Aistear is the curriculum framework for children from birth to six years in Ireland. It provides information for adults to help them plan for and provide enjoyable and challenging learning experiences, so that all children can grow and develop as competent and confident learners within loving relationships with others.

Aistear describes the types of learning that are important for children in their early years, and offers ideas and suggestions as to how this learning might be nurtured. The Framework also provides guidelines on supporting children’s learning through partnerships with parents, interactions, play, and assessment. 

In supporting children’s early learning and development Aistear

• identifies what and how children should learn, and describes the types of experiences that can support this
• makes connections in children’s learning throughout the early childhood years and as they move from one setting to another
• supports parents as their children’s primary educators during early childhood, and promotes effective partnerships between parents and practitioners
• complements and extends existing curriculums and materials
• informs practice across a range of settings, disciplines and professions, and encourages interdisciplinary work.

Aistear is based on 12 principles of early learning and development. These are presented in three groups:

The first group concerns children and their lives in early childhood:

• the child’s uniqueness
• equality & diversity
• children as citizens

The second group concerns children’s connections with others:

• relationships
• parents, family and the community
• the adult’s role

The third group concerns how children learn and develop:

• holisitic learning and development
• active learning
• play and hands on experiences
• relevant and meaningful experiences
• communication and language
• the learning environment

Aistear presents children’s learning and development using four themes. These are:

• Well-being
• Identity and Belonging
• Communicating
• Exploring and Thinking

These themes describe what children learn—the dispositions, attitudes and values, skills, knowledge, and understanding. Each theme begins with a short overview of its importance for children as young learners. The theme is then presented using four aims. Each aim is divided into six learning goals. (See Figure 1.) Some of these goals may be more suited to children as they get older.

Figure 1: Describing children’s learning and development through themes:

Each theme offers some ideas and suggestions for the types of learning experiences that adults might provide for children in working towards Aistear’s aims and goals. These ideas and suggestions are known as sample learning opportunities and are presented in three overlapping age groups:

• Babies: Birth to 18 months
• Toddlers: 12 months to 3 years
• Young Children: 2 and a half to 6 years

For more detailed information on the Aistear framework click here