Publication

Insights – Learning through child-initiated/child-led play

From Department of Education

Published on 14 April 2022

Last updated on 29 April 2024

Introduction to Learning through child-initiated/child-led play
Information for parents
Information for early years educators
Information for primary school teachers

Introduction to Learning through child-initiated/child-led play

Further information and resources – list of websites:

DCEDIY & Early Childhood Ireland - Let’s Play Ireland - https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/lets-play-ireland/
Department of Education – A Guide to Early Years Education Inspection - https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/68fac2-guide-to-early-years-education-inspections/ and reports https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Inspection-Reports-Publications/Evaluation-Reports-Guidelines/guide-to-early-years-education-inspections.pdf
Department of Education – Looking at Our School 2016 A Quality Framework for Primary Schools - http://schoolself-evaluation.ie/primary/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/08/Looking-at-Our-School-2016-A-Quality-Framework-for-Primary-Schools_English_WEB.pdf
Department of Education – Help My Kid Learn - http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie/
Department of Education and Skills – Síolta User Manual (2017) - The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education - https://siolta.ie/media/pdfs/siolta-manual-2017.pdf
First5 - https://first5.gov.ie/
HSE - Your child learning through play - https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/child-health/your-child-learning-through-play/learning-through-play.html
NCCA – Aistear the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework - https://curriculumonline.ie/Early-Childhood/
NCCA – AistearSíolta Practice Guide – learning through play - https://www.aistearsiolta.ie/en/play/
NCCA - Primary School Curriculum - https://curriculumonline.ie/Primary/

Information for parents

Further information and resources – list of websites:

DCEDIY & Early Childhood Ireland - Let’s Play Ireland - https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/lets-play-ireland/
Department of Education – Help My Kid Learn - http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie/
First5 - https://first5.gov.ie/
HSE - Your child learning through play - https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/child-health/your-child-learning-through-play/learning-through-play.html

Information for early years educators

Further information and resources – list of websites:

Department of Education – A Guide to Early Years Education Inspection - https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/68fac2-guide-to-early-years-education-inspections/ and reports https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Inspection-Reports-Publications/Evaluation-Reports-Guidelines/guide-to-early-years-education-inspections.pdf
Department of Education and Skills – Síolta User Manual (2017) - The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education - https://siolta.ie/media/pdfs/siolta-manual-2017.pdf
First5 – Resources for practitioners - https://first5.gov.ie/practitioners
NCCA – Aistear the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework - https://curriculumonline.ie/Early-Childhood/
NCCA – AistearSíolta Practice Guide – learning through play - https://www.aistearsiolta.ie/en/play/
NCCA – Mo Scéal templates - https://ncca.ie/en/early-childhood/mo-sc%C3%A9al/

Information for primary school teachers

Further information and resources – list of websites:

Department of Education – A Guide to Early Years Education Inspection - https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/68fac2-guide-to-early-years-education-inspections/ and reports https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Inspection-Reports-Publications/Evaluation-Reports-Guidelines/guide-to-early-years-education-inspections.pdf
Department of Education – Looking at Our School 2016 A Quality Framework for Primary Schools - http://schoolself-evaluation.ie/primary/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/08/Looking-at-Our-School-2016-A-Quality-Framework-for-Primary-Schools_English_WEB.pdf
Department of Education and Skills – Síolta User Manual (2017) - The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education - https://siolta.ie/media/pdfs/siolta-manual-2017.pdf
First5 – Resources for practitioners - https://first5.gov.ie/practitioners
NCCA – Aistear the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework - https://curriculumonline.ie/Early-Childhood/
NCCA - Primary School Curriculum - https://curriculumonline.ie/Primary/

Help us improve our site

Do not include any personal details in the box below.
The information you submit will be analysed to improve the site and will not be responded to individually.

Was this page useful

Yes

No

Describe your experience on our site*

Maximum characters: 0 of 400