Curricular Framework for Children from 0-6. This includes the development CPD for both frameworks via the National Síolta Aistear Initiative
• leading on promoting high quality initial education and training for Early Years Educators via the Qualifications Advisory Board
• supporting DCEDIY in the implementation of Nurturing Skills: Workforce Plan for the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare
• targeted early years interventions for children who experience disadvantage, including the Early Start Programme and the Rutland Street Project
• provision of policy advice and representation on national and international Early Learning and Care policy development initiatives