Research and Publications

Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework has been updated. Here you can find research that underpinned the updating process.

• Literature review to support the updating of Aistear’s themes of Well-being, Identity and Belonging, Communicating and Exploring and Thinking by the Institute of Education, Dublin City University.

Here you can find research since the publication of Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (2024).

•  Aistear as a Rights-based Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA, 2025)

NCCA commissioned Dr Caroline Guard, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, to review literature on rights and agency for babies, toddlers and young children.

• Rights and Agency for Babies, Toddlers and young Children
• Watch a video of Dr Caroline Guard speaking about the report here

NCCA commissioned Dr June O’Sullivan, London Institute of Early Years, to review literature on education for sustainable development in early childhood.

• Education for Sustainable Development in Early Childhood
• Watch a video of Dr June O’Sullivan speaking about the report

NCCA commissioned Prof Iram Siraj, Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, University of Maynooth, to review literature on an emergent and inquiry-based curriculum approach in early childhood.

• An Emergent and Inquiry-based Curriculum Approach in Early Childhood
• Watch a video of Prof Iram Siraj speaking about the report