Enriching Early Education: The Role of Environment

“Adults can greatly enrich the learning opportunities that play provides through creation of an appropriate environment” (NCCA 2009)

The environment that a child enters on their first day of playschool or early education setting is hugely important in the eyes of that child. It is their first impression of life outside of the home place, and it’s the place where they will spend those initial formative years on the first rung of the educational ladder. That environment must be an inviting, comfortable place for the child to feel at ease and be themselves. It must offer the child space and encouragement to learn and explore whilst accommodating their need to rest and play. All this facilitated by competent, confident practitioners. Set

This body is called Aistear. Aistear focuses on children from birth to age six through four main

Through research, dialogue and reflective practice, the practitioner can provide an early childhood setting of the highest standard with the tools taken from Aistear as its guide. By facilitating the themes of Well-Being, Identity and Belonging, Communicating and Exploring and Thinking, the child will develop in a holistic, constructive way. By providing the learning opportunities through play, the practitioner promotes good parent/family relationships which will benefit the child for the future. There is no doubt that as the child moves on through their educational path, they will always return to the values instilled in them through their early childhood environment and the practitioners that facilitated it. Therefore, we have the responsibility to enhance and maintain rich, stimulating opportunities to play and enrich each child’s experience of early education setting. Aistear is the driving force behind that success, leading and striving for successful, rounded individuals of the