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A core aspect of the work of Early Childhood Ireland over the past number of years has been Childminding. We led the Erasmus programme, Qual FDC in 2023, a European based project which focused on quality in family day care (as Childminding is often referred to). In 2024 we conducted a literature review, with Stranmillis College in Belfast, into the existing research on Childminding and regular listeners may have heard a previous episode discussing that piece of work, linked below.  In 2025, we conducted two more research projects, funded by the DCDE, into aspects of childminding and that is what we are going to hear about today. To tell us about the policy context methodologies and findings we were joined by Frances Byrne, Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland and by Liz Kerrins, Research Director, at Early Childhood Ireland. 

Podcast episode: Childminding: Exploring the research literature, with Dr Suzanne McCartney and Liz Kerrins 

Scéalta blog: Childminding in Denmark  

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Our guest today is Dr. Colette Murray, from Technical University, Dublin who was an advisor on the From Rhetoric to Reality research Early Childhood Ireland conducted in 2025. In this research we wanted to investigate the inclusiveness of Irish ECE settings for members of the Traveller community, focusing on young Traveller children’s perspectives and experiences of inclusion in their preschools. Colette speaks about the importance of this work and how support is needed at systemic and setting level to ensure that all children feel a sense of belonging in their Early Years setting. You can find the report here 

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In this episode we are going to look at one of the really significant benefits of the group insurance scheme available to Early Childhood Ireland members, through Arachas Insurance. To explain the benefits available through the group insurance scheme we are really pleased to be joined by Brendan Little and Paula Walshe from ARAG, who work with Arachas to provide a range of Legal, HR and Counselling supports. Arachas policyholders, on the Group Scheme, can contact the services outlined by phoning  01-6707470

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In this episode we are joined by Superintendent Niall Featherstone and Inspector Marisa Costello, from the Garda National Vetting Bureau to discuss the legislative basis for Garda Vetting, the importance of correct validation of identity and some misconceptions that can arise.   

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National Pyjama Day, brought to you by Early Childhood Ireland is a favourite day on the calendar for children and educators all over the country. This year marks the 22nd National Pyjama Day and funds raised will support LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's hospice and will continue to support the Early Childhood Ireland member projects Eco- Emotions. For this special episode of the podcast we are joined by Rebecca Candon, Family Support Team Manager at LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice and by Lorraine Diggins, Early Childhood Specialist at Early Childhood Ireland and project lead on the Eco-Emotions project. 

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Aistear (2024) includes, as a Principle, the concept of the Agentic Educator. In this episode, Grainne McKenna, from Dublin City University outlines her thoughts on this concept and explores links to the 'Self-Efficacy' theories of Albert Bandura. She also mentioned the literature review commissioned by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment as part of the process of updating Aistear, which you can find here.  

Grainne also refers to a journal article called Turn-over and Retention Among Head-Start Educators (Vicente et al 2025) and that is linked here. 

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In this episode we return to the topic of children's rights, participation and safeguarding. We were delighted to be joined by Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children's Rights Alliance. We discuss the areas in which Ireland is performing well in relation to children's rights and the areas in which improvements are needed.

We touch on how slow relational pedagogy as outlined in Aistear 2024 plays a key role in educators being able to hear the many ways in which children express themselves. Finally, Tanya shares the three key areas where significant progress needs to be made to ensure that all children in Ireland have their rights respected.

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In this episode we discuss a recent CPD programme we developed in Early Childhood Ireland with a group of educators, called Enhancing Leadership Practices. Dr Christina Egan Marnell outlines the background to and development of the programme.  Siobhán Barrett, from Cahir Bears Community Creche in Cahir, Co Tipperary, was one of the participants in the programme. We chat to her about what pedagogical leadership means to her, her experience on the programme and about how she is supporting her colleagues to see themselves as leaders in their role. 

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In light of the Updated Aistear in 2024, the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide has also been updated to reflect the changes made to the Aistear Framework. In this episode of Early Childhood Ireland's podcast, Lorraine Farrell from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment takes us through key changes and discusses how the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide can be used by educators to support reflection and develop practice. The Aistear Síolta Practice Guide can be found on the Nurturing Skills website. 

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Early Childhood Ireland is calling on the Government to announce on Budget Day a date for bringing Early Years and School Age Care graduates within public sector pay and conditions, in line with teachers. In this episode, Frances Byrne, Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland takes us through the rationale for this ask in our Budget 2026 submission.