EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DIRECTORY of ServiceS in Border Village areas in County Donegal Donegal County Childcare Committee Ltd 2012 DONEGAL COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE LTD. IS A LOCAL GOVERNEMENT-SUPPORTED AGENCY THAT WORKS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION IN COUNTY DONEGAL. DCCC Vision: “To excel in the development and support of quality childcare in County Donegal to bring about positive outcomes for children and families”. DCCC Mission Statement: “Proactively working in partnership and effecting positive change with our partners, providers and key stakeholders and implementing Childcare Funding Programmes on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in County Donegal” page 1 Donegal County Childcare Committee Ltd... VALUES the ‘whole child perspective’ including children having opportunities to learn and develop, to be healthy and protected from harm, to feel a sense of individual identity and self worth, to think and express their views and to have a ‘voice’. RESPECTS early childhood as a distinct phase to nurture positive attitudes for lifelong learning, enjoyment and achievement through the provision of enriching, challenging and enjoyable play experiences. ENDORSES national practice guidelines for quality early childhood care and education including Síolta: the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework PROMOTES quality services for children and families and considers training and continuing professional development as fundamental to the provision of quality early childhood care and education practice and provision. page 2 Contents 1. Sharing the Care of your Child 2. Choosing an appropriate type of service 3. Childcare Options in Co. Donegal 4. Choosing a suitable Programme/Curriculum 5. Protecting Children’s Well-being 6. Recognising a Quality Early Childhood Service 7. Funding Support for Parents 8. DCCC Resources and Publications 9. Useful Resources available from DCCC on request 10. Childcare Options in Border Village Areas page 3 Sharing the Care of your Child Entrusting a stranger with your child is a big step, so before you choose childcare you may wish to do some research. Choosing a suitable type of childcare service for your child can be a daunting experience for any parent. The type of childcare arrangement you choose will obviously depend upon your needs, the type of childcare you prefer, your child’s needs and the options available in your community. This information will help you distinguish between the different types of childcare services available and assist you in making informed choices with regard to sharing the care of your child. Why send your child to pre-school? Early childhood is a time of tremendous opportunity for learning and development. In these early years children learn through relationships, communication, exploration and play. Although children will be exposed to these learning opportunities in the home, they can build on and extend them in a pre-school setting, interacting with their peers, trying out new ideas and overcoming challenges they may not otherwise face in the home environment. page 4 Choosing an Appropriate Type of Service There are a number of options when it comes to childcare. Services can either be Community or Privately run, Centre-based in a childcare facility, or Home-based in your or the Carers home. Find out what types of services are on offer in your area to help you choose childcare which best suits you and your child’s needs. Centre-based Childcare Facilities A centre-based facility is ideal for you if you want your child to mix and socialise with similar-aged children in an environment that is centred around early childhood care and education. Whether private or community run they must be registered and inspected by the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the *Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006. Full Day Care/Crèche/Nursery A Crèche or Nursery provides care for children from six weeks to four or five years and beyond, often integrated with early education and other services such as School Age Childcare. Opening times are typically 7.30am- 6.30pm, 50 weeks per year. Places are offered on a part time or full time basis. The Créche/Nursery should offer a key person system whereby a child is assigned to a particular member of staff to ensure continuity of care between home and the childcare setting. Pre-School/Playgroup Pre-Schools/Playgroups provide structured play and learning opportunities for children aged 3-5 years. Some early childhood settings follow a particular curriculum approach to early childhood education and care (e.g. High/Scope or Montessori*) using Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework to guide their work. The duration of sessions typically range from 3 to 3.5 hours per day, five days per week during term-time. Many services extend their service over the summer months by way of offering summer camp activities. page 5 Naíonra/Naíolann A Naíonra is a playgroup for children who come together daily (usually for 3-3.5 hours) under the guidance and supervision of a Naíonra Leader or Stiúrthóir. It is run solely through the medium of Irish. Staff in the Naíonra structure the environment to ensure that all facets of the child’s holistic development are catered for, while giving the child the opportunity to acquire Irish naturally through the medium of play. Naíonra are usually attached to a Gaelscoil whereby, attendance at the Naíonra is a requirement for entry into the Gaelscoil. A Naíolann is a similar type of service, which is offered on a Full Day Care basis. Outdoor Service An outdoor school is a pre-school or full day care service in which, the learning opportunities and activities take place outdoors. In an outdoor school children are encouraged to play and learn through exploring their natural environment. Like other pre-schools, outdoor school’s follow a curriculum guided by Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and adhere to all other quality and regulatory guidelines. Drop-in Service Drop-in services offer care for children for no more than 2 hours continually while parents are availing of a service or attending an event. These are normally found in shopping centres, leisure centres or other establishments as part of customer service. School Age Childcare A School Age Childcare (SAC) Service offers school-aged children a safe and stimulating recreational environment in which to play, learn and unwind outside school hours. Currently SAC services do not come under the Pre- school Services Regulations as these apply only to services for children aged up to 6 years. SAC services should however, follow best practice guidelines as outlined in ‘School Age Childcare in Ireland’, Childcare Directorate Department of Justice, Equality, and Law Reform, June 2005. page 6 Parent and Toddler Groups Parent and Toddler Groups offer parents and carers the opportunity to meet locally with their children on an informal regular basis. Parent and Toddler Groups meet one or two mornings per week and parents contribute a small fee per day. Some Parent and Toddler sessions are facilitated by Play Workers to work alongside parents and children in order to share interaction techniques and model play opportunities, which can be replicated at home. The attending parent/carer is responsible for the care and supervision of the child at all times. Home-based Childcare Services A home-based service is ideal for you if you want your children to be cared for in a home environment where they can socialise with small groups of children from varying age groups. Home-based childcare can also provide structured educational play and learning. Childminder A childminder is someone who offers childcare in the childminders own home. They provide a home from home environment, which can offer continuity from the newborn to after-school stages. Childminders can offer flexible hours to meet parent’s needs and provide wrap around care, i.e. drop-off and collection from Pre-school or school. A Childminder who minds 4 or more pre-school children is obliged to notify and be inspected by the Health Service Executive (HSE), Pre-school Services under the Childcare (Pre-school Services) Regulations 2006, and should care for no more than 5 pre-school children (including their own). A Childminder who minds 3 or less children can ‘Voluntary Notify’ Donegal County Childcare Committee. Parents should ask if a Childminder is either HSE notified or voluntary notified to Donegal County Childcare Committee. page 7 Nanny/Au Pair A Nanny/Au Pair is employed by parents to provide childcare in the child’s own home and can look after children of any age. Nannies may be ‘live-in’, or come to your home on a daily basis, or as required. There is no legal requirement for a Nanny to be qualified in childcare but many have childcare training. Nannies do not have to notify the HSE Pre-School Services. When choosing a Nanny it is important that you interview the person and check all references supplied before offering the post. When employing a Nanny, the parent should be aware of the relevant employment legislation and have Employer’s Liability Insurance cover. Babysitters Word of mouth is usually the best way to find a babysitter, talk to other parents who have used babysitters. If you advertise, you should insist on references and check out these references. Babysitters need to be informed of the children’s routines especially where babies and young children are concerned. Childcare Options in Co. Donegal If you would like a list of childcare facilities and childminders in your area, you can access details on the DCCC website www.donegalchildcare.com or contact DCCC directly. Alternatively, contacts can also be provided by the HSE Pre-school Services Office, your Public Health Nurse and by word of mouth.