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The ECE Quality Ireland Podcast

Early Childhood Education Podcast

Community of professionals sharing ideas and knowledge on all things to do with early childhood education, quality and professional practice in ECEC in Ireland and beyond.
Latest Episode3/23/2023

S2 Ep3: Mindfulness Practice in ECEC

Season 2, Ep. 3
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 a mindful approach both in her life at home and in her ECEC practice and how we can use simple strategies to begin to introduce mindfulness in our own lives and with children in our ECEC settings.
3/23/2023

S2 Ep3: Mindfulness Practice in ECEC

Season 2, Ep. 3
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 a mindful approach both in her life at home and in her ECEC practice and how we can use simple strategies to begin to introduce mindfulness in our own lives and with children in our ECEC settings.
2/23/2023

S2Ep2: Community Involvement

Season 2, Ep. 2
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 overcome them and we also hear about how Celine and her ECEC children get out and about and involved in her locality!
1/25/2023

S2Ep1: ECEC or ELC? Does the terminology matter?

Season 2, Ep. 1
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 the sector back in 2019. The internationally accepted term is ECEC, so why are we different? We take a look at the various issues associated with the removal of the term "education" from the formal name for the sector and what this might mean for the professional status of ECEC going forward.
11/29/2022

S1Ep11a Men in Early Years - chat with Mick Kenny

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 disadvantage. Come back for season 2 in 2023!
11/13/2022

S1Ep10 The Key Person Approach - A Critical Analysis

Season 1, Ep. 10
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 children? Although they key person approach was initially intended to support educators to meet the needs of the child we wonder if, in light of changes to the ECEC profession, there are perhaps other ways to better meet the child's individual needs and create supportive relationships in current ECEC quality practice?
10/20/2022

S1Ep9 Pedagogical Leadership in Practice

Season 1, Ep. 9
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 impede and help promote pedagogical practice.
9/22/2022

S1Ep8 - Who Needs a Degree in ECE?

Season 1, Ep. 8
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 they have to do it? Do we need a 50% degree qualified practitioner workforce across the entire sector? What about the knowledge and experience possessed by those who do not have a degree and choose not to go back to college? How can the we stop the haemorrhage of degree qualified practitioners exiting the sector?