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Press Release: Pilot project on multilingualism underway in two Tallaght pre-school settings

Press Release: Pilot project on multilingualism underway in two Tallaght pre-school settings

 

Initiative led by Early Childhood Ireland and Mother Tongues, with funding from the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal

Dublin, 19 April 2023: Early Childhood Ireland is currently in the process of conducting a pilot project about language development in two pre-school settings in Tallaght.

The ‘Our World of Languages’ Project (OWL) is an arts-based storytelling approach to celebrating multilingualism. It was developed in partnership with Mother Tongues using a €70,000 grant from the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal which was facilitated by the Community Foundation for Ireland.

The two settings taking part in the Project OWL pilot are Loreto Playgroup in Springfield and Stepping Stones Creche and Montessori school in Citywest.

What is Project OWL?

Engaging a total of 80 children across both settings, Project OWL is based around specially-designed puppet theatres, which promote the use of young children’s family languages. The aim is to encourage children, parents/guardians and Early Years educators to work together both at home and in the preschool setting to help foster social inclusion.

How does Project OWL work?

A total of three workshops are held at each setting, attended by children, parents/guardians, Early Years educators and specialists from both Early Childhood Ireland and Mother Tongues. Through the playful use of a specially-designed Project OWL puppet theatre, children are introduced to a range of different languages and encouraged to use their home tongue more.

  • In Workshop 1 (All About Me), the OWL Project’s artist Fernanda Ferrari introduces the puppet theatre and encourages the children to create their own personal puppets while using their home language.
  • In Workshop 2 (All About Family), Fernanda gives each child a mini puppet theatre to bring home so that the multilingual play will continue in the family set up even after children have left their setting.
  • In Workshop 3 (All about Us), children learn more about the different languages their friend’s families speak and the places they visit in the local community. In a large group, children create this community using cardboard boxes and drawings representing their community’s homes, shops, and key places.

What is next for Project OWL?

All three workshops have now been completed and in the coming weeks, researchers from Maynooth University will review and evaluate the research data gathered during the process. The aim is to use the learnings from the OWL pilot project to develop a toolkit which can be rolled out nationwide so that children in Early Years settings all across Ireland will benefit from this arts-based storytelling approach to multilingualism.

Commenting on the OWL pilot project, Liz Kerrins, Director of Research at Early Childhood Ireland said: “Dublin 24 is one of the most culturally diverse areas in Ireland, and the children who attend the chosen settings will benefit greatly from this programme. We are grateful to the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal for the generous funding to develop this important pilot project, which supports social inclusion by encouraging children and their families to be proud of their multilingual heritage. It is essential that children have access to a culturally responsive environment that embraces diversity in the Early Years and beyond.”

Francesca La Morgia, Director of Mother Tongues added: “It has been great to see how well the project has been received. We strongly believe that celebrating all languages is a key element in fostering a sense of belonging in early childhood settings, and I think that Project OWL will inspire practitioners in Ireland to embrace multilingualism in their day-to-day practice.”

Denise Charlton, CEO of the Community Foundation for Ireland, said: “Community Foundation Ireland, our donors and 5,000 community partner organisations all share a mission of equality for all in thriving communities. The OWL project by Early Childhood Ireland and Mother Tongues will break down barriers which stand in the way of that mission. Both are to be congratulated for work, which will transform young lives and, just as importantly, will engage parents in that place where children should feel most comfortable – the home. This work is truly ground-breaking, and Dublin 24 is leading the way. We wish all involved every success.”

ENDS

For media queries, please contact:

David Fleming, Early Childhood Ireland

Email: dfleming@earlychildhoodireland.ie / Tel: 086 168 1239

About Early Childhood Ireland

Early Childhood Ireland is the leading children’s advocacy and membership organisation. We work in partnership with our members to achieve quality experiences for every child in Early Years and School Age Care settings. We advocate for an effective and inclusive Early Years and School Age Care system which values, supports and invests in childhood, children and services.

Follow Early Childhood Ireland online: @EarlyChildhdIRL.

About RTÉ Toy Show Appeal

Inspired by children, the RTE Toy Show Appeal works to bring the magic of the Late Late Toy Show to every child in Ireland. By funding essential support, health, well-being, play and creativity we aim to change children’s lives for good. The donations to the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, are received and managed by registered charity, The Community Foundation for Ireland with whom we work in partnership. For more information about The Community Foundation for Ireland, please see here: https://www.communityfoundation.ie/about-us

 

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