Mhic Mhathúna, Máire and Nic Fhionnlaoich, Fiona (2021) Why parents chose to send their children to Irish-medium immersion preschools: learning from parental choice strategies in Celtic countries. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 29 (3). pp. 441-454. ISSN 1350-293X

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Abstract

This study investigated the reasons Irish parents chose to send their children to Irish-medium preschools settings over other forms of early childhood education. The international literature on parental decision making regarding childcare and relevant studies on immersion education in Celtic countries were reviewed. A parental questionnaire, informed by this literature, was distributed through selected immersion settings in Ireland. Social and cognitive development were the main reasons parents cited in regard to early childhood education and an interest in the Irish language and bilingualism along with the good reputation of the immersion preschool were the reasons they chose immersion pre-schooling. Comparisons were made with the reasons parents chose immersion primary education in Scotland, Wales and Ireland and the findings were broadly similar across the studies. Recommendations include disseminating information about immersion preschools more widely as well as reviewing the impact of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act (DES, Admission to Schools Policy. Dublin: DES. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/ 2018/act/14/enacted/en/html, 2018) on enrolment in Irish-medium preschools and primary schools.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite as: Mhic Mhathúna, M. & Nic Fhionnlaoich, F. 2021, "Why parents chose to send their children to Irish-medium immersion preschools: learning from parental choice strategies in Celtic countries", European early childhood education research journal, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 441-454.
Keywords:	Irish-medium preschools; parental motivation; social networks; minority languages; early childhood education;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education
Item ID:	17618
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2021.1928718
Depositing User:	Fiona Nic Fhionnaoich
Date Deposited:	28 Sep 2023 13:43
Journal or Publication Title:	European Early Childhood Education Research Journal
Publisher:	Routledge
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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