S5Ep6: Inspection - The EY Education Focused Inspection

S5Ep6: Inspection - The EY Education Focused Inspection

Author: Paula Walshe & Celine Govern February 28, 2025 Duration: 53:21
In this episode we discuss the call that makes all educators nervous - the notification of the inspection calling. We discuss the education focused inspection carried out by the Department of Education and we go through the EYEI inspection guideline document. We finish up with some practical tips and key takeaways which feedback from recent inspections have highlighted as important for you to consider in your practice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Paula Walshe and Celine Govern are your guides through the complex, rewarding world of early childhood education. Their The ECE Quality Ireland Podcast sits at the heart of a vital conversation for educators, practitioners, and anyone invested in the care of young children. Rather than offering simple answers, each episode delves into the nuanced realities of quality and professional practice, creating a space for genuine reflection and shared learning. You’ll hear discussions that feel like a thoughtful staff room dialogue, covering practical strategies, evolving pedagogical approaches, and the broader landscape of ECEC both in Ireland and internationally. This podcast serves as a dedicated forum for dissecting what truly makes a difference in early years settings, moving beyond theory to examine the everyday decisions that shape a child's experience. Tune in for a consistently insightful and grounded perspective that treats early childhood education with the depth and seriousness it deserves, all while fostering a sense of community among those committed to this essential work.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 37

The ECE Quality Ireland Podcast
Podcast Episodes
S6Ep4: Children and Food - it's about familiarity and autonomy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:44
We talk to Deirdre Doyle from The Cool Food School about young children, nutrition, picky eaters, the evolution of the children's food aisle in supermarkets and familiarising children with vegetables through fun activiti…
S6Ep3: Erasmus in Norway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:57
We are joined by Eileanóir Malone, an ECEC student educator who tells us all about her experience on Erasmus. She visited Norway and engaged in placement in a Norwegian ECEC setting. We always hear about how the Norwegia…
S6Ep2: Early Literacy, eTwinning and Nativity Plays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:25
In this episode we chat about the importance of early literacy and Celine's trip to a literacy conference, Paula's experience at an eTwinning seminar in Cyprus for promoting active citizenship in early childhood and the…
S6Ep1: Changes - New Aistear, New Pay, New Department [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:02
In this first episode of Season 6 we catch up on all the changes affecting ECEC in Ireland over the last few months. A newly updated Aistear curriculum framework is live, new ERO mandatory pay rates for educators and a n…
S5Ep9: Poo and the Loo - Potty training for preschool [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:36
All things poo and potty training for starting preschool! In this super interesting episode we delve into the world of poo and potty training with registered nurse Ann Costigan of 'Poo and the Loo' on Instagram. Ann shar…
S5Ep8: Fergus Finlay - Former CEO of Barnardos Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:05
We chat with Fergus Finlay, former CEO of Barnardos Ireland and columnist with the Irish Examiner about a vast array of topics including diversity, equity and inclusion, the importance of early intervention and investing…
S5Ep7: Roderic O'Gorman on Early Childhood Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:58
Current Leader of the Green Party and former Minister for the DCEDIY, Roderic O'Gorman TD joins us on the podcast! We have a great discussion with Roderic about his time as the Minister of the Department with responsibil…
S5Ep5: Quality School Aged-Childcare and the Importance of Play [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:49
We chat with Shelly McGee who is the Quality Support Specialist for School-Aged-Childcare and Play with National Childhood Network (NCN). We discuss what school-aged childcare and afterschool care is, how to support qual…
S5Ep4:  New Aistear! - An Analysis of the new ECEC Framework [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:18
On 5th of December 2024 the eagerly awaited updated version of Aistear, the early childhood curriculum framework in Ireland, was published online by the NCCA. In this episode, we discuss the main changes to the new frame…
S5Ep3: Bridging the Gap Between Research and ECEC Practice in Germany [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:06
We chat with Sarah Girlich about ECEC in Germany and the LaKoS project where researchers and ECEC educators in Saxony collaborate in the area of early literacy to develop resources, training and other supports for eviden…