Early Childhood Ireland has developed and piloted an Online Síolta Awareness Programme in consultation with the Early Years Education Policy Unit (EYEPU).
The aim of this programme is to introduce participants to the principles, standards and processes of Siolta so that they become familiar with the framework and are informed, ready and able to engage with the Formal Siolta QAP, when the opportunity arises.
This programme is delivered through our elearning site and is available to members free of charge.
Informal Síolta on our E-Learning Site
Early Childhood Ireland has developed an Informal Síolta programme, which is currently being delivered online through our elearning site.
This is an interactive programme supported with photographs and examples from everyday practice in services around Ireland.
Feedback and responses to this programme have been very positive, for example:
“When it is put in front of you in such a clear and concise manner, it breaks it down in a very understandable sensible way. It most definitely allows you to link it easier with what you are actually doing in practice.”
Bernie Farrell, Member
If you are having difficulty accessing Online Siolta please read our Accessing Online Siolta leaflet.
Differences in Síolta Programmes
It is important to understand that there are two kinds of Síolta programmes:
- The Formal Síolta Quality Assurance Programmewhich is delivered through our Siolta Coordinators and prepares participating services for Síolta Accreditation (QAP)
- The Online Informal Síolta Programme which is delivered through workshops and our Online Siolta and aims to raise awareness of the Síolta Standards and the Síolta approach to quality improvement.
The aim of the second kind of programme (Online Informal Síolta) is to inform early childhood practitioners and to demonstrate the ways in which reflective practice works to improve the quality of early childhood services.
It is this programme that prepares services for participating in the Formal Programme in the future.
