Early childhood service or childcare service is a broad term which refers to any childcare service which your child may attend including – crèche, nursery, day care, preschool, playgroup, montessori etc.
Children usually attend services on one of the following basis:
Full day – 5+ hours per day
Part time – 3.5 to 5 hours per day
Sessional – Up to 3.5 hours per day
Most Full day care services will cater for children in each of these categories, however many preschool services only operate for sessional ECCE.
School Age Childcare – Afterschool Childcare, which may also incorporate a breakfast club, school drop and/or collection services, and full day childcare outside of the school term. This can operate as a standalone service, or as part of an existing creche/preschool facility.
Childminder – A Childminder cares for a small group of children of mixed ages in the childminder’s own home. Childminders offer a flexible service, tailored to each child, thereby helping parents and guardians to balance their work and family commitments. A Childminder negotiates and agrees her/his terms with parents. You can find support in choosing a childminder below. For a list of Childminders currently operating in Kilkenny, please contact [email protected]
Deciding on an early years service which is right for your family is a big decision, so you should find out as much about the service as possible before enrolling your child. Here are some things you can do and consider when choosing a childcare provider or childminder:
Inspections of Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings are carried out by the Tusla Early Years and Department of Education (DE) and the Inspectorates. Inspections are undertaken to provide assurance to parents and the public that good standards of learning, care and safety are maintained in ELC settings. There are similarities and differences in how ELC settings are inspected by each Inspectorate and this leaflet will provide you with information about this.
View Inspections Information leaflet for parents here
This guide to choosing a childcare services from Barnardos has a more in-depth section on what you might consider when selecting the early years service to suit your family.
View Barnardos Choosing Quality Childcare e-book here.
This guide to choosing a childminder provides information on the benefits of childminders, tips for choosing the right childminder for your family and questions you can ask to make an informed decision.
Siolta is the quality framework for early childhood care and education and outlines principles of quality, along with standards and components for their implementation in early years settings. This covers a broad array of aspects from Interactions and Play, to Parental Involvement and Curriculum. The Siolta website covers information around the framework in depth.
Aistear is the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework for children in Ireland aged birth to six years, and it is used in early years settings and primary schools. Aistear views the child as a competent and confident learner, and maps the childs learning and development through themes of communication, well-being, exploring and thinking, and identity and belonging. The Aistear website provides information and tip-sheets which can also be used by parents.
