Aistear is the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework for children from birth to six years in Ireland. It describes learning and development through four interconnected themes – well-being, identity & belonging, communicating and exploring & thinking. Aistear’s curriculum focuses on different aspects of pedagogy and describes how the adult can support children’s learning and development across the four themes.
Siolta is the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education. Siolta offers Principles, Standards, Components of Quality and Signposts for Reflection for childcare providers and aims to support engagement with this National Quality Framework.
At Safari Childcare our Montessori class is a calm and carefully prepared child-sized environment in which the wide variety of activities available require exploration using the five senses. This sensorial approach to learning means that your child will build a concrete foundation for knowledge that will lead to later abstract understanding.
The specially designed ‘auto-didactic’ Montessori educational materials enable your child to appraise and correct their own work so that they may enjoy a sense of accomplishment and gain valuable judgement skills.
Through comprehensive observation and evaluation, the Directress or Director creates an individual learning programme for your child and then gives them one-to-one instruction on how to use the Montessori materials at the point when they are ready for them. Your child may then work independently free from interruption. There is no timetable of lessons, but rather a continuous three-hour work cycle during which your child is able to repeat and perfect their chosen activities, gaining in concentration, perseverance and inner discipline.
The mixed age group makes it possible for older children to improve their own knowledge by helping younger children who in turn learn through observing their older partners. By working together rather than directly competing, your child will acquire a healthy pattern of social interaction, a respect for others in their community and the confidence to be the best they can be.
We take the task of nourishing children’s minds and bodies very seriously and ensure that their diet is healthy and well balanced. We provide all meals throughout the day.
