Learn with our AIM puppet Murphy – The Lodge Montessori Knocklyon
In this week’s blog, we catch up with Fionnuala and her AIM puppet Murphee as they show the children how to press flowers. In The Lodge Montessori, we love using puppets in our class, as we find they support children’s social and emotional engagement. ...
Staying Together While Staying Apart – Teach Spraoi Community Childcare
In this edition of our blog, current student Edwina Doyle outlines how her setting has been keeping in touch with the children and their parents during the COVID-19 shutdown . Teach Spraoi Community Childcare is a purpose-built centre for early years and...
Embracing Outdoor Projects During Isolation to Benefit our Community: Barnsmore Montessori
In this week’s blog, we take a look at how the children, parents and teachers of Barnsmore Montessori have been embracing outdoor projects to benefit their local community. In Barnesmore Montessori, the day of Thursday 12 March began like any other. The...
Setting Focus: Teach Spraoi Nature Kindergarten
This week the LINC Team chatted with Nora Custy, owner/manager of An Teach Spraoi Nature Kindergarten to see what they have been up to since restrictions were imposed. Nestled just outside the town of Ennis in Co. Clare is An Teach Spraoi Nature Kindergarten....
Supporting Transitions back to the Early Learning and Care Setting after the COVID-19 Closure
In this edition of our blog, LINC Tutor Sharon Skehill, outlines some of the ways she will be helping to support the children of her setting to transition back to early learning and care after the COVID-19 closure. Many Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings...
Setting Focus: Mabuhay Pre-school Meath
In this edition of our blog, current LINC Student Liz Manville from Mabuhay Pre-school in Mosney talks about how her pre-school cares for the educational needs of children living in the accommodation centre. Mabuhay Pre-school in opened in 2003 in order to...
Making a child’s day a bit more special: St Lawrence Montessori
In this edition of our blog, current LINC Student, Isabel Baldan, and owner/manager of St Lawrence Montessori, Gráinne Morris, talk about how they have continued to engage with the children of their setting during this period of uncertainty. Gráinne Morris...
Keeping it Social with Múinteoir Catherine
In this edition of our blog, the LINC team catches up with Múinteoir Catherine after she finishes her daily interaction with the children from her naíonra. LINC graduate and Inclusion Coordinator Catherine Allen has worked in the early years sector for...
A Trip Down Memory Lane and the Power of Nursery Rhymes for Children and Adults!
I was lucky enough to teach 4-5 year olds for over ten years. Among my favourite moments each week was teaching a nursery rhyme. During initial teacher education, one of my heroes was Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852), often referred to as the ‘Father of...
Government Led Initiative Brings Key Stakeholders Together to Focus on Play
Government-Led Initiative Brings Key Experts Together to Focus on Play Let's Play Ireland Campaign Aiming to Support Families and Children During Challenging Period The Let's Play Ireland campaign led by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is a...
Setting Focus: Pebbles Montessori Ballheigue
In this edition of our blog, current LINC student Jacinta O'Hara shares one of the ways she has stayed connected with the children of her service during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a beautiful sunny day in Ireland as I pick up the phone to call Jacinta O’Hara....
Continuing Open Communication in Uncertain Times
In this edition of the LINC Programme blog, current LINC student Katie Broderick outlines some of the ways her setting is continuing to support and communicate with the parents of children in these uncertain times. While we are all scrambling around...
LINC Programme Covid-19 Update for Current LINC Students
12/03/2020 Dear Student, As you are aware there is an ongoing situation developing in Ireland in relation to the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Today the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that all childcare facilities, schools, colleges and universities...
Developing Numeracy Through Play
In this edition of the LINC blog, Kildare County Childcare Committee Development Officer Bernie Connell highlights some ways in which parents and practitioners can encourage numeracy development and natural curiosity through play. Whether we like it or not...
Book Reviews: The Needs of Children and Einstein never Used Flashcards – How Children Really Learn
Book Reviews: The Needs of Children and Einstein Never Used Flash Cards - How Children REALLY Learn By Marie Doherty The Needs of Children is a wonderful little book written by Mia Kellmer-Pringle. I picked it up again recently and asked myself the question....
LINC Consortium Scoops Two Education Awards
LINC Consortium Scoops Two Education Awards The Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme consortium has won two awards at the Education Awards 2020. The Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme consortium, has...
Six Reasons why Partnership with Parents is so Important
In this edition of the LINC Programme blog we examine six reasons why encouraging partnership with parents has a positive outcome for children, parents and early learning and care settings. It is important for every early childhood teacher to...
LINC Programme Shortlisted for AONTAS STAR Award 2020
LINC Programme Shortlisted for Aontas Award 2020The LINC (Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years) Adult Education Programme has been shortlisted for an AONTAS STAR Award in the 'Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote Social Inclusion' category. The STAR Awards...
The Features of an Inclusive Curriculum in an Early Learning and Care Setting
In this edition of the LINC Programme blog we define an inclusive curriculum and examine the features of an inclusive curriculum that could be incorporated into an early learning and care setting. An Inclusive Curriculum is one which accommodates the needs of...
LINC Programme Shortlisted for Education Awards for the Fourth Year Running
The Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme has been shortlisted in three categories at the Education Awards 2020. Having previously won the award for Best Online Learning Experience in 2017 and a Student Engagement and...
Supporting Transitions from the Home to the Early Learning and Care Setting – Advice and Best Practice
In this edition of the LINC Programme blog we examine how early years teachers can ensure a smooth transition for children as they embark on their education journey. Both Aistear and Síolta highlight the importance of supportive and smooth transitions in early...
Encouraging Emerging Interests in the Early Years – The Post Office
In this edition of our blog, LINC graduate Catherine McGrath describes how encouraging interest in another culture became a learning journey for the students of Loughegar Community Playgroup. Earlier this year in our playgroup we experienced how following...
The Many Roles of the Early Childhood Teacher
In this edition of our blog; we examine the many roles of the early childhood teacher as outlined as by Jill Miels, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Elementary Education, Teachers College at Ball State University. Jill Meils has made a...
Thinking about a child’s first day, and the importance of routine in an early learning and care setting.
In this edition of our blog; we outline the questions early childhood teachers should ask themselves before meeting new children, and examine the importance of routine within the setting. Prior to a child attending the setting for the first time, we need...
Leading Early Childhood Expert Appointed as Interim National Director of the LINC Programme
Leading Early Childhood Expert Appointed as Interim National Director of the LINC Programme The LINC Consortium is Delighted to Announce the Appointment of Marie Doherty as Interim National Director of the LINC Programme.Early childhood expert and newly appointed...
LINC Programme Graduation 2019 Photo Gallery
On October 26 2019, 887 students graduated from the Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme. Here are some photographs from their graduation day held in Mary Immaculate College Limerick.You may also like:
LINC Programme graduates to become “ambassadors for inclusion”
Joy as 887 students from 26 counties presented with multi-award winning Special Purpose Award “As ambassadors for inclusion, you will do everything you can to ensure that every child is included,” stated Professor Eugene Wall, President, Mary Immaculate...
Change takes time, and time is all it takes!
In this edition of the LINC blog, current student and soon to be graduate, Emma Cleary, outlines how it took time for her colleagues to adjust to the changes that she was implementing as INclusion COordinator for her setting, and time was all that was needed. ...
Creating Challenging Outdoor Environments for Children
In this edition of the LINC blog we examine the importance of creating challenging outdoor environments for children. Outdoor environments in Irish Early Childhood Settings have up until very recently relied heavily on creating a safe place to play; but in turn they...
What are Social Stories and why would you use them in an Early Learning and Care setting?
In this edition of the LINC blog we examine social stories and their use in an Early Learning and Care setting. The concept of social stories was developed by Carol Grey in 1989 through her work as a teacher in Michigan. Social Stories are a method of...