The Aistear Síolta Practice Guide

The Compliance Guides for Service Providers are now available on the PIP Portal and the Hive.

They have been separated into two different guides as follows:
Compliance Guide for Service Providers for Saver Programmes (CCSP Savers programme including CCSU/CCSR and TEC Saver programmes)
Compliance Guide for Service Providers for ECCE Programme.
These two documents describe the standard compliance on-site visit process in relation to the CCSP/CCSU/CCSR and TEC Saver and ECCE programmes. Compliance checks are currently being conducted remotely, but as this is a temporary measure only, the guides reflect the on-site process. They will still however be useful for the current process as similar checks are being conducted. The guides also highlight key areas and programme rules that Service Providers should be aware of.
These Compliance Guides for Service Providers all include as Appendix 1 – the Compliance Checklist for Service Providers for the 2020/2021 cycle, to assist services in collating the relevant information to meet compliance requirements. In addition, Appendix 2 – Compliance Categorisations, includes the compliance categories assigned for each programme reviewed at a visit i.e. Compliant, Minor non-compliant, Moderate non-compliant and Major non-compliant. Further detail of the possible issues identified under each of the non-compliant categorisations per programme is also included in this Appendix.

The Practice Guide aims to support Early Years services to use Aistear and Síolta together, to develop a quality curriculum and to support children’s learning and development.

The Practice Guide consists of Curriculum Foundations and 6 Interconnected Pillars of Practice.

Curriculum Foundations are an important starting point when thinking about curriculum. Curriculum Foundations are rooted in the principles, values and attitudes that shape each practitioner’s work and that of the setting. The Foundations include the following four elements:

Element 1: Developing your Curriculum and Curriculum Statement

Element 2: Principles including Rights of the Child and Practitioner Image of the Child

Element 3: Themes in Aistear

Element 4: Professional Practice

The 6 Interconnected Pillars of Practice are

Each Pillar is presented in the same format and includes

The Practice Guide includes a range of resources, to help practitioners to critically reflect on their curriculum, and to identify what works well. Additionally, the resources can help practitioners to identify priorities for development and to plan actions for positive change. For further information visit www.aistearsiolta.ie