The ECE Quality Ireland Podcast
Episodes
S6Ep4: Children and Food - it's about familiarity and autonomy
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We talk to Deirdre Doyle from The Cool Food School about young children, nutrition, picky eaters, the evolution of the children's food aisle in superm...
S6Ep3: Erasmus in Norway
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 plac...
S6Ep2: Early Literacy, eTwinning and Nativity Plays
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we chat about the importance of early literacy and Celine's trip to a literacy conference, Paula's experience at an eTwinning seminar ...
S6Ep1: Changes - New Aistear, New Pay, New Department
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of Season 6 we catch up on all the changes affecting ECEC in Ireland over the last few months. A newly updated Aistear curricul...
S5Ep9: Poo and the Loo - Potty training for preschool
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
All things poo and potty training for starting preschool! In this super interesting episode we delve into the world of poo and potty training with re...
S5Ep8: Fergus Finlay - Former CEO of Barnardos Ireland
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We chat with Fergus Finlay, former CEO of Barnardos Ireland and columnist with the Irish Examiner about a vast array of topics including diversity, eq...
S5Ep7: Roderic O'Gorman on Early Childhood Education
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Current Leader of the Green Party and former Minister for the DCEDIY, Roderic O'Gorman TD joins us on the podcast! We have a great discussion with Ro...
S5Ep6: Inspection - The EY Education Focused Inspection
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss the call that makes all educators nervous - the notification of the inspection calling. We discuss the education focused i...
S5Ep5: Quality School Aged-Childcare and the Importance of Play
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We chat with Shelly McGee who is the Quality Support Specialist for School-Aged-Childcare and Play with National Childhood Network (NCN). We discuss ...
S5Ep4: New Aistear! - An Analysis of the new ECEC Framework
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On 5th of December 2024 the eagerly awaited updated version of Aistear, the early childhood curriculum framework in Ireland, was published online by t...
S5Ep3: Bridging the Gap Between Research and ECEC Practice in Germany
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We chat with Sarah Girlich about ECEC in Germany and the LaKoS project where researchers and ECEC educators in Saxony collaborate in the area of early...
S5Ep2: Identifying and Communicating Developmental Concerns
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An insightful and interesting chat with Jenny Nechvatal, a parent of adult children with additional needs and an experienced early childhood educator,...
S5Ep1: Purposeful Play
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of season 5 we chat with Shannan Mulrooney, founder of Maia Purposeful Play, on the importance of facilitating intentional oppor...
S4Ep5: The Graduation Ceremony - Who is it for?
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the end of year preschool graduation ceremony. Should we do it, how should we do it? Is it adult led or child led? Whose needs are we me...
S4Ep4: STEAM in the Early Childhood Environment
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths) in early childhood education. How and why would should we ...
S4Ep3: Risky Play and Guns in Early Childhood Education
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have a really interesting chat with Leah Russell, early childhood lecturer, about what risky play is, how to provide for risky play and whether or ...
S4Ep2: What is the Appropriate Age to Start Primary School?
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With our guest. primary school teacher Dee O'Toole, we discuss the appropriate age for children to transition from early childhood education to primar...
S4Ep1: Quality ECEC - Síolta in Practice
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss implementing and maintaining quality standards in early childhood education and how Paula's new book "Síolta in Practice" can help educato...
S3Ep3: Establishing a New ECEC Service in Ireland
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ever thought about opening up your own preschool ECEC setting and/or afterschool SAC setting in Ireland? Then this is the episode for you! From findi...
S3Ep2: Updating Aistear the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we have an engaging and critical discussion as we review the proposed draft for updating the Aistear curriculum framework. We talk ab...
S3Ep1: Implementing a Publicly Funded Childcare Model in Ireland
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss the recent calls within the media for a publicly funded childcare (ECEC) model in Ireland. We discuss what it might look l...
S2Ep5: Is there a Role for Artificial Intelligence in Early Childhood Education?
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss the possibilities and pitfalls for using artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool in early childhood education and care. We ...
S2 Ep4: Fostering Professional Confidence with Lewis Fogarty
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest, Lewis Fogarty, joins us for a really interesting conversation about what professional confidence is and why it is an important skill for EC...
S2 Ep3: Mindfulness Practice in ECEC
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
S2Ep2: Community Involvement
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss how ECEC children can become involved in their communities, active citizenship and bringing the community in to the ECEC se...
S2Ep1: ECEC or ELC? Does the terminology matter?
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 learnin...
S1Ep11a Men in Early Years - chat with Mick Kenny
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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: m...
S1Ep10 The Key Person Approach - A Critical Analysis
13 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
S1Ep9 Pedagogical Leadership in Practice
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk to the wonderful Meredith Rose from Nottingham Trent University about pedagogical leadership. We explore what it actually loo...
S1Ep8 - Who Needs a Degree in ECE?
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
S1Ep7 Thriving in Nature with Gillian Powell
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 discu...
S1Ep6 The Canadian Early Childhood Sector.mp3
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We chat with Canadian Childcare Federation CEO Don Giesbrecht about Government funding of ECEC, the $10 a day childcare plan and professionalisation. ...
S1Ep5 If I was the Minister for Education .mp3
30 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What are the similarities and differences between ECEC and Primary Education. How Aistear was rolled out and implemented differently in both sectors....
S1Ep4 Researching Education for Sustainability in Early Years
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1Ep3 The Child is the Only True Curriculum
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss whether, by aligning an early childhood setting with a specific curriculum model such as Montessori, Steiner or Reggio, we can truly provid...
S1Ep2 ECEC Past, Present & Future
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1Ep1 A Community of Practice 05-17-22 20:57:51
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.