INTO/ECI Joint Seminar – Transitions Across Early Years Education

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) held a joint seminar today on ‘Transitions across early years education – from pre-school to primary.’

The event was chaired by INTO President, Joe Killeen and speakers included Chief Inspector, Dr Harold Hislop, and Emer Smyth from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

The event was an opportunity to bring local infant and early start teachers together with representatives from the pre-school and policy sector to explore key opportunities and challenges in transitions across early years education.

In round table groups, delegates discussed how the current redevelopment of the primary school curriculum could be used as an opportunity to ensure better alignment in the curriculum across pre-school and primary education. They also shared their own examples of pre-schools and primary schools engaging in good practice around transitions.

Dr Harold Hislop and Emer Smyth were joined on the responding panel by Arlene Forster, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and Bernie McNally, Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Catherine Byrne, former Deputy General Secretary of INTO and Current board member of Early Childhood Ireland, provided the closing remarks.