Learning Story Awards
Closing Date: 21 February 2020
Learning Story Awards
A ‘Learning Story’ is a record of what an educator has seen a child (or group of children) doing in an early learning and care service. Learning Stories allow us to document a child’s learning. They are a tool for tuning into the world of children in a deeper, more meaningful way as educators. Learning stories are an opportunity to truly hear children, to listen, watch and see, in order to extend a child’s learning.
Learning Stories are an effective and inclusive way of documentation and assessment in early childhood settings that require knowledgeable educators who understand children’s learning. Carr and Lee (2012) believe that learning stories are powerful ways of documenting learning, using the reciprocal relationships between the child, people and the environment.
Click here to learn more about Wendy Lee & Margaret Carr’s learning story framework (2012)
These narratives are observations of children’s participation in everyday activities, in everyday settings that demonstrate children’s growing identities, dispositions, thoughts, explorations and communications. This natural way of documenting children’s journeys, learning and development links strongly with the words, wonderings, questions and ideas from children. Early Childhood Ireland recognises these quality practices and are delighted to share these stories with our members through our learning story awards.
Three awards will be presented in the Learning Story Awards Category:
Award 1:
Learning Story of the Year (Written to an individual child)
Award 2:
Emergent Curriculum in Action Learning Story of the Year (Written about a group of children)
Award 3:
Best Learning Story from ‘Newcomer’ setting (Written to an individual child).






Criteria for Short-listing and Judging – Individual Learning Story award (to an individual child)
Please use the application form to demonstrate:
Criteria for Short-listing and Judging - Emergent Curriculum in Action Award (Written about a group of children)
Criteria for Short-listing and Judging - Learning Story Category – Best ‘Newcomer’ story (individual or group)
Please use the application form to demonstrate:
Documentation and Supporting Evidence
- The maximum word limit is 1000 words
- Award entries must be factually accurate.
- Photograph submission form, if applicable
- A signed Declaration
- Consents for all photos included (photos will not be accepted without photo consents).
- Supportive evidence may include for e.g. relevant photographs , artwork but is not essential.
- You can embed your photos into your word application form (file size should not be bigger than 3mb)
Opening and closing dates for awards applications.
Opening Date: 6 January 2020
Closing Date: 21 February 2020
For more information on how to apply and the short-listing and judging process see here
To view previous Learning Story Award winners, please click here