The Primary Curriculum Framework

The Primary Curriculum Framework is for all primary and special schools and will guide the work of teachers and school leaders as they enhance learning, teaching, and assessment for all children from junior infants to sixth class.
The framework sets out the vision, principles, key competencies, structure, approaches to learning, teaching and assessment, and time allocations for the redeveloped curriculum.

It links with Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and connects with the Framework for Junior Cycle supporting continuity of experiences for children from early childhood through primary school and into their post-primary education.
The framework presents five broad curriculum areas; Arts Education, Language; Social and Environmental Education (SEE); Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Education, and Wellbeing. The development of curriculum specifications for each of these areas is underway and draft specifications will be published for extensive consultation in 2024.

A half-day school closure is being provided to facilitate whole-school engagement with the Framework so that schools can begin to become familiar with its content (see Circular 0017/2023). The following resources have been developed to support schools:
• an interagency video presenting the key messages of the Primary Curriculum Framework
• a walk-through video on the Framework.
Further information on the Primary Curriculum Framework can be found here.