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Learn more For Early Childhood Education and Care

The European Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is a set of guiding principles developed by the European Union Directorate General for Education and Culture and published in 2014. It was created by the Working Group on Early Childhood Education and Care, which included representatives from 25 EU countries (including Ireland).
European Quality Framework
We’re excited to let you know that your digital edition of Childhood Times Issue - 5 is now available!

Thanks to your fantastic feedback on previous issues, this edition is packed with fresh updates, inspiring stories, and practical resources designed to support you and your team. Access it anytime, on any device, just click the ‘Read more’ button below. This is an exclusive membership benefit so you must be logged in to our website to read it.
Childhood Times, now available! Read more
This week we call on Irish policymakers to fully adopt and implement the European Quality Framework (EQF) to ensure all children have access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education and care. Policy makers must embrace the European Quality Framework
Read more
In this week’s Scéalta blog post, Máire Corbett from Early Childhood Ireland discusses the concept of the agentic educator, a principle of Aistear, 2024. She reflects on the reassurance and autonomy educators have in their support of children’s learning when we embrace this concept. Scéalta blog: An Agentic Educator Read more This week we share information on:

• How to book a practical assessment on our Learning Hub

• Upcoming Early Years HIVE Training - ‘Journey Through the Early Years Hive’

EYES Update 4 November 2025 Read more
We provide an overview of the influence of the European Quality Framework on the development of First 5 and Nurturing Skills. The influence of the EUQF on Irish policies Read more
National Pyjama Day 2024 Press Release

Member Services

Garda Vetting is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children 

The Early Years Employers Service (EYES) is a service dedicated to focusing on our member’s needs. Members get easy access to expert advice and guidance on all areas of operating

The Learning Hub is Early Childhood Ireland’s eLearning platform, which aims to empower and support our members and their educators to not only help meet regulatory requirements but also to build professional knowledge and skills among their staff.

View a range of employment opportunities in the early childhood care and education sector.

Become A Member

Join Early Childhood Ireland today and become part of the leading organisation in the sector working to ensure quality experiences for children in Early Years and School Age Care settings.

As an organisation, we are fully committed to supporting you to provide quality experiences for children. Our strategies are based on professional experience and on national and international research, policy and best practice. We combine the extensive knowledge and experiences of our membership with wider professional and academic pedagogical expertise. Your insight informs the services and support we offer and the public policy and investment changes that are necessary. 

As a member, you will also benefit from our extensive range of services and supports.

Member Services

Garda Vetting is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children 

The Early Years Employers Service (EYES) is a service dedicated to focusing on our member’s needs. Members get easy access to expert advice and guidance on all areas of operating

Early Childhood Ireland strives to inform, facilitate, inspire and empower our members to provide consistently high-quality early learning and care and school age childcare services for children and their families

View a range of employment opportunities in the early childhood care and education sector.

Become A Member

Join Early Childhood Ireland today and become part of the leading organisation in the sector working to ensure quality experiences for children in early learning and care and school age childcare settings.

As an organisation, we are fully committed to supporting you to provide quality experiences for children. Our strategies are based on professional experience and on national and international research, policy and best practice. We combine the extensive knowledge and experiences of our membership with wider professional and academic pedagogical expertise. Your insight informs the services and support we offer and the public policy and investment changes that are necessary. 

As a member, you will also benefit from our extensive range of services and supports.

Learning

SharingKnowledgeWeb2021-Stock

Early Childhood Ireland exchanges and shares knowledge actions and projects that link to our strategic plan that strives for every child.

Publications.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland produces a suite of publications in the areas of research and pedagogy unique to Ireland.

LearningPartnerships2021

Early Childhood Ireland works to develop partnerships at home and abroad through a range of initiatives and projects. 

Learning

sharing-knowledge.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland exchanges and shares knowledge actions and projects that link to our strategic plan that strives for every child.

Publications.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland produces a suite of publications in the areas of research and pedagogy unique to Ireland.

partnerships.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland works to develop partnerships at home and abroad through a range of initiatives and projects. 

eLearning.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland uses a variety of tools to share and deliver current thinking to the Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare sector. 

About Us

Early Childhood Ireland is the leading membership organisation in the Early Years and School Age Care sector, focused on our compelling vision of putting the child at the centre of our work. Early Childhood Ireland has a strong track record which spans over five decades and we are currently delivering on our Strategic Plan 2021 to 2026.

We currently have over 3,800 members, who support over 120,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool, and full day-care provision nationwide. Our work includes quality enhancement, communications and publications, advocacy, training, support and information for a sector that employs over 25,000 people

About Us

Early Childhood Ireland is the largest organisation in the early years sector. We represent 3,800 childcare members, who support over 100,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool, and full day-care provision nationwide. Our work includes quality enhancement, publications, advocacy, training, business support & information for a sector that employs 25,000 people today.

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Latest news

Policy makers must embrace the European Quality Framework

Policy makers must embrace the European Quality Framework

Ireland must uphold its commitment to children’s rights That ‘children have the right to affordable early childhood education and care…
The influence of the EQF on Irish policies

The influence of the EQF on Irish policies

The European Quality Framework provides key principles and a European approach to high-quality Early Years provision based on good practices…
“Not a single penny” of Building Blocks fund has been spent

“Not a single penny” of Building Blocks fund has been spent

Grant to improve capacity not spent “Not a single penny” of the Building Blocks grant has been spent, according to…

Latest news

Policy makers must embrace the European Quality Framework

Policy makers must embrace the European Quality Framework

Ireland must uphold its commitment to children’s rights That ‘children have the right to affordable early childhood education and care…
The influence of the EQF on Irish policies

The influence of the EQF on Irish policies

The European Quality Framework provides key principles and a European approach to high-quality Early Years provision based on good practices…
“Not a single penny” of Building Blocks fund has been spent

“Not a single penny” of Building Blocks fund has been spent

Grant to improve capacity not spent “Not a single penny” of the Building Blocks grant has been spent, according to…