Module Code: H6ELR
Long Title Essential Legislation and Regulation in ECEC
Title Essential Legislation and Regulation in ECEC
Module Level: LEVEL 6
EQF Level: 5
EHEA Level: Short Cycle
Credits: 10
Module Coordinator: Meera Oke
Module Author: Stephanie Roe
Departments: NCI Learning & Teaching
Specifications of the qualifications and experience required of staff  
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Demonstrate a clear understanding of the importance of essential legislation relating to Early Childhood Education and the Government departments and bodies.
LO2 Demonstrate knowledge of all the essential regulations that influence the diverse nature of early childhood environments from birth to six years.
LO3 Demonstrate an awareness and knowledge of information resources available to Early Childhood Educators, outlining relevant and current legislation and regulation in line with practice.
LO4 Recognise legal obligations and accountability of Early Childhood Educators safeguarding children and maintaining a secure and safe ECEC environment under current legislation and regulations.
LO5 Demonstrate an understanding of the efficacy of legislation and regulation and its implications for the Early Childhood Education and Care environment.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is required before enrolment on this module. While the prior learning is expressed as named NCI module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Entry requirements  
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
Essential Irish legislation and regulation (Week 1)
Historical roots of llegislation and regulation in the context of Irish Early Childhood Education and Care environments (universal standards of education and care, role of the inspectorate, compliance, etc.). Síolta Standard 15, Legislation and Regulation in ECEC environments.
Government Departments and Bodies responsible for regulation in ECEC (Week 2)
Department of Education & Skills, TUSLA, Child & Family Agency, Department of Children and Youth Affairs etc.
Introduction of key pieces of Irish legislation and regulation (Week 3, 4 & 5)
Child Care Act 1991, Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Registration of School Age Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2019, Regulations 2016, Quality and Regulatory Framework, Guidelines for Childminders, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1992), Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (2004), Data Protection legislation, First 5 etc.
Types of legislation, & regulations and policies and its impact on ECEC (week 6 & 7)
Síolta, The National Quality Framework, Aistear, The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, Better Outcomes Brighter Future, The National Policy Framework for Children & Young People, QRF etc. Introduction to CA assessment, Equality and Diversity charter.
Resources available (Week 8)
Aistear/ Síolta practice guide, Better Start National Early Years Quality Development Service, Childcare Committees, Barnardos, etc.
Roles and responsibilities of Safeguarding children in an ECEC environment (Week 9 & 10)
Children First: National Guidance for the Protection, principles and practice, roles and responsibilities and Welfare of Children, Garda Vetting, QRF, Síolta Standard 9 Health and Welfare, etc.
Statutory obligations and responsibilities of an Early childhood Educator (week 11)
Awareness of reporting procedures, recoding, relevant documentation, understanding providing a quality provision, policies and procedure, etc- underpinned by current legislation and regulations.
Exam Preparation (Week 12)
Preparing for the exam, question and answer session
Summary and revision (Week 13)
n/a
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework50.00%
End of Module Assessment50.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Coursework
Assessment Type: Essay % of total: 50
Assessment Date: n/a Outcome addressed: 1,2,3
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Students will be required to access information though the mediums discussed regarding information on two pieces of essential legislation and/or regulation. Discuss the chosen legislation and the effects on children and the ECEC environment. (approx. 2000 words).
End of Module Assessment
Assessment Type: Terminal Exam % of total: 50
Assessment Date: End-of-Semester Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4,5
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Exam – short answer and long essay style questions.
No Workplace Assessment
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat failed items
The student must repeat any item failed
Reassessment Description
Students must pass all components of assessment on the module; a component fail leads to a component repeat.

NCIRL reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Module Target Workload Hours 0 Hours
Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture Lecture 36 Per Semester 3.00
Independent Learning Independent Learning 178 Per Semester 14.83
Workbased learning Workbased Learning 36 Per Semester 3.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 6.00
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • CECDE. (2006), Síolta the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, CEDCE, Dublin.
  • Department of Children and Youth Affairs. (2014), Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Framework for Children and Young People, 2014-2020, DoCYA, Dublin.
  • Department of Children and Youth Affairs. (2016), Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Charter and Guidelines for Early Childhood Care and Education, DoCYA, Dublin.
  • National Council for Curriculum & Assessment. (2009), Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, NCCA, Dublin.
  • Barnados. (2019), Legislation Handbook for Early Childhood Settings, Barnados, Dublin.
Supplementary Book Resources
  • National Council for Curriculum & Assessment. (2009), Practice guide to Síolta and Aistear, NCCA, Dublin.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
Discussion Note: