• All Staff accomplish this by communicating with children at their level.

• Staff actively listen and work in partnership with parents in building caring warm trusting relationships with the children in our care.
• At MiniMinds we aspire to ‘respect each child and their culture’. MiniMinds Preschool recognises that play is children’s work and is shaped by planned and unplanned experiences, which are age appropriate.



• We identify and expand on the children’s emergent interests and develop learning in a fun, interactive and imaginative way.

• We share these learning experiences with the other children and encourage friendships and build peer relationships. Our approach at MiniMinds, is inspired by a play-based curriculum influenced by Síolta and Aistear.

• Síolta is the National Quality Framework for all Early Childhood Services and encompasses 16 Quality Standards, which all Childhood services should work to. The 16 Síolta Standards include: Rights of the child, Environments, Parents and Families, Consultation, Interactions Play, Curriculum, Planning and Evaluation, Health and Welfare, Organisation, Professional Practice, Communication, Transitions, Identity and Belonging. Legislation and Regulation and Community Involvement.

• Aistear is used as a guide in planning learning experiences in MiniMinds. Aistear is the Irish word for ‘journey’. Aistear describes learning through 4 interconnected themes: (i) Wellbeing (ii) Identity and Belonging (iii) Communicating (iv) Exploring and Thinking. Our focus for the children is on continuity though out each stage of development.

• Designated areas within each room allow children to move from one room to another with ease and familiarity. The areas in each room include (a) home corner, (b) block area (c) arts and crafts and (d) a quiet area, with soft matting,

• The emergent Curriculum in MiniMinds allows children to remain interested, involved and content whilst still attaining a wealth of information, which promotes individuality and independence for the children.

• We are fully committed to having the best possible start for each child in MiniMinds.

• We support the children’s transition to Primary School and minimalize any stress they might feel adjusting to a new setting.