70 years of infant education

1924 Decision by the Department of Education to introduce school curriculum in Irish. As teachers had been trained in English, delivery of the service was constrained and the introduction of innovations was stymied for quite some time.

1951 The introduction of the Infant School curriculum which highlighted children's active involvment in their own learning.

1969 The establishment of Rutland Street the first pre-primary service funded by the Department of Education. Set up to cater for children living in a disadvantaged area, the aim of the service was to prepare children for primary school.

1971 The new curriculum for primary schools. This curriculum incorporated the most up to date research on appropriate education for four year olds.

1992 The publication of the Green Paper on Education which made specific reference to the importance of good quality early childhood education in relation to disadvantage.

1994 The establishment of Early Start. There are now about 40 Early Start preschool located in primary schools in designated disadvantaged areas around the country. The programme views learning as a guided discovery through a series of structured activities, aimed at the development of the whole child. Parental involvement is a key element in the scheme.