Aistear & Síolta

Aistear

Aistear (pronounced ash-tar) is Ireland’s Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. Developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), it is used in preschools, childcare centres, and early years settings nationwide. Aistear is built around four themes: 1. Well-Being – Supporting children to feel safe, happy, healthy, and confident. 2. Identity & Belonging – Helping children feel valued, respected, and connected to their community. 3. Communicating – Encouraging language, expression, early literacy, and communication skills. 4. Exploring & Thinking – Promoting curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and understanding of the world.

Síolta

Síolta (pronounced shee-ul-ta) is Ireland’s National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, developed by the Department of Education.

While Aistear focuses on what and how children learn, Síolta focuses on quality—ensuring environments, relationships, practice, and management all support children’s well-being and development.

Síolta includes 16 Standards, such as:

  • Rights of the Child

  • Parents & Families

  • Interactions

  • Curriculum

  • Play

  • Environment

  • Health & Welfare

  • Professional Practice

  • Transitions

  • …and more.

    These standards guide early years settings in providing safe, inclusive, nurturing, and well-managed learning environments.

How Síolta and Aistear Work Together

Think of them like this:

  • Aistear = what children learn & how they learn

  • Síolta = the standards that ensure quality in how that learning is supported

Together, they underpin high-quality early childhood education in Ireland.

A family of seven walking up a dirt hill in a leafless forest during sunset, holding hands.