ISKA Origins

The Irish Steiner Kindergarten Association (ISKA) was formed almost ten years ago as a forum for the professional development of its members. Membership was restricted to those currently working with young children in a Steiner Kindergarten and, in this way, the work of the association was focussed and consisted largely of regular meetings of childcare professionals addressing issues of direct interest to them in their work. At this time there was very little interest from outside in the work of the association and, while Steiner education was widely recognised internationally, there was slow but steady growth of the association in Ireland. In recent years the interest in Steiner Early Childhood Education has increased hugely and has left us, with two part-time officers funded through the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, struggling to respond to the requests for workshops, courses and more general input from providers and community groups throughout the country. We find ourselves working with non-member individuals and groups as often as with members and we are happy to do so.

As an association we aim to support members but we have an equal interest to support others who wish to adopt or adapt aspects of our holistic approach. The association is relatively small and does not wish to develop a beaurocratic life of its own. It is more likely to focus, in these next few years, on how it can facilitate and promote quality childcare from the perspective outlined above, where childhood itself is to be valued and where advocacy of childhood will remain a central concern.

ISKA has an office in Co. Clare and it runs a national training programme based in Clare. Pearse O'Shiel is the National Development Officer and he can be contacted at (061) 927944 or info@irishsteiner.org.