This 90-minute interactive webinar provides Spanish-speaking early years educators working in Ireland with a practical introduction to Aistear, Ireland’s early childhood curriculum framework. Delivered in Spanish, the session supports participants in developing a clearer understanding of Aistear and applying its principles confidently within their everyday practice.
The webinar explores child-led and play-based learning, the educator’s role in supporting children’s development, and the importance of observing children’s interests, needs and emerging ideas. Participants will examine how meaningful learning opportunities can be created through responsive environments, interactions and thoughtfully planned invitations to play.
Practical examples will demonstrate how educators can connect Aistear with everyday experiences in an early years setting. Participants will also be encouraged to reflect on their current practice, consider how their decisions influence children’s engagement and identify realistic strategies they can implement within their own settings.
The session combines prepared content, visual presentation materials, practical examples, opportunities for reflection and an interactive question-and-answer element. It is specifically designed to make Irish early years guidance more accessible to educators whose first language is Spanish, while supporting professional confidence, reflective practice and high-quality play-based provision.
Summary
This webinar begins by introducing Aistear and its role in guiding high-quality early childhood education and care in Ireland. Participants explore the purpose of the framework and consider how its child-centred, relationship-based and play-based approach is reflected in everyday early years practice.
The session examines how young children learn through play, exploration, relationships and meaningful interactions. It considers the educator’s role as an observer, facilitator and responsive partner in children’s learning, with particular attention given to recognising children’s interests, responding to their ideas and allowing learning to develop without unnecessarily directing or controlling play.
Participants are introduced to practical ways of creating engaging learning environments and invitations to play. Examples illustrate how open-ended materials, thoughtful organisation of space and responsive adult interactions can encourage curiosity, creativity, communication, problem-solving and sustained engagement. The webinar also addresses the difference between preparing an invitation that supports exploration and creating an adult-led activity with a predetermined outcome.
Reflective questions throughout the session invite participants to connect the content with their own experience. Educators consider how they currently plan for play, how they respond to children’s emerging interests, and how small changes to the environment or their interactions could strengthen children’s participation and learning.
The webinar concludes with practical implementation ideas and an interactive question-and-answer discussion. By the end of the session, participants should have a stronger understanding of Aistear, increased confidence in supporting child-led play and a range of realistic strategies that can be adapted for use within their own early years settings.
The webinar is delivered in Spanish to support Spanish-speaking educators in understanding Irish early years expectations, engaging more fully in professional learning and applying the framework confidently in practice.
