Our Curriculum

At Oasis Childcare, we implement a play-based, child-led curriculum that is shaped by the principles of the Aistear framework, creating an engaging and holistic learning environment for your child.

What is Siolta?

Siolta is the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education in Ireland, and it plays an essential role here at Oasis Childcare in maintaining the high standards of early childhood education and care. Siolta provides a set of standards and guidelines to enhance the quality of early childhood education, ensuring that the environments where children learn are safe, enriching, and conducive to their development. We align our practices with Siolta to provide a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Siolta is structured around 16 principles that focus on different aspects of early childhood care, including:

The Child – We place children’s needs and rights at the heart of our curriculum, ensuring that every child’s individuality and developmental stage are respected and nurtured.
The Family and Community – We recognise the vital role of family and community in children’s lives and aim to build strong, collaborative relationships with families and the wider community to support the child’s growth and learning.
Curriculum – Our curriculum at Oasis is child-centred, inclusive, and tailored to meet the needs and interests of each individual child, fostering both academic and social development in a holistic manner.
Interactions – Positive, respectful relationships between children and adults are integral at Oasis. We encourage nurturing interactions that foster emotional security, confidence, and a sense of belonging.
Assessment – Ongoing observation and evaluation of children’s learning and development ensure that we meet each child’s unique needs and provide appropriate support to encourage progress in all areas.
Health and Welfare – The health, safety, and overall well-being of children are a top priority at Oasis Childcare. We implement practices that safeguard children’s physical and emotional health while creating a supportive and caring environment.
Play – We understand that play is fundamental to children’s learning and development. We provide rich, stimulating play experiences that help children explore, experiment, and develop essential life skills.

What is Aistear?

Aistear is the early childhood curriculum framework used in Ireland, designed to support the learning and development of children from birth to six years old. The word Aistear is Irish for "journey," symbolizing the child's ongoing journey of learning and development. At Oasis, we follow Aistear’s guiding principles to create an environment where children can explore, learn, and grow at their own pace.

Aistear has four central themes that we focus on:

Well-being: This theme emphasizes children’s emotional, social, and physical well-being, ensuring they feel safe, happy, and secure at Oasis Childcare.
Identity and Belonging: We support children in understanding who they are and their place in the world, helping them build a sense of identity and belonging within our nurturing environment.
Communicating: Encouraging children to express themselves and understand others through language and various forms of communication, both verbal and non-verbal.
Exploring and Thinking: At Oasis, we foster curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity, giving children opportunities to explore new ideas and think critically.

These themes are implemented through play, activities, and experiences that foster learning. The Aistear framework guides us in providing a balanced approach to early education, supporting your child’s development in a holistic and individualized way, taking into account their unique needs and interests.

For further information, you can visit the NCCA website here.

Siolta and Aistear work together to provide a comprehensive approach to early childhood education, ensuring that we offer high-quality care and educational experiences for your child at Oasis Childcare.

Curriculum FAQ's

What is a Child-Led Curriculum?

A child-led curriculum is an approach to early childhood education that places the child at the centre of their learning process. At Oasis Childcare, we embrace this approach, where children play an active role in shaping and directing their own learning experiences, while educators provide guidance, support, and resources. The curriculum is flexible and emerges based on the children's interests, curiosities, and developmental needs, ensuring each child’s journey is unique and personal.

Here are some key aspects of a child-led curriculum at Oasis:

1. Child’s Interests and Curiosities:

The curriculum is based on the individual interests and passions of the children. Instead of following a set schedule, our educators observe and listen to what excites and engages children. We then create learning experiences that build on those interests, allowing deep exploration and engagement.
This approach motivates children to focus on topics that they find exciting and meaningful, making their learning experience more engaging.

2. Active Participation:

Children are seen as active participants in their learning, not passive recipients of information. They have a say in what they learn, how they learn, and when they learn.
We provide opportunities for children to explore, ask questions, make choices, and solve problems, allowing them to take the lead in deciding how to explore a topic or activity.

3. Play-Based Learning:

A child-led curriculum at Oasis Childcare heavily incorporates play as the primary vehicle for learning. Play is seen as the actual process through which children develop cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills—not just a break from “learning.”
Through role-play, building projects, or experimenting with materials, children explore concepts, practice new skills, and make sense of the world around them.

4. Individualised Learning:

Recognizing that every child is unique, a child-led curriculum adapts to support each child’s development. At Oasis, we understand that children learn at their own pace and in their own way.
This approach ensures that each child’s learning experience is tailored to their interests and needs, creating a more meaningful and engaging experience for all.

5. Respect for the Child’s Voice:

Educators at Oasis respect the opinions, thoughts, and ideas of children. We encourage them to express themselves, ask questions, and make decisions, fostering a sense of agency and ownership over their learning.
Children’s thoughts and contributions are valued during discussions and decision-making processes, empowering them to have a voice in their learning journey.

6. Flexible Learning Environment:

The learning environment at Oasis is dynamic and flexible. Materials and resources are available for children to explore as needed, and the environment is set up to support creativity, exploration, and independent learning.
Educators observe children’s behaviour and adapt the environment in real-time to meet their evolving needs and interests, ensuring the setting remains supportive of their curiosity and development.

7. The Role of the Educator:

In a child-led curriculum, educators at Oasis act as facilitators, guides, and co-learners, rather than authoritative figures. They support the child’s exploration by providing resources, scaffolding, and posing questions that encourage deeper thinking.
Educators carefully observe and listen to children, offering gentle guidance while allowing the children to take the lead in their learning journey.

Benefits of a Child-Led Curriculum at Oasis Childcare:

Engagement: Children are more motivated to learn when they have ownership of their learning.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Directing their own learning helps children develop independence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Confidence: The child-led approach builds a child’s confidence in their abilities to make decisions and take initiative.
Development of Social Skills: Children learn collaboration and social interaction as they work together on shared projects or activities.
Holistic Development: A child-led approach at Oasis Childcare supports the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development of each child.

In summary, the child-led curriculum at Oasis Childcare fosters an environment where children are empowered to learn through their own exploration. Educators act as facilitators and supporters, respecting the child’s natural curiosity and guiding them through their individual learning journeys. This approach helps children take the lead in their learning while developing important skills for life.

How Will a Child-Led Curriculum Help My Child Learn and Develop at Oasis Childcare?

A child-led curriculum plays a crucial role in helping your child learn and develop in a way that is natural, engaging, and tailored to their individual needs and interests. At Oasis, we focus on fostering a learning environment that encourages exploration and growth.

Here’s how our child-led curriculum supports your child’s learning and overall development:

Promotes Active Learning and Engagement:

In a child-led curriculum at Oasis Childcare, children are encouraged to take charge of their learning by exploring topics they are genuinely interested in. This fosters intrinsic motivation, making learning fun and meaningful.
When children are excited about what they are learning, they are more likely to stay engaged, try new things, and persist through challenges, leading to a deeper understanding and mastery of concepts.

2. Supports Cognitive Development:

Our child-led approach nurtures critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. As children explore their environment, ask questions, experiment with materials, and make decisions, they build cognitive skills that help them understand the world around them.
Whether they are building with blocks, investigating nature, or solving puzzles, children are constantly exercising their minds and developing reasoning abilities at Oasis.

3. Fosters Independence and Self-Confidence:

A key feature of the child-led curriculum at Oasis Childcare is giving children the freedom to make choices and direct their learning. This promotes a strong sense of independence and self-confidence as children see that their thoughts, ideas, and actions can lead to success.
When children feel confident in their abilities to make decisions, they are more likely to take risks, explore new possibilities, and develop a positive attitude toward challenges.

4. Enhances Social Skills:

Child-led learning at Oasis Childcare often involves collaborative activities and group play, where children interact with peers, share ideas, negotiate roles, and resolve conflicts. This strengthens their social skills—such as communication, empathy, cooperation, and respect for others.
These interactions help children build positive relationships, learn how to work as part of a team, and understand the perspectives of others, all of which are important for emotional and social growth.

5. Encourages Emotional Development:

In our child-led environment at Oasis Childcare, children are encouraged to explore and express their feelings. They learn how to recognize and manage their emotions, building emotional intelligence.
By engaging in meaningful activities, children also develop coping skills, resilience, and self-regulation, which are crucial for emotional well-being.

6. Nurtures a Love for Learning:

The child-led approach fosters a sense of curiosity and wonder, encouraging children to ask questions, investigate, and explore. At Oasis, this helps them develop a love for learning, which is one of the most important factors in lifelong education and success.
When children feel they have control over their learning, they are more likely to take ownership of their education and approach new topics with enthusiasm.

7. Adapts to Individual Learning Styles:

Every child learns in their own way—some are visual learners, others are auditory, and some learn best through movement or hands-on activities. A child-led curriculum at Oasis adapts to these different learning styles by offering a variety of experiences, resources, and opportunities for children to engage in learning in ways that suit them best.
This approach ensures that each child is supported in reaching their potential, regardless of their preferred learning method.

8. Builds Communication and Language Skills:

Through play, storytelling, and interaction with peers and educators, children naturally develop their language and communication skills. At Oasis Childcare, children have plenty of opportunities to talk about their ideas, express their needs, and discuss what they are learning.
These verbal exchanges help children expand their vocabulary, improve their listening skills, and gain the confidence to express themselves clearly and effectively.

9. Encourages Physical Development:

Many child-led activities at Oasis Childcare involve physical movement—whether it’s through play, exploration of nature, or working with hands-on materials. This helps children develop both fine (e.g., using scissors, drawing, or building) and gross motor skills (e.g., running, jumping, or climbing).
Physical activity also supports overall well-being, improves coordination, and fosters a healthy lifestyle.

10. Supports Emotional Resilience and Problem-Solving:

As children explore their interests at Oasis Childcare, they encounter challenges, make mistakes, and experiment with solutions. This encourages resilience and the ability to persevere when things don’t go as planned.
A child-led approach teaches children that failure is a natural part of learning and encourages them to keep trying, which is an important lesson for developing a growth mindset.

11. Fosters Creativity and Imagination:

In our child-led curriculum, children are often given the freedom to engage in imaginative play, create their own stories, and design projects from their own ideas. This stimulates their creativity and allows them to think outside the box.
Whether it’s building a castle with blocks, drawing a picture, or pretending to be a character in a play, creativity plays a significant role in cognitive development and helps children approach problems in novel ways.

12. Builds Positive Relationships with Educators:

The relationship between the child and educator is key in a child-led curriculum. Our educators at serve as guides and facilitators, encouraging children to take the lead in their learning. This creates a positive, trusting relationship that helps children feel supported and valued.
When children feel emotionally secure and connected to their educators, they are more likely to engage in learning and take risks in their development.

Conclusion:
A child-led curriculum at Oasis Childcare helps your child learn and develop by fostering independence, curiosity, critical thinking, and emotional growth. Through active, hands-on learning experiences, children are encouraged to explore their interests, build social and cognitive skills, and develop a positive attitude toward learning. This approach not only supports their academic development but also helps them grow as confident, resilient, and creative individuals.

How Does a Child-Led, Play-Based Curriculum at Oasis Childcare Help Prepare My Child for Primary School Education?

A child-led, play-based curriculum at Oasis Childcare offers a strong foundation for preparing your child for primary school by fostering key skills, attitudes, and habits that support their academic and personal development. By embracing a hands-on, play-based approach, we ensure that your child develops the necessary tools to transition smoothly into primary school education. Here’s how our approach helps your child prepare:

Promotes Independence and Confidence:

In the child-led environment at Oasis Childcare, children have the freedom to make decisions, solve problems, and manage their own learning. This builds self-confidence and independence—essential qualities when your child begins primary school, where they will be expected to follow routines, complete tasks, and take responsibility for their learning.
Children empowered to choose their activities and lead their play develop a sense of ownership over their education, making them more confident and self-assured as they transition into primary school classrooms.

2. Encourages Curiosity and a Love of Learning:

A play-based curriculum at Oasis nurtures your child’s natural curiosity, encouraging them to explore, experiment, and ask questions. This fosters a deep love of learning—an essential factor for success in primary school.
The freedom to explore topics they enjoy helps your child develop intrinsic motivation, which ensures they stay engaged and enthusiastic about their studies as they move into a more structured environment.

3. Develops Social Skills and Emotional Regulation:

Through collaborative play and group activities at Oasis Childcare, children develop important social skills like communication, cooperation, empathy, and conflict resolution. In primary school, they will need to interact with peers, follow instructions, and work together in groups—skills that are fostered through play-based learning.
Additionally, children learn to manage their emotions, practice patience, and navigate social dynamics, building emotional regulation and resilience that help them thrive in a school environment.

4. Builds Communication and Language Skills:

Play at Oasis encourages children to engage in verbal communication with peers and educators, strengthening their language skills. They learn to express ideas, ask questions, and articulate their thoughts—skills that are essential for literacy development in primary school.
Through storytelling, imaginative play, and peer discussions, children build vocabulary, sentence structure, and listening skills, which are crucial for primary school communication and following instructions.

5. Supports Cognitive and Problem-Solving Skills:

Play-based learning at Oasis Childcare encourages children to engage in activities that challenge their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Whether building with blocks, solving puzzles, or experimenting with new materials, children develop creative and logical thinking—skills they will need for more structured tasks in primary school.
These activities help children learn how to plan, make decisions, and adapt strategies—essential cognitive skills for success in primary school.

6. Fosters a Growth Mindset:

At Oasis Childcare, children are encouraged to learn through trial and error, which helps them understand that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. This cultivates a growth mindset, where children believe that abilities and intelligence grow through effort and perseverance.
Children who embrace challenges and view mistakes as learning opportunities are more likely to approach new tasks in primary school with confidence and persistence.

7. Encourages Creativity and Imagination:

A play-based curriculum at Oasis nurtures creativity and imagination. Through pretend play, storytelling, and artistic activities, children explore new ideas, think outside the box, and express themselves in diverse ways.
Creativity is a valuable skill in primary school, where students are often encouraged to approach tasks with innovation and use critical thinking to solve problems.

8. Builds Fine and Gross Motor Skills:

Many play-based activities at Oasis help enhance both fine motor skills (e.g., drawing, building, using scissors) and gross motor skills (e.g., running, jumping, climbing). These physical activities improve coordination and support overall physical development.
The physical skills developed through play are essential for tasks like writing, using classroom tools, and participating in outdoor activities in primary school.

9. Helps Children Adapt to Structured Learning:

While child-led learning at Oasis Childcare is flexible, it still incorporates structured elements like designated playtime, snack time, and cleanup time. This structure helps children transition more easily to the routine of primary school, where they will follow timetables, switch between subjects, and adhere to class rules.
By becoming familiar with routines and expectations in a play-based setting, children are better equipped to adjust to the more structured environment of primary school.

10. Promotes a Positive Relationship with Learning:

The child-led, play-based curriculum makes learning enjoyable and engaging, fostering a positive attitude toward school. When children experience learning as a fun and interactive process, they are more likely to approach primary school with enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn.
This positive relationship with learning sets the foundation for lifelong educational success, as children feel motivated and confident to tackle new subjects and challenges.

Conclusion:
A child-led, play-based curriculum at Oasis Childcare plays a pivotal role in preparing your child for primary school. By fostering independence, curiosity, social skills, emotional regulation, and a love for learning, we provide a rich, engaging environment that supports your child’s academic and personal development. Through play, children build the cognitive, communication, and problem-solving skills they need for primary school success, while also developing confidence, resilience, and a positive attitude toward learning. This foundation ensures a smooth transition into primary school education, setting your child up for a successful future.

How Important is Play for a Child's Development at Oasis Childcare?

Play is an essential part of a child’s development, as it supports their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth. Play is integrated into the daily experience, allowing children to learn about the world around them and express themselves freely. Here’s why play is so crucial:

1. Cognitive Development:

Problem-solving and creativity are fostered through play, whether children are building, exploring, or imagining new scenarios. These activities support critical thinking and logical reasoning.
Memory and attention improve as children engage in activities that require following rules, remembering patterns, and recalling information.

2. Emotional Development:

Through play, children at Oasis develop self-regulation, learning to manage emotions, share, take turns, and deal with frustration.
Confidence and self-esteem grow as children take risks in a safe environment, mastering new skills and feeling accomplished.

3. Social Development:

Communication and language skills are enhanced as children interact with peers, negotiate, and express themselves during play.
Group play teaches social skills like cooperation, empathy, and conflict resolution, which are vital for school and life.

4. Physical Development:

Through physical play, children develop both fine and gross motor skills, which are essential for tasks such as writing, drawing, and participating in classroom activities.

5. Encouraging Independence and Decision-Making:

Free play gives children the freedom to make decisions and explore new challenges, building their independence and confidence.

6. Language Development:

Play, particularly pretend play, allows children to expand their language and vocabulary, which is crucial for their academic success in primary school.

7. Building Relationships:

Play strengthens the bond between children and educators offering opportunities for connection and communication.

8. Stress Relief:

Play provides an outlet for children to relax, have fun, and relieve stress, promoting overall well-being.

9. Supports Learning Through Exploration:

Play encourages children to explore their world, ask questions, and test ideas, laying the groundwork for future academic learning.

Conclusion:
Play at Oasis Childcare is not just about fun—it’s a fundamental component of your child’s development. It supports cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth, preparing children for success in both school and life. By providing a rich, supportive environment for play, we help children develop the foundation they need for lifelong learning and achievement.