I n f o r m a t i o n booklet:

Sharing p erson al le ar n i ng
p o r t f o l io s w i t h p a r e n t s
(Birth-3 y e a r s )
 2
Aistea r Sío lta P rac t i c e Guide: Sharing perso na l learning portfolios with p a r e n t s

C o n ne c t io n s to A i s t e a r T h e r e is also a t e m p l a t e ca lled , Look a t

a n d Síolta
A i s te a r
Guide l ines f o r g o o d p r a c t i c e :
Building p a r t n e r s h i p s b e t w e e n p a r e n t s a n d
practitioners (pp.74-79); Supporting learning
a n d de vel opmen t thr oug h a s s e s s m e n t
(pp.13-15)
Síolta S t a n d a r d s
7: Curriculum, C7.5, 7.6
R e s e a r c h Digests linked to t h e above
This booklet provides ideas a n d suggestions for
how children’s p e r s o n a l le a r n i n g
por tfolios can b e compiled a n d u s e d to
d o c u m e n t children’s learning a n d development,
maki ng this visible
to pare nts. A portfolio c a n t ak e t h e f o r m of a n
A4 ring-binder, a scrapbook, box o r folder. It c a n
b e perso nalised for e a c h child, preferably by t h e
child, using photos, drawings o r paintings so
e a c h child c o m e s to recognise hi s / h er own
‘special book’. It tells t h e story of e a c h child’s
learning journey while in your r o o m o r setting
—his/her interests, efforts, progress a n d
achi ev emen t
over t i me a n d linked to Aistear’s t h e m e s ,
ai ms a n d learning goals. This r e c o r d helps
you to s up p or t a n d plan for e a c h child’s
learning a n d
development.
w h a t y o u r child h a s b e e n do in g , s a y i n g a n d
l e a r n i n g which you c a n u s e w h e n talking with
p a r e n t s . T h e t e m p l a t e h e l p s you to highlight
specific e x a m p l e s in t h e portfolio a n d sho w
t h e s e to p a r e n t s explaining how th e y r e l a t e
to Aistear ’s t h e m e s . You m i g ht like t o s e n d
t h e p e r s o n a l learn in g portfolio h o m e with
c h i l d r e n a n d e n c o u r a g e p a r e n t s t o get involved
in d ec or a t i n g t h e co ver by adding a p h o t o a n d
t h e child’s n a m e t o it. In t h e c a s e of babies,
a h a n d p r i n t a n d p h o t o mi g h t b e a d d e d while
o l de r c h i l d r e n c a n c h o o s e what th e y would like
to d o t o m a k e t h e i r p e r s o n a l learn in g portfolio
special. Over time , you c a n e n c o u r a g e p a r e n t s
to a d d c o m m e n t s in t h e portfolios a b o u t what
t h e i r c h i l d r e n did, said a n d l e ar n ed .
C o nt e nt s of a p e r s o n a l
l e a r n i n g p o r t f o l io
T he portfolio c a n i n c l ud e a se l ect i on of
drawings, paintings a n d o t h e r a r t work,
ph ot o g r ap h s , sto ri es by a n d a b o u t t h e child,
learn in g r e c o r d s , pr ac t i t i on er ob se r v a t i on s
a n d no t es , check l i st s a n d / o r r e c o r d s of car e ,
a s ap pr op r i a te . E n c o u r a g e c h i l d r e n t o c h o o s e
s o m e of t h e i t e m s for t h e i r portfolios. This
gives t h e m p r i d e in, a n d o w n e r s h i p of t h e i r
learn in g a n d d e v e l o p m e n t . They will enjoy
shar i n g t h e
portfolios with t h e i r p a r e n t s a n d with friends.

G e t t i ng s t a r t e d
At t h e beginning of t h e y ear o r w h e n a child
first a t t e n d s y o ur setting, you c a n i n t r o d u c e
p a r e n t s t o t h e p e r s o n a l l earn i ng portfolios a n d
sho w t h e m how you u s e t h e s e to d o c u m e n t
ch i l dren ’s l earn i ng a n d d e v e l o p m e n t . At t h e
e n d of th i s i nf o rm a t i on booklet, t h e r e is a
s a m p l e letter you c a n u s e with t h e p a r e n t s .
Adapt th i s in a way t h a t su its y o ur setting.
For examp l e, you m a y u s e a n o t h e r title for
p e r s o n a l l e a r n i n g por tfolios, s o a d d th is to
t h e letter.

www.aistearsiolta.ie
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Aistear Sí ol ta P rac t i c e Guide: Sharing pe rs onal learning portfolios with p a r e n t s

S h a r i n g t he p o r t f o l io w i t h
parents
Firstly, you mi g ht n e e d to explain t o
p a r e n t s what A i s t ea r is. You co u l d u s e t h e
following n o t e s t o guide you.

$ A i s t e ar is t h e e a r ly c h i ld h o o d
c u r r i c u l u m f r a m e w o r k for all c h i l d r e n
in Ireland. W e u s e it in o u r setting
to s u p p o r t ch i l dren ’s l earn i ng a n d
d e v e l o p m e n t t h r o u g h play, h a n d s - o n
ex peri ences , stories, d i scuss i ons a n d lots
of o t h e r f u n a n d i nt eres t i ng activities.

$ A i s t ea r d e s c r i b e s ch i l dren ’s l earn i ng
a n d d e v e l o p m e n t using f ou r t he m e s :
• We l l - b e i n g
• Id e n t i t y a n d B e l o n g i n g
• Communicating
• Ex p l o r in g a n d T h i n k i n g .
P r a c t ic a l t i p s f or b u i l d i n g
• In th is portfolio, we’ll t a k e a look a t lots
p o r t f o l io s of things yo u r c h i ld h a s b e e n l e a r n i n g
to d o a n d f i n d i n g out about a s h e / s h e
1. Put a d a t e o n e a c h i t e m s o p r o g r e s s c a n b e
plays, talks t o a n d works with myself, t h e
s e e n o v er time .
o t h e r staff a n d ch i l dren .
2. Add a brief n o t e explaining what a p h o t o o r
i t e m re l a te s to.
Ch il dren c a n bring t h e i r portfolios h o m e if
3. I nc l u de c ap t i on s of what c h i l d r e n said. This
t h e y wish a n d / o r c a n s h a r e t h e m with p a r e n t s
m a k e s t h e e n t r i e s m o r e mean i ng ful a n d
w h e n th e y a r e being d r o p p e d off o r p i c k e d u p
h e l p s you to ta lk a b o u t events , i t e m s a n d
f r o m t h e setting. You mi g ht dra w p a r e n t s ’
e x p e r i e n c e s w h e n you look a t t h e portfolio
a t t e n t i o n t o a part i cu l ar entry. S h a r e a n d
with t h e child a n d w h e n you s h a r e it with
d i s cu s s t h e portfolio ( an d o t h e r o bs e r v a t i o ns
parents.
a n d ma t e r i a l s k e p t in t h e confidential file)
4. I nc l u de c o m m e n t s t o link ch i l dren ’ s
regularly. This gives p a r e n t s t h e op po r tu n i t y t o
l earn i ng a n d d e v e l o p m e n t to Aistear’s
s e e how t h e i r child is progressing, t o a s k
t h e m e s . Only positive i n f o rm a t i on is
ques ti ons , t o s h a r e i n f o rm a t i on a n d to ra i se
r e c o r d e d in t h e portfolio. C o n c e r n s a b o u t
any c o n c e r n s th e y m a y have. T he
a s p e c t s of a child’s d e v e l o p m e n t a r e n o t e d
t e m p l a t e , L o o k a t w h a t y o u r child h a s b e e n
sepa rat e l y a n d s t o r e d confidentially.
d oi ng , s a y i n g a n d l e a r n i n g m a y b e helpful in
guiding you w h e n you a r e sha ri n g t h e portfolio
with p a r e n t s . T he t e m p l a t e mi g ht b e u s e d
p e r h a p s o n c e p e r t e r m , t o sho w l earn i ng a n d
p ro g re s s i on a n d to c a p t u r e c o m m e n t s a n d
feedback from parents.
www.aistearsiolta.ie
Pe r s o n a l L e a r n i ng Portfolio
Look at what your child h a s b e e n doing, saying a n d learning

Using t h e t e m p l a t e , L o o k a t w h a t y o u r child h a s b e e n doing , s a y i n g a n d l e a r n i n g

Pick a few e xamp l es from t h e personal learning portfolio to show how a child is progressing. Think of what t h e photos,
learning records, observations a n d t h e child’s own words tell you about h i s / h e r progress. Note t h e page n u m b e r in t h e
portfolio or d es cr i be t h e anecd ote. Link t h e learning to one of Aistear’s t h e m e s a n d give a s u m m a r y of what t h e child
l e a r n e d thr o u g h t h e t h e m e . As you talk with p ar en t s , invite t h e m to s h a r e t he i r ex amp l es a n d jot down i mp o rt an t points.

Below a r e s o m e ex amp l es of information t h a t might b e r e c o r d e d in a child’s personal learning portfolio. You mig ht s h a r e
e xamp l es like t h e s e with pa re n ts . You mig ht ha v e sh ort c o m m e n t s or quotes from a child written in h i s / h e r portfolio a n d
you c a n a d d to t h e s e to explain to p a r e n t s what t h e child was doing, t h e things h e / s h e likes a n d is i n t e r e s t e d in. Together,
t h e e xamp l es should e n a b l e you a n d p a r e n t s to s e e how t h e child is progressing. For example, t h e r e should b e a
significant difference b e t w e e n what a child c a n do in S e p t e m b e r a n d what h e / s h e c a n do t h e following June.

Using e xa m p l e s from t h e Personal Learning Portfolios with p a r e n t s

Use o ne copy of t h e temp l ate , Look what your child h a s b e e n doing, saying a n d learning p e r child. Look thr o u g h
h i s / h e r portfolio a n d identify s o m e specific examples. Note t h e page n u m b e r s or m a k e a brief c o m m e n t ab out t h e
e xamp l es a n d using a highlighter or o t he r m a r k , show which a s p ec t s of t h e child’s learning you feel a r e reflected. You’ll
find a s a m p l e c o mp l et ed t e m p l a t e in this information booklet.
Aistea r Sío lta P rac t i c e Guide: Sharing perso na l learning portfolios with p a r e n t s

10

S a m p le letter f or p a re nt s w h i c h c a n be a d a p t e d to s u i t you r
s e t t i ng

D ear Pa re n t s / G u ar d i a ns ,

We l c o m e t o INSERT SETTING NAME. W e h o p e t h a t y ou r child will h a v e f u n playing a n d l earn i ng

lots of ne w things in o u r setting.

W e u s e p e r s o n a l l e a r n i n g p or t f o l ios (or i n s e r t y o ur own title) in i n s e r t setting n a m e . This gives

e x a m p l e s of things y ou r child h a s m a d e , p ro j ec t s y ou r child h a s b e e n involved in, trips y ou r child
h a s g o n e o n a n d lots of o t h e r f u n a n d exciting th i ng s y ou r child h a s e x p e r i e n c e d in o u r setting.
W e also s t o r e confidential i n f o rm a t i on in t h e office/filing c a b i n e t (insert t h e r e l e v an t detail)
which you a r e we l c om e t o s e e a t an y time . Together, t h e s e r e c o r d s sho w how m u c h y ou r child
h a s de v el oped a n d l e a r n e d d ur i ng t h e t i m e with us. As o u r c u r r i c u l u m is b a s e d o n Aistear : t h e
Early
C hil dhood C u r r i c u l u m F r a m e w o r k , we i nc l u de links to it. A i s t ea r d e s c r i b e s ch i l dren ’s l earn i ng
a n d d e v e l o p m e n t using f ou r t h e m e s :

• We l l - b e i n g - c h i l d r e n a r e confi dent, ha pp y a n d healthy.

• Id e n t i t y a n d B e l o n g i n g - c h i l d r e n a r e c o n t e n t with who th e y are , a n d feel
loved a n d valued in t h e i r family a n d c o m m u n i t y.
• C o m m u n i c a t i n g - c h i l d r e n s h a r e t h e i r ideas, e x p e r i e n c e s a n d feelings in m a n y
d ifferent ways.
• Exp l oring a n d T h i n k i n g - c h i l d r e n m a k e s e n s e of things, p l aces a n d
p eo p l e a r o u n d t h e m a n d build t h e i r own ideas a b o u t why th ings a r e t h e
way t h e y are .

W e look forward to building t h e p e r s o n a l l earn i ng portfolio (or i n s e r t y ou r o wn title) with you a n d

y ou r child. You c a n bring th i s h o m e a t an y t i m e a n d a d d photos , c o m m e n t s a n d an y o t h e r i t e m s you
wish. W e h o p e t h a t y o ur child’s p e r s o n a l learn in g portfolio (or i n s e r t y ou r o wn title) will h e l p to
sho w you what y ou r child is doing a n d learn in g in [ n a m e of setting] a n d how i m p o r t a n t play is to all
of
this. Please c o m e a n d talk to u s a t any stage du r i n g t h e year. W e w el co me y o ur quest i ons, ideas
a n d suggestions.
Kind re g ards,

___________________________________

www.aistearsiolta.ie