NCI Blog

Early Childhood Education and Care is the study of the holistic development of children from birth to pre-primary age. The BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care is available through both daytime and evening delivery options, giving a wide range of flexbility to every student whether they are new to the sector or returning to education. Read on to find out everything you need to know about studying Early Childhood Education and Care at NCI.

Are you passionate about early childhood education? Grace Viscarra shares her journey from Bolivia to Ireland in this blog post. She shares insights into advancing her career as an educator by studying BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) at NCI, exploring Ireland’s stunning landscapes, and enhancing her English skills through interactions with Irish local community.

Now this is amazing news to shout about: current Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) student, Naoise Howley, will represent Ireland at the World Lacrosse Women's Under 20 Championship in Hong Kong in August! In this interview, she shares her path to being selected for the team and her excitement at the opportunity ahead, along with insights into studying ECEC and advice for anyone considering their CAO choices.

Jimmy Ahmed (pictured far left) at the Finbarr Flood Scholarship Ceremony For many students who are making their CAO choices, one factor that helps rank college courses is the positive impact you could have on society as a graduate. Working in areas such as healthcare, sustainability, non-profit or education can be incredibly rewarding and it starts with the choices you make as you prepare to leave secondary school.

This is a guest blog post from the Early Learning Initiative at NCI which works to address the problem of educational underachievement in marginalised communities. Sensory play can be a valuable tool for children's development, but the mess it can create often worries parents. Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy the benefits of sensory play without wrecking your home. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of sensory play and provide activities that won't take all day to clean up.

Missed the CAO deadline or you're unhappy with your previous course choices? You still have a chance to attend NCI this September through the Available Places facility! Further information can be found on our Available Places hub.

As part of the Centre for Education and Lifelong Learning at National College of Ireland’s Festival of Education and Lifelong Learning, a practice-based early childhood education seminar took place. This event focused on the opportunity digital storytelling represents as a pedagogical tool in early childhood education and Reflective practice in ECEC Educator preparation. Part one of the seminar, which focused on digital storytelling, was facilitated by Dr Marianne Undheim, Associate Professor and Lecturer at the University of Stavanger, Norway.

National College of Ireland has extended its long-established and highly reputed BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), from evening delivery to also being offered as a daytime course to CAO applicants.

Early Learning Initiative's gift guide puts a 'doctor set' at the top of the recommendation list Christmas is what you make of it. Even as we each negotiate our own path between what the Government is permitting us to do over the festive season and what we know to be the safest and healthiest care to take of our own families, in our own situations, we must remember that there is not one single ‘correct’ way to have a Happy Christmas. We can adapt to current times and still share comfort and joy.

Dr Josephine Bleach, Director of the Early Learning Initiative at National College of Ireland This year will bring a different Hallowe’en. Parties will not be possible in a time of social distancing, nor trick-or-treating sensible when the best health advice is to limit contact with unfamiliar households. However, children can still have a spook-tacular time!