Welcome to the website of the Irish Steiner Kindergarten
Association (ISKA), which is Ireland's national voluntary association of
Steiner Waldorf childcare practitioners. Members are based throughout the 32 counties of Ireland.
Associate membership is open to all who support the work of the Association.
The ISKA website is Ireland's primary source of information about Steiner Waldorf
education in early childhood for parents, our members, government and funding
agencies, childcare practitioners and other childcare organisations.
Our activities
ISKA provides support for members as well as responding to the increasing
level of interest in Steiner Waldorf early childhood education more generally in
Ireland. The association has established a programme of workshops on aspects of
Steiner Waldorf education for childcare practitioners and it runs a three-year
part-time training programme (the Early Childhood Education Programme). ISKA
and its activities are supported through the National Childcare Investment Programme.
The ISKA National Co-ordinator, Audrey Flynn, provides general advice, support and information on ISKA services, talks,
workshops, annual conference, newsletters and maintains the mailing list. She is based in the ISKA Office in County Clare
and can be contacted on info@steinerireland.org. The National Development Officer and Siolta Co-ordinator Ulrike Farnleitner
provides pedagogical and quality assurance support and mentoring for Kindergartens and members nationally and can be
contacted on advisory@steinerireland.org.
Further information on Siolta the national early years quality assurance process
here: www.siolta.ie, and the free preschool year
here: www.omc.gov.ie.
More general information on Childcare supports and regulations in Ireland may also be found
at www.omc.gov.ie.
Kindling Journal available
Kinding, the Journal for the Steiner Waldorf Early Years Education (UK) is
be printed twice yearly (Spring and Autumn) and subscriptions are available from
ISKA. Subscribe online...
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Early Writing and the Nursery School Gender Gap
Here is an article (PDF)
in the UK Independent that describes new government measures designed to
accelerate readiness to write among boys in nursery school. Meanwhile multiple current studies,
described here, indicate
that, by age 11, there is no difference between children who are taught to read at ages 5 and 7!
see list of other articles
New Education Research Resource!
Lifeways has sponsored a wide-ranging annotated bibliography of articles and research
that concentrates on early childhood education. There are links to about 300 articles,
many very recent. There is a lot to learn here, and a lot that can help put the case for
a child-centered progressive approach to education.
The website here is
password protected,
so before you visit, write down the login, education, and
the password, renewal.
Announcing new ISKA Training
Orientation Year in Anthroposophy
This part-time year long course has been designed as a new experiential model of training in Anthroposophy.
It is established as a Foundation Year with optional progression to an accredited two-year certification in
Kindergarten Teacher Training. This first year serves as a foundation for pedagogical, creative
and other studies in the field of Anthroposophy.
The skills learnt on this course will be of benefit to all and will enhance ones’ quality of life.
The course will commence in January 2012 in Grangemockler, Co. Tipperary,
on the border of beautiful Co. Kilkenny.
The first module will take place from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th, January 2012 (subject to prior registration
of the required number of participants).
Click here
for a brochure with details including course structure,
curriculum, timetable, and application form.
For further queries
email training.iska@gmail.com.
ISKA 2010 Autumn Newsletter
The Kindling newsletter is still available. Read it or download a copy
of it here.
Helle Heckmann's new book:
Childhood's Garden, Shaping everyday life around the needs of young children
is now available through ISKA. Helle is from Denmark and is active in teacher education throughout
the world. For details on her book, which includes a DVD, click
here.
Healing Stories for Challenging Behaviour, a
new book by Susan Perrow
is appreciatively reviewed here
by Ruth Marshall
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