Welcome to the Infant page. We hope you have fun!

Aistear in the Infant Classroom
An Introduction to Aistear

In October 2009, the NCCA published Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. Aistear is for all children from birth to six years. It is the outcome of extensive research, consultation, planning, and development by the NCCA in partnership with the early childhood sector. Aistear can be used in the range of early childhood settings including children’s own homes, childminding settings, full and part-time daycare settings, sessional services and infant classes in primary schools. Highlighting the fact that children learn many different things at the same time, the Framework uses four interconnected themes to describe the content of children’s learning and development: Well-being, Identity and Belonging, Communicating, and Exploring and Thinking. Aistear highlights the critical role of play, relationships and language for young children’s learning. In doing this, it provides a guide to using play, interactions, partnerships with parents, and assessment to help children progress in their learning and development. The Framework has both implicit and explicit links with the Primary School Curriculum (1999). With its focus on children from birth to six years, Aistear can play an important role in the NCCA’s ongoing review of the Primary School Curriculum (1999) and in supporting continuity and progression in children’s learning.

Joining the Mallow CNS School Family

In Mallow CNS we believe that Infant Education is an exciting time for you and your child. The first day at school can be daunting for you both, but at Mallow Community National School we do everything we can to ensure it is the joyful, happy occasion. You and your child will be welcomed together into the infant room where you will meet the other new parents as your child meets his/her new classmates. Friendships are encouraged from day one, in a happy fun filled classroom, full of toys, posters and books – everything a new pupil could wish for.

Our Educational Philosophy

In Mallow CNS we believe that a happy child is a child who is ready to learn. Learning through play, is a key element of infant education. The Aistear program is a play curriculum which has been embraced by our school. This curriculum uses play as the key learning methodology in the classroom.

The Jolly Phonics Program is used to start your child on reading. Prewriting activities such as colouring, manipulating márla, jigsaw making and beading threading prepare your child for manipulating their pencil. When your child graduates from Senior Infants he/she will be able to read many different books and write their own news and stories.