Wicklow County Childcare Committee
Newsletter Winter 2010
Inside this issue: ECCE Update In the first ECCE period, January to June, 83% of eligible children were enrolled in the Free Pre-school Year scheme. ECCE Update 1
From September it's estimated that 63,000 out of 67,000 (94%) are taking part. By 1 Playbus comparative European standards, it’s a very high level of participation in a very short time.
Parent Seminars 2 Of the 63,000 children... New Childcare Facilities 3 83% are in sessional services, 9 ½% in Full Day care Road Safety 4 7 ½% in half day care, 95% attending 5 days a week, 2.5% 4 days and 2.5% 3 days
Parenting 4 All Services have now received a letter from OMCYA confirming those children for whom they’re Childminding News 5 receiving the capitation fee.
Mentoring Support 6 Payments in 2011
Dormant Accounts 6 38 week services will receive 2 payments: for 11 weeks from January to March, and 11 weeks from April to June 6 Service Reviews 50 week services will receive 3 payments: for 13 weeks from January to March, 12 weeks from April to June and 8 weeks from July to August The County Wicklow Playbus arrives!
and more. There’s also a separate room on weeks with a full programme starting in the Bus for group and one to one meetings. 2011. Its capital cost being funded with the The Co Wicklow Playbus is one of only four support of the Dormant Accounts Fund via Playbuses in the country so it’s something of the Office of the Minister for Children and a coup for the County to get one! It’s been Youth Affairs, Playbus is supported through driven by an inter-agency steering the National Play Policy which aims to committee with representatives from County create better play opportunities for children; Wicklow VEC, Wicklow County Childcare it’s also intended to provide services to Committee, FAS, HSE, Wicklow County support the family as a whole, particularly Council, Arklow Springboard, Wicklow Child those parents and children experiencing and Family Project and East Wicklow Youth 'The Playbus with some members of it's social exclusion. Service. steering group, before the Bus had a name ! Co Wicklow Playbus is participative, with Look out for it in a town or village near you ! everyone welcome to contribute to the For further information contact the Playbus The Co Wicklow Playbus arrived in the planning and delivery of its service. Coordinator, Gemma Furlong, on 086-026 rd 6462. County on Wednesday November 3 . It’s a Children can play on the upper deck while bus, but it’s no ordinary bus ! It’s a brightly their parents/guardians can meet each coloured double decker which is just the other, or a representative from one of the ticket for young and old alike. The upstairs agencies who will be on the bus regularly, has been fully fitted out for children with so or complete a training course. many attractions - story time corner, dress up area, music corner, wet area, lentil box, At other times it’ll be a venue for young toys, games and puzzles and much more. people to meet. Downstairs is a learning and meeting space The Playbus made its first visits to for adults and teenagers with a tea/coffee Baltinglass, Carnew and Rathdrum. Further area, an IT facility, an information board visits will be made to other areas in the next
publication Tuesday, November 09, 2010 14:58 page 1 MagentaYellowBlackCyan Parenting Seminars
As part of the Wicklow County Childcare Committee’s Parenting Seminar Series a number of parenting seminars were st held throughout the county this Autumn. The first seminar took place in Baltinglass on Tuesday 21 September. This free Seminar on the topic of “Children’s Self Esteem” facilitated by Val Mullally was held in the The Parish Centre and and proved very popular with over 35 people attending. The feedback from the session was excellent and a number of th participants then went on to enrol on the Parenting course which started on October 5 . This interactive Parenting course ran over five nights covering topics such as relationships, needs, discipline and play. This was the sixth course Marion Connell has facilitated; they have all proved extremely popular and the feedback has been excellent from each one. It is hoped to organise another Parenting course specifically relating to the teenage years with Marion in Spring 2011 in the Baltinglass area.
Wicklow Town parents also had the opportunity to hear Val Mullally—at a Parents Seminar in the Grand Hotel, on th Wedneday, 6 October where Val spoke about “Parenting Teens”. Val spoke about how teenagers’ brains are still developing and how teens think, and gave some tips on how to avoid conflict within the family. Feedback again was positive and parents indicated that they would like more of this type of training.
th The third seminar took place in the Ramada Hotel, Bray on Monday, 11 October. This Interactive event was also with Val Mullally on the topic of Childrens Self Esteem. It coincided with the beginning of National Parents’ Week, and proved very popular attracting in excess of 40 participants. The feedback from the evening was positive, with many requests for additional seminars and training in all aspects of parenting.
If you are interested in being notified for these seminars or courses email your contact details to [email protected] or ring Judy on (0404) 64455.
Parent & Toddler Group Grants
Wicklow County Childcare Committee are delighted to announce that the following Parent and Toddler Groups were awarded grant funding through the Parent & Toddler Group Grant initiative in 2010.
Donoughmore, Donard & Dunlavin M&T Group Donard Newcastle & Newtownmountkennedy Newcastle Tinahely P&T Group Tinahely Dunlavin Community Playgroup Dunlavin New Beginnings Vallleymount United Nappy P&T Group Bray Valley Parents & Toddlers Avoca Humpty Dumpty Glenealy Jolly Tots Parent & Toddler Group Baltinglass St Patricks Hall P&T Group Kilcoole Aughrim P&T Group Aughrim
WCCC would like to wish all its readers a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013
publication Tuesday, November 09, 2010 14:58 page 2 MagentaYellowBlackCyan New Childcare facilities in Wicklow
Name Owner Location Service Type
Treehouse Childcare Aine Conway Sea Road, Kilcoole Full day care Fran’s Little Flowers Frances Burke Beech Road, Arklow ECCE Childminder Home Comforts Dawn Wynne Woodlands Rise, Arklow ECCE Childminder Busy Bees Karen Vickers The Rise, Friars Hill, Wicklow ECCE Childminder Small Talk Pre-school Fiona Duffy Ballyknockan, Glenealy ECCE Childminder Topsy Turvey Pre-school Majella Turner Killiskey, Ashford Sessional Naíonra Chill Mhantáin Ciara Watson Broomhall, Wicklow Sessional Dee’s Montessori Pre-school Deirdre Dunne St Lawrences Park, Wicklow Sessional Cuala Montessori Sandra Kiernan Cuala Grove, Bray Sessional Aughrim Montessori Playgroup Siobhan Shields Community Sports Complex Sessional Tinahely Community Playgroup Kerry McGrath School Road, Tinahely Full day care St Patricks After School Club Shanna Winstanley Church Road After School
Cuala Montessori, Bray Dawn Wynne, Childminder, Arklow
Treehouse Childcare, Kilccole Tinahely Community Playgroup
Jack & Jill's (VEC), Arklow, has moved into new purpose-built premises at Fernhill Plaza and extended the range of services offered. Ballyflanigan AMI Montessori Barnacleagh, Thomastown, Arklow has extended its service to include a Toddler Room and After School.
publication Tuesday, November 09, 2010 14:58 page 3 MagentaYellowBlackCyan Road Safety for Pre-schoolers The Road Safety Authority has developed a pack which can be used in pre- schools throughout the country, called ‘Simon and Friends’. The aim of the resource is to promote road safety to children aged five and under in a preschool setting. The series centres on four characters who promote age appropriate road safety messages to children: Name of Story Key Road Safety Message ‘Simon’s Suprise’ Holding Hands ‘Josie’s Picnic’ Stopping ‘Sara & Sophia’s Trip to the Farm’ Look and listen ‘Charlie Goes to a Party’ Setting a Good Example
Each book is beautifully illustrated. At the end of each story there are a number of extension activities which preschool providers can use to prompt other learning experiences with the children. Stories are also recorded onto a CD Rom which can be played to children in their early year’s environment. The CD also contains a number of road safety songs and an interactive computer game targeted at the under 5’s. The pack also contains an accompanying teacher’s guide called ‘Hand in Hand’ which includes information about integrating road safety into the Early Years Environment and suggested activities, games and songs which support the ‘Simon and Friends’ stories. The Teachers Guide, Storybooks and CD are all enclosed in a colourful case. The pack is supported by the Office for the Minister for Children. The programme can help childcare services reach Standard 9 of the Sīolta Programme: ‘Health and Welfare’ . It is our intention to roll out this training over the coming months. If you are interested in participating, please contact Judy on (0404) 64455. Further info on www.rsa.ie.
Parents Guide The Best Interests of the Child From this month Wicklow CCC will be distributing an information guide for parents on the various For anybody working with children in any capacity in Ireland it is a childcare options available to them, and fundamental principle, enshrined in our laws, that they have regard for the information on the support schemes which are best interests of the child. People working with children are required to now in place for Childcare. This includes information on the Community Childcare understand, implement and keep up to date with changes in, relevant Subvention Scheme, the Free Pre School Year in legislation in relation to childcare. However, this principle has often been Early Childhood Care & Education and the lacking in the treatment of children in Ireland and up until recently, it’s Childcare Employment Training Support Scheme. been possible for a childcare qualification to be obtained without any
We hope this short guide education either in the legislation, or the care contract, which exists in will assist childcare relation to our dealings with children. providers to deal with some of the queries parents may The Best Interests of the Child, written by Eileen Mc Partland, takes the raise with them on the reader through the main pieces of Irish child legislation in an easy to various schemes now in understand way, and explains the importance of the law as it affects the place. It is colour-coded for care and protection of children. For the first time people who work with the different schemes and children in any capacity have access to a source book on their duties in should be very useful for relation to the children in their care. parents trying to The book clearly discusses the concept of the best interests of the understand. Wicklow CCC individual child in everyday settings, how the child must be put at the would like to acknowledge centre of decisions made concerning them, and how the child’s views, its neighbours in South Dublin County Childcare insofar as they can express them, should be considered in all situations. Committee who developed the publication. If you The book opens with chapters on the Irish Constitution and the United require copies please contact WCCC on 0404- Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and goes on to examine 64455 and we’ll forward them out to you. the main pieces of Irish legislation that have an impact on children’s lives. It is set to become an essential affordable text for professionals in the industry. Eileen McPartland has a BComm and a Dip Legal Studies. She teaches legal aspects of childcare in a eb! range of Childcare and Early Education courses and the W e’re on Childcare Management Programmes in Liberties W e College of Further Education. She is also a business ccc.i mentor with Dublin City Enterprise Board. www.w
Best Interests of the Child is published by Gill & Macmillan priced at ńńń9.99.
publication Tuesday, November 09, 2010 14:58 page 4 MagentaYellowBlackCyan Childminders’ Network News Coming soon....
It’s been a busy time so far this season! There have been lots of really fun training/activities for Childminders and kids: Tumbling Toddlers, Make and Play Games, and Walks in the Woods (with craft!) in the National Garden Centre, Kilpedder, & Avondale Forest Park over mid-term—where 50 of us turned up despite the rain! We even had a session on Montessori in the Home for Childminders. At our Forum in June, you all said you wanted more interactive events that you could do with the kids. Well, it seems you are really enjoying the variety of events now, as there are so many thank you texts afterwards. Good idea everyone! But a special thanks must go to Michelle Hett, who followed up by sending a proposed year of activities - many of the lovely facilitators are her friends and accomplices! Some of the remaining events up to Christmas are listed below. All Childminders are welcome, just drop a text to sign up. In fact, if you want to bring a friend, please do– especially for Irish in the Home, which will be all chat (as Gaeilge) and will be enjoyed just as much by the parents of toddlers. Lewis & Asha on the Walk in the Woods in Avondale. For further info, please contact Miriam on 087-2198944 W
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Mentoring Update Learning Through Play in There are now 17 new Childminders receiving support from our 4 mentors. It’s great to see the calls, visits and coffee a Childminding Setting mornings going on. This Conference was organised by Dublin City Childcare Any mentee I’ve spoken to is delighted with the support—and Committee, and Wicklow Childminders were invited to more importantly only one has given up Childminding, and attend. 10 of us went up on October 9th and were treated to that’s due to a move. So it seems that support is really a feast of learning and fun ! helping these new Childminders to get going. Noirín Hayes was among the speakers So it’s Go raibh míle maith agaibh! to our hardworking and there were some excellent mentors: Ann Ryan, Ailish Magee, Ber Jordan, and last but workshops, like Liz Weir’s on story by no means least, Margaret Hill, who’s also attending telling. WCCC Childminding Subgroup meetings as your Combined with a lovely lunch, this was a representative. (And if you have trouble with that, you great value day at just €10! Roll on next really should try Irish in the Home, December1st!!!) year’s conference!
News Flash
As from October Childminding Ireland is accepting applications from Voluntary Notified or Statutorily Notified Childminders without a GP’s signature and stamp. Instead, Notified Childminders just need to say to whom they are notified., where & on what date. And for newly notified Childminders, WCCC is still paying the first year of membership currently. However, exempt Childminders who, although they don’t need to notify, have not Voluntarily done so, may still register with Childminding Ireland, in which case they must have their application forms signed and stamped by their GP. As before, all applicants must have, or be in the process of getting, insurance to cover their Childminding service in order to join the association.
publication Tuesday, November 09, 2010 14:58 page 5 MagentaYellowBlackCyan Mentoring Support Dormant Accounts Pre-school In 2011, Wicklow County Childcare Committee intends to make a mentoring service available to Education Initiative all Childcare Providers who may need it. This mentoring support is being offered in conjunction All 33 City/County Childcare Committees in the country have applied for with Canavan and Byrne, Childcare Consultants, funding under this initiative to support clusters of pre-school services to who have been engaged by WCCC to provide it. undertake Equality and Diversity training. The aim of the initiative will be to support staff within childcare services The aim is to assist childcare providers who have to avail of accredited training linked to the Diversity and Equality specific issues in such areas as HR and Financial Guidelines for Childcare Providers. Management, that cannot be dealt with by WCCC Services which may be interested in participating should consider the staff. It is hoped that mentoring support could be following: a follow on from the proposed Service Review, (see article below). However, if you need • The equality and diversity training will be accredited and linked to the mentoring support urgently, before the Service Diversity and Equality Guidelines for Childcare Providers (OMCYA, Reviews commence, you can contact the 2006). Copies are available from WCCC. • The number of children from minority groups attending these pre- Childcare Development Worker for your area who schools. will give you information on the application • Following the training, the knowledge transfer to other staff members process involved to avail of this service. within the preschool settings
Equality and diversity training for childcare services will enhance the understanding of the staff of the complex needs of all children and their families and provide a means for the staff to address these needs. As with any training it is only in the implementation of what’s been learned that the real transference of knowledge takes place. There is concrete evidence of the positive impact that If you have any suggestions for mentoring has in supporting the successful future newsletters or training implementation of training. courses, please contact us on Pre-school services which were funded under the 2008 Dormant Accounts Pre-school Initiative for Traveller 0404-64455 or email Children, or any other initiative supporting equality/ [email protected] diversity training, will not be eligible for inclusion in the training.
If you’re interested in hearing more please contact WCCC.
Service Review Wicklow County Childcare Committee hopes to offer a new service to Childcare Providers in 2011. The idea is that the Childcare Development workers will work with each service that is interested in reviewing the operation of its service. Although full details are not yet finalised, It is hoped that the service review will include areas such as Finances, HR, Training Needs Analysis, Record Keeping, Curriculum, Environments etc. The Service Review will involve the development worker for your area spending 1 - 2 hours with the service manager/owner in order to review the operation of the service under the headings listed above. This will be done by means of a checklist. Then by agreement and discussion, the development worker will draw up recommendations for the service, if any are required. It is hoped that where necessary, and in the absence of specific in-house expertise, the Childcare Committee will be able to link the service with childcare consultants to avail of mentoring. If you think this optional and free Service Review is something you would consider, please ring the office on 0404-64455 to register your interest.
Wicklow County Childcare Committee
Wicklow County Childcare Committee, Kilmantin Hill, Wicklow Town, Co. Wicklow
Phone: 0404-64455, Fax: 0404-64444, e-mail: [email protected], www.wccc.ie
publication Tuesday, November 09, 2010 14:58 page 6 MagentaYellowBlackCyan