S6Ep3: Erasmus in Norway

S6Ep3: Erasmus in Norway

Author: Paula Walshe & Celine Govern February 20, 2026 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 Norwegian approach is the way to go in terms of best practice...but what is it really like? Hear all about it from a student who has experienced it, what did she learn, how did it influence studies and her professional practice and how are we measuring up in Ireland in comparison?

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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
S2 Ep4: Fostering Professional Confidence with Lewis Fogarty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:14
Our guest, Lewis Fogarty, joins us for a really interesting conversation about what professional confidence is and why it is an important skill for ECE educators to have. Lewis runs two early years settings in the UK so…
S2 Ep3: Mindfulness Practice in ECEC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
In this episode we discuss the emerging area of mindfulness based practice in ECEC with our guest Leesa Flanagan who is undertaking PhD research on this topic. Leesa tells us all about what mindfulness it, her journey to…
S2Ep2: Community Involvement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:38
In this episode we discuss how ECEC children can become involved in their communities, active citizenship and bringing the community in to the ECEC setting. We consider the barriers to Community Involvement and how to ov…
S2Ep1: ECEC or ELC? Does the terminology matter? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:12
In this episode Paula and Celine discuss how the name for the early childhood education and care sector (ECEC) in Ireland was changed to early learning and care (ELC) by the Government department with responsibility for…
S1Ep11a Men in Early Years - chat with Mick Kenny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:11
In our last episode for 2022 we chat with Mick Kenny from the Men in Childcare network and the Association of Childhood Professionals on two topics: men working in early years and children who are experiencing disadvanta…
S1Ep10 The Key Person Approach - A Critical Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:34
In this episode we take a critical look at the key person approach and ask if it is still the best approach to underpin interactions and relationships in ECEC and if it perhaps meets the needs of the adult more than the…
S1Ep9 Pedagogical Leadership in Practice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:31
In this episode we talk to the wonderful Meredith Rose from Nottingham Trent University about pedagogical leadership. We explore what it actually looks like in daily ECEC practice and consider the factors which both impe…
S1Ep8 - Who Needs a Degree in ECE? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:56
Paula and Celine engage in a lively discussion on the topic of a degree led ECE workforce. We wonder what is the driving force behind the decision to pursue a degree? Is it because practitioners want to do it or feel the…
S1Ep7 Thriving in Nature with Gillian Powell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:53
In this episode Paula and Celine interview Gillian Powell, author of the Thrive series of books on outdoor play and nature and ECE lecturer. We discuss why access to nature and the outdoors is vital to children's mental…