New childcare degree course for Mayo campus

GMIT has announced it is offering a new three year degree, the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Care, commencing in September at the Mayo campus in Castlebar. 

An open information session about the new course will take place on campus tomorrow (Tuesday), July 19, from 2.30 to 4 p.m, and all are welcome.

The course is based on the contemporary principles of best practice as determined by Síolta, The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education (2006) and Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (2009).

It incorporates a range of topics some of which include Psychology and Child Development, Creativity and Language, Early Childhood Law, Childhood Development and Learning, Outdoor Play and more (see full course modules and further details on www.gmit.ie/mayo).

This new degree is the result of a collaborative partnership involving GMIT Mayo, the Mayo Early Years Sector and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency (formerly the HSE). The partnership was formed in 2014 to consider the learning needs of the early years sector.

This new innovative course integrates college-based learning with a 12-hours per week practice development. It aims to equip the learner with knowledge, skills and competencies required for autonomous working practice in Early Childhood Education and Care.

A child-led transformational philosophy underpins the programme to build authentic reciprocal relationships with children, parents, colleagues, the community and other professionals.

“The launch of this new programme is particularly timely as the sector has been expanding over the last ten years and continues to grow with the introduction by the Department of Child and Youth Affairs of a second National Free Pre-School year and the Government’s desire to upskill the sector,” explains Justin Kerr, Head of Nursing, Health Science and Social Care at GMIT Mayo.