The implementation of the new Primary language curriculum in junior infants is a

massive mile-stone and development in the Irish curriculum as there has been no official
change to the curriculum since 1999. This is quite a significant fact considering how
much Ireland has changed and developed over the past two decades. This new language
curriculum will be implemented rom September 2016 with the focus being on the
implementation of the oral language strand, with the following year seeing the focus on
the new reading and writing strands as they are brought on stream. By September 2018
all strands of the new curriculum will be taught to young children in junior infants to
2nd classes. A new curriculum for children in 3rd through to 6th class is currently in
preparation,
and
this
will
be
introduced
in
September
2019.
According to the curriculum online, this implementation is significant reform and it is
vital that school leaders and teachers are given the necessary Continuous Professional
Development (CPD) to allow them to implement the new curriculum and ensure that our
young learners benefit to the maximum extent. The success of any curriculum change
relies on dedicated, engaged teachers. It is important that they receive the CPD necessary
to deliver this new language curriculum. The planning, teaching and assessing for
learning on English and Irish is composed or based upon four interconnected components
which are: Learning outcomes, Progression Continua, Support material for teachers, and
Examples of childrens language learning and development. These components help
make the new curriculum, which may be intimidating for many educators, more
accessible
and
easier
to
implement
successfully.
The last two decades have seen significant changes in Irish society and this is perhaps
why the implementation of this new curriculum in Junior infants is so significant but also
necessary. Over 200 languages are now spoken in Ireland. Curriculum reviews and
research during this time have highlighted strengths and challenges of the 1999
curriculum for English and Irish. Teachers have called for a less crowded curriculum
with a greater emphasis on practice and on supporting progression in childrens language
learning and development. Findings have highlighted the need for a new Primary
Language Curriculum which: integrates English and Irish and includes all children and
the language knowledge and experiences that children bring to school; engages teachers
and learners and supports children to develop positive dispositions toward language and
literacy; supports teachers to help children to progress in their language learning and
development through the primary years; is more than functional; which enables children
to make and explore meaning as well as receive and create it. It is through the successful
implementation of this new curriculum that these aims will be achieved.