This was urgently needed in West Waterford to support families who require childcare. This is a comprehensive modern facility which provides a safe secure environment away from home where children are catered for and encouraged to develop their social, physical and cognitive skills. With modern facilities, an enclosed outdoor play area and professionally trained staff, parents feel confident and assured that their children are well cared for.
Crèche
This facility is open 5 days a week from 8am - 6pm. It caters for babies from 4 months old to school going age. After school places can be arranged if required. The crèche accommodates 9 babies and 13 toddlers.
Morning
- Meet & Greet Children, Parents and Staff
- Free Play
- Breakfast
- Large Group Activity/Circle Time
- Outside play
- Snack time
- Small Group Activities
- Dinner
- Quiet Time Activities
Afternoon
- Large Group Activity/Circle Time
- A walk in our buggies
- Music & Movement
- Activity Gym
- Snack
- Free Play
- Story time
- Small Group Activities
- End of Day Messages
To optimise key learning experiences we balance child Initiated and child led activities with adult initiated and adult led activities. Examples include:
- Home corner/shop
- Noisy toys/soft toys/stacking toys
- Music/dance/si nging/musical Instruments
- Fancy dress
- Storybooks - card/paper/plastic/cloth
- Sand box/water play
- Painting/chalk boards/colouring
- Chatting/singing/abc's/counting
- Baking
- Painting
To optimize key learning experiences we balance child initiated and child led activities with adult initiated and adult led activities. Examples include:
- Noisy Toys/Stacking toys
- Music/Dance
- Musical Instruments
- Bubbles
- Picture Books - card/paper/plastic/cloth
- Split Peas - play box for spilling and puring
- Chatting/singing /peek -a - boo
- Texture Mat
- Tidy up Time
Activities which vary with individual needs of each child:
- Bottle Feeding
- Hygiene activities - washing hands/face/nappy changing
- Rest/Sleep
Outdoor Play:
Our enclosed garden and all weather playground plays host to a variety of adventure an games throughout the year. Under the watchful eye of staff, babies are invited to relax on play mats, enjoy the fresh air and watch, from a safe distance, as the older children play on the climbing toys.
Senior Childcare Staff:
Maread Landers (FETAC LEVEL 6 & FETAC LEVEL 5)
Childcare Assistants:
Elaine Morrissey (FETAC LEVEL 5)
Marguerite McGrath (FETAC LEVEL 5)
Nicola McGrath (FETAC LEVEL 5)
Marian Kavanagh (FETAC LEVEL 6 & FETAC LEVEL 5)
Pre-School
Cappoquin Community Pre-School is open 5 mornings a week, Monday to Friday, 9am-12pm. After school places can be arranged if required. The pre-school accommodates 20 full time places and can cater for up to 40 pre-school children at different times. This pre-school is run by Supervisor Maria Uniacke and assisted by Kerry McLaughlin.
Staff Qualifications:
Maria Uniacke, Montossori Teacher, FETAC level 5 & FETAC level 6.
Kerry McLaughlin, FETAC level 5 & FETAC level 6.
- Maximum number of children accomodated in Pre-School is 20 .
- Ratio 1:10
- Children with special needs are also catered for in Cappoquin Pre-School.
Curriculum & Play
Programmes are taken from the following:
- Project Bubbles Activities for children aged 2 to 4 years.
- Project E.Y.E. A curriculum for the 3 to 4 years old child which was developed and published by the Early Years Unit in UCC. Project E.Y.E. focuses on the importance of play based learning and the central role of relationships.
Free Pre-School:
The Government announced last April a new free pre-school year in Early Childhood Care and Education to commence in January 2010. The introduction, by the Office for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, of the free pre-school year scheme is a major development in the area of early childhood care and education. As a universal scheme, it is hoped that all children will be able to benefit from a pre-school place in this highly important developmental year before they commence national school. Children will be eligible if they are aged between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months on 1 September each year. All voluntary and commercial pre-school services are now invited to participate in the scheme. Cappoquin Community Pre-school has been approved and signed a contract introducing this scheme. Parents are asked to fill up declaration forms and return promptly which in turn are returned to the Department of Health & Children, assessed and forwarded to Department of Social Welfare to be means assessed.
After Schools Service & Homework Club
This is held 4 afternoons a week, Monday to Thursday 3pm to 5pm. This is supervised by: Kerry McLaughlin.
As increasing numbers of parents are in the workforce, their children require locally based childcare programmes which provide children with social, recreational and developmental activities outside of school hours.
The Cappoquin Childcare Facility aims to offer Just such a service to parents and guardians that will focus on primary school age children and provide age appropriate activities, including a homework service.
We aim not only to function as a childcare service, but also as an educational support service. We will offer a safe and supportive environment for primary school aged children to complete their homework, providing assistance to children who have difficulty, and also engage in activities that are both recreational and educational. We will foster an environment which is inclusive of all members regardless of race, creed or religion.
Children derive many benefits from attending a school age childcare setting. In addition to providing a safe and stimulating environment with appropriate adult supervision, school age programmes can offer opportunities for children to'.
- Socialise and enjoy time with friends
- Relax
- Play
- Develop new skills and interests
- Participate in sports (in a non competitive way)
- Participate in both structured and non structured activities
- Complete homework
- Improve interpersonal and social skills
- Build on what they have learned during the regular school day
As a result children will develop greater confidence and self esteem. Children are also encouraged to develop responsibility for themselves and others through personal development programmes.
Our aspiration is to offer a service run by staff, that as well as being qualified childcare providers have also completed A.S.S.E.T (After School Support Education and Training).
We provide Bus Collection from Bunscail Gleann Sidheain, Cappoquin at 1.45pm and 2.45pm, to the Childcare Facility. Children from other Schools are welcome but at this point we are unable to provide Bus collection. This may become possible at a later date. The programme will run until 6pm.
The cost of this service will be €3 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours on any given day. Parents will be able to prebook their childs plcace.
Admissions
Our Registration Procedure:
Entrance to each group may vary slightly subject to each child's needs and available space. When you decide your child is going to attend our centre, please complete and return registration form together with €50 deposit. This will only be refunded as your child takes up a place in the childcare facility. We have an ongoing waiting list, where places are given on a "first come first served basis". Families attending our facility are given priority.
Settling in Time:
Prior to starting at facility, it is our policy to invite all children to complete one week of settling in time. This is provided free of charge.
Fee Structure & Payment Methods:
Fees are paid weekly.
Siblings:
A discount of 15% is offered on the fees of a second child when more than one child from the same family attends at the same time. All other registration, deposit and fee payment details apply.
Full & Part- Time Childcare Fees:
€20 Half Day
€30 Full Day
Complaints/Compliments:
All complaints will be recorded and acted upon within two weeks of receipt of the complaint. A register of complaints will be maintained and made available for inspection upon request.
Ethos:
The values and standards demonstrated at our childcare facility , include an understanding and an acceptance that children, parents, & staff have various needs. Within the childcare facility , these needs are dealt with in a positive, constructive and caring manner.
The Childcare facility is funded by EOCP funds from the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform and the Department of Health & Children.
