Transitions

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Transitions
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Workshop Format

• Introduction to the Centre for Early Childhood
  Development Education (CECDE)
• Overview of Síolta
• Workshop Demonstration
• Introduction to group work
• Small group discussion
• Feedback
• Supporting research
• What Síolta can do
• Resources
• Conclusion

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The CECDE

• Established by Department of Education and
  Science in 2002
• To coordinate and develop early childhood
  education services
• Development of Síolta
• Research
• Policy advice to Minister for Education and
  Science and Office of the Minister for Children

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What is Síolta?

• Quality Assurance Scheme
• Children from birth 6 years
• Reflects and recognises Irish practice
• Defining, Supporting and Assessing
• Mediated for ages/settings
• Developmental tool
• Makes a difference in childrens lives

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Defining Quality

• Principles
• Standards
• Components
• Signposts for Reflection
• Think-abouts

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Standard 13 Transitions

• Ensuring continuity of experiences for
• children requires policies, procedures and
• practice that promote sensitive management
• of transitions, consistency in key
• relationships,liaison within and between
• settings, the keeping and transfer of relevant
• information (with parental consent), and the
• close involvement of parents and, where
• appropriate, relevant professionals.

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Sample Discussion Points

• I make sure each child knows who their key person
  is
• I communicate with other settings in the area
• I consult parents to make sure that the childs
  transition into the setting goes smoothly
• I involve other relevant professionals when the
  child enters the setting

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Groupwork

• Your group number is at the top of your page
• Instructions
• Feedback sheet (one per group)
• 20/25 minute discussion
• 3 point action plan
• Next Monday morning
• Dare to be different but practical!
• Mediate for different age groups in your setting

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Supporting Research

• Transitions are eased by the childs experience,
  from birth onwards, of reliable, stable,
  continuous, and loving relationships. Close and
  direct contact by the primary care giver with the
  settings, along with careful thought applied to
  the transitions children experience in their
  care, is required
• (Keinig, 2002)

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Supporting Research (2)

• In an Irish national study of the transition to
  school, only 10 of preschools have a transition
  policy and implementation plan, and levels of
  communication between preschool and primary
  school are reportedly low
• (OKane and Hayes, 2006)

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What Síolta can do

• Promote quality childcare
• Defines what quality is
• Unifying Framework for all quality initiatives
• Tool for practical activities

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What Síolta can do (2)

• Promote the status of the early years sector
• Raises awareness of the critical importance of
  quality early childhood provision
• Highlights the valuable role of the early years
  practitioner
• Informs the development of education and training
  courses
• Enhances our status internationally

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Síolta Current Resources

• Website
• All materials
• Supporting research documentation
• Resource information (e.g. web links, contact
  details)
• Feedback opportunity

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Síolta Current Resources (2)

• Workshops and presentations
• Research Digests
• Síolta A Guide for Parents
• Audit of Research in ECCE in Ireland database
• Library resources
• Newsletters
• E-mail Early.Childhood_at_spd.dcu.ie

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Go raibh míle maith agaibh

www.siolta.ie
www.cecde.ie