FAQ

Through play, children develop social skills, self-confidence, and positive relationships with peers and adults. Play enables each child to use the playschool environment, experience trial and error, becoming capable and competent learners with skills needed for lifelong learning (NCCA, 2009).

In Ireland, free pre-school is provided through the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme.

Key features of the ECCE scheme:

• Free pre-school education: Children can access free pre-school for a set number of hours over a set period of weeks.  
• Eligibility: All children aged between 2 years and 8 months and 5 years and 6 months are eligible for the scheme.  
• Duration: The scheme typically runs for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, over 38 weeks of the year.  
• Providers: The scheme is available in various early years settings, such as pre-schools, Montessori schools, crèches, and playgroups that participate in the ECCE scheme.  

Benefits:

• Early learning: It gives children a head start in their education and development.
• Socialisation: It provides opportunities for children to interact with their peers and develop social skills.
• Affordability: It helps families with the cost of childcare.

Looking ahead? Clarecastle Community Playgroup fills up fast!  Get in touch now to secure your spot for the upcoming year.

The play-based curriculum aligns with the guidelines and practices of Aistear (NCCA, 2009), The National Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, and Síolta (CECDE,2006), The Early Years Quality Framework.

Utilising the two frameworks helps establish an emergent and inquiry-based curriculum, also assisting the early-years professional team in reflecting on learning and practice throughout the year.

All Children’s learning connects to Aistear’s principles, themes, and learning goals to ensure meaningful learning experiences. Clarecastle Community Playgroup believes a play-based curriculum supports children’s holistic development to prepare them for lifelong learning and primary school.

Síolta standards and principles assist the playgroup to ensure quality in the service and to reflect on practice to improve for the future.

Aistear describes children’s learning and development using four themes:

• Well-being – children are confident, happy, and healthy.
• Identity and belonging – children feel self-confident and content with a sense of how they are valued in their family and community.
• Communicating – children convey their ideas, experiences, and emotions in various ways.
• Exploring and thinking – children make sense of the world around them and develop ideas by interacting with others, e.g., playing, exploring, questioning, developing, testing, and refining ideas.

Clarecastle offers a warm, welcoming environment and supports children’s transitions with our transition policy, e.g., we have an open-door policy, welcoming parents, meet and greet daily, family wall, comfort objects for children while transitioning, and parent/child visits before enrolment.

In September, each child is assigned a Key Person responsible for their care and needs. The Key person engages with your child and forms a bond with them to make the transition to playgroup a little easier.

The key person observes children’s progress and achievements throughout the year and maintains learning records and observations for the child to share with parents/guardians. Having an individual keyperson helps each child settle into their new environment (Barnardo’s, 2016).

It is strongly encouraged that all children starting in Preschool be potty-trained. However, we will work with you through the process until the child can use the toilet independently.

At Clarecastle Community Playgroup, children have a rest period after lunch, which often includes a read-aloud story time.

Pre-school children have their own newly wet pour rubber surfaced playground to maintain the health, fitness, and creativity of each child. The gate on this side of the service is closed at all times. All three Pre-school classes have lunch and break time separately.

Our team of 12 dedicated professionals are committed to supporting your child’s development during their crucial early years. All staff members hold qualifications ranging from Level 5 to Level 8 honors degrees in Early Years Childhood Education and Care, and actively participate in ongoing professional development to stay at the forefront of best practices.

In Ireland, the qualifications for staff working in childcare are regulated under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 we will ensure that all staff members are Garda vetted. 

Minimum Qualifications:

All staff working directly with children must hold at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth.  

ECCE Room Leaders: Must have a minimum QQI Level 6 Major Award in Early Childhood Care and Education. A higher capitation is available to services where the preschool leader has a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at level 7 on the NFQ.