2026-10-09T19:50:06Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/32638104 2026-10-01T16:47:34Z portal_1172 item_type_8 month_year_10_2026

Education inspections of early learning and care settings in the Republic of Ireland, an exploratory study regarding the processes and practices of parental engagement and involvement Martina Carter (24167973) PUREID: 522513509 Parent engagement and involvement in early learning parent participation in inspections parent ELC setting partnerships parents perspectives of quality in early education Early Years Education Inspection Quality Framework parents perspectives of their child's ELC setting There is near universal agreement among parents, educators and policy makers that parents’ engagement and involvement in their children’s early childhood education is critical. Common themes underpinning various conceptual and practical approaches are that children do not learn or develop in isolation and that a partnership approach between parents and educators in ELC settings should be characterised by shared power, collaboration, responsiveness, and sensitivity. Building on existing developments and adopting a mixed methods approach comprising a review of education inspection reports, a survey and stakeholder interviews, the study explored how and in what ways settings involve parents in learning within the parameters of the Early Years Education Inspection (EYEI) quality framework as outlined in the EYEI Guide to Early Years Education Inspection (Inspectorate, Department of Education and Skills, 2016, 2018). The study aimed to identify what worked well, barriers and challenges and, lastly, the mechanisms to further support and include parents. The findings highlight a shared appreciation of the importance of parental engagement and involvement. Variations in the practices of informing and involving parents in learning were noted. Alongside this, parents appeared not to be commonly involved in decision-making processes around learning, in ELC setting reviews and evaluations. This was at odds with parents’ genuine interest in being involved and gaining knowledge about quality early childhood education parameters. The perspectives held by educators and parents about each other and their respective roles appeared to be one of the main barriers. These findings have implications for policy and practice in developing approaches to parental engagement and involvement in learning in ELC settings and in inspection processes, that acknowledge the pivotal importance of the role of educators and that also affirm and respect parents’ unique knowledge of their own children and their role as primary educators for their children.<br><br> 2026-10-01T16:47:34Z Text Thesis 10.17034/32638104.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Education_inspections_of_early_learning_and_care_settings_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland_an_exploratory_study_regarding_the_processes_and_practices_of_parental_engagement_and_involvement/32638104 All Rights Reserved