The Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years programme, LINC, is a Level 6 Special Purpose Award (Higher Education), that is designed to support the inclusion of all children in the early years. The course is offered for free to people working within early years education and is fully funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. 

Please click on the pink button below for more information.

The LINC+ Programme was launched in March 2021. It was created to enable graduates of the LINC Programme to benefit from regular professional support and development, through additional training, networking and development of communities of practice.  The programme is fully-funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and is delivered completely online.

Please click on pink button below for more information.

Please click on the pink button below for information on Better Start – The National Early Years Quality Development Service

Please click on the pink button below for more information on the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide which was updated and newly designed in 2025:

The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate developed a Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF), to support registered Early Years Services to comply with the 2016 Regulations. The QRF does this by setting out the core regulatory requirements in a transparent way, bringing together evidence-based, national and international research and best practice in Early Years. The QRF aims to support registered providers in achieving compliance with the regulations and enhance the safety and care of children who attend these services. The QRF is child-centred, with a specific focus on the quality and safety of the care provided directly to children using the services.

The QRF documents are currently being updated. Please see links below which will bring you to the documents that are revised and available at present:

Link to QRF Tusla page: https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-providers/early-years-provider-resources/quality-and-regulatory-framework-and-question-answer-documents/

QRF for Full and part-time pre-school services: https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/EYI-GDE12.7_TUSLA_QRF_FDC_and_PT_.pdf 

QRF for Sessional pre-school services: https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/EYI-GDE12.8_QRF_-_Sessional_Pre-School_Service_.pdf  

To complete the E-learning programme, click on link below:
https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-quality-and-regulatory-framework/quality-and-regulatory-framework-elearning-programme/

An updated version of Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework has been prepared by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and has been published.

You can access the framework here.

Please click here to view the Aistear Family Guide.

Please click here to view a copy of the guidelines.

The Learning Hub provides resources and information on Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for Early Years Educators, School-Age Childcare (SAC) Practitioners and childminders and offers a diverse range of eLearning programmes to support you to further develop your professional knowledge, skills and practice.

Please click here to go to the Learning Hub.

Please click here to view video on how to register on the Learning Hub.

Please click here to login once you have registered on the Learning Hub.

Please click here to view the Barnardo’s document on Planning and Responding to critical incidents in early learning and care & school age childcare services.

Please click here to view the Barnardo’s document on Supporting Children’s Emotional Wellbeing. This resource provides information on the kinds of support that will help children in an early learning and care setting or a school age childcare setting to cope better following a critical incident, which will have a positive impact on their wellbeing both now and in their future.