Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans in regard to the Highscope model; and her further plans to roll out this model nationally. [14848/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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A range of educational approaches are offered in preschool services including the Montessori method, HighScope, Steiner-Waldorf and the play-based approach. My Department does not take the view that any particular method is preferable to another, and therefore has no plans to roll-out any particular educational approach nationally. While I have actually co authored a manual for early childhood education incorporating highscope as part of its approach, we also incorporated insights from montessori and a wider play based approach. So I am personally aware of the power and effectiveness of the highscope model, I am also aware that an eclectic model has the potential to be equally effective.

Whichever curricular method is chosen by a service, every service is required to adhere to the principles of Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, and Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. These frameworks, which are the responsibility of the Department of Education and Skills and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, specify broad learning goals for children but respect the diversity of pedagogical approaches taken to achieve these goals.

The Early Years Inspectorates in Tusla and in the Department of Education and Skills carry out inspections on services regardless of which curricular method is used but with regard to Síolta and Aistear. The Department of Education and Skills's focused inspections in early years settings commenced in April 2016 and will evaluate all pedagogical practice. The first reports of these inspections will be published by end of June.

The Deputy may also be aware that Better Start, the National Early Years Quality Development Initiative has been established by my Department to support services in applying Síolta and Aistear, and to co-ordinate the work of existing State-funded supports for quality in early years settings. My Department is always open to engagement with the HighScope Ireland Institute on matters of mutual concern.