Introduction - What is Aistear?

Aistear is the early childhood curriculum framework for children from birth up to the age of six years. Early childhood marks the beginning of children’s lifelong learning journeys. Irelands early childhood curriculum framework is called Aistear (Irish word for journey).

Aistear provides information to assist practitioners, including infant teachers and Early Start teachers, in planning and providing enjoyable and appropriately challenging learning experiences that afford children the opportunity to grow and develop as competent and confident learners within loving relationships with others.

Aistear outlines the types of learning that are important for children during early childhood and provides practical ideas and suggestions as to how this learning may be nurtured. The Curriculum framework also provides guidelines on supporting children’s learning through play, interactions, assessment and partnerships with parents.

At Best Bee Kids, we are proud to follow Ireland’s newly updated Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, ensuring every child in our care experiences learning that is joyful, meaningful, and developmentally enriching. The revised Aistear framework places an even stronger emphasis on children’s wellbeing, identity, and early learning through play, relationships, and real-world exploration—values that sit at the heart of our centre.

The updated Aistear reinforces play as the foundation of early learning. At Best Bee Kids, children are encouraged to explore, imagine, experiment, and create. Our environments are thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity and support children as they learn through hands-on, playful experiences every day.

Our curriculum is woven through Aistear’s four core themes, each one central to children’s holistic development:

• Wellbeing
  We nurture children’s physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing through calm, supportive routines, outdoor activity, and warm, trusting relationships.
• Identity & Belonging
  Every child is valued, respected, and included. We celebrate individuality and cultural diversity, helping children build confidence and a strong sense of who they are.
• Communicating
  Through stories, conversation, music, early literacy experiences, and creative expression, we encourage children to communicate in ways that feel natural and empowering to them.
• Exploring & Thinking
  Children are given opportunities to investigate the world around them and build early skills in problem-solving, numeracy, science, and critical thinking.

The refreshed Aistear focuses more strongly on:

• High-quality interactions between educators and children
• Inclusive, responsive learning environments
• Respectful, partnership-based relationships with families
• Learning that connects with children’s interests, strengths, and everyday experiences

At Best Bee Kids, our team engages in ongoing professional development to ensure our practice reflects the latest guidance, research, and national standards in early childhood education.

Whether your child is discovering their first words, beginning early friendships, or exploring new ideas with confidence, Aistear helps us personalise learning experiences so that every child feels supported, understood, and ready for the next step in their journey.

Here are some key official and practitioner-friendly links for deeper reading:

• National Council for Curriculum & Assessment (NCCA) announcement of updated Aistear: NCCA News – “Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework has been updated” (9 Dec 2024) NCCA
• Department of Education & Children press release on the update: “Updated curriculum for babies, toddlers and young children published” (5 Dec 2024) gov.ie
• Full Framework document: “Aistear 2024: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework” (PDF)
• NCCA — “A Guide for Families” (PDF): explains Aistear, what it means for children and families, how to support play & learning at home. NCCA
• Better Start Quality Development Service — Print-friendly copy of Aistear 2024: useful for parents to download and browse. Better Start
• National Childhood Network (NCN) — overview page “What is Aistear?” including explanations of themes, settings, and how parents/educators work together. National Childhood Network (NCN) -
• Barnardos — “Working in Partnership with Parents” guide: supports families & educators to work together in early years contexts. knowledge.barnardos.ie
• Meath County Council — Parent‐information page explaining Aistear in accessible language. meath.ie