Publications

Childminding - A guide for Parents / Guardians (299 Kb) Childminders create a home from home environment by offering a quality, valuable and flexible childcare service.

The provision of family based childcare is personal, unique, consistent, flexible and family friendly. Parents should feel confident that the childminder provides a safe and stimulating setting for their children.

This booklet has been developed as a guide for parents/guardians to assist in choosing a childminder.

Childminding - IS IT FOR YOU? (367 Kb) Childminders provide approximately 80% of childcare in Ireland. They offer a much needed service to parents/guardians in employment, education and training.

The role of the Childminder is to provide a safe, nurturing environment for the children in their care in a home-based setting. Childminders play a valuable role in the lives of children, parents and employers.

This information booklet has been compiled to:

• Help you to increase awareness of the professional role that you play in providing a quality, flexible and accessible childcare service;
• Give guidance on issues such as helping a child settle into your home;
• Provide suggestions with regard to the nutritional needs of the developing child;
• Provide information on making your home safe and secure;
• Assist you in promoting your professional childcare service to parents/guardians.

Other publications

Policies and Procedures (595 Kb) This document has been developed by the Childcare Committees of North Tipperary, Clare, Limerick City and It is intended that the information contained in this pack will assist you to develop a set of policies and procedures for your childcare service.

Trocaire Conference Report (PDF - 3,794 Kb)
Today’s Children Tomorrow’s World Conference Organised by Trócaire, Limerick City Childcare Committee and Limerick County Childcare Committee Radisson Hotel, Limerick. March 25th 2006 Opening Doors Conference Exploring Values, Attitudes and Culture in the Early Years’ Sector Organised by Trócaire, Fingal County Childcare Committee and South Dublin County Childcare Committee Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin. November 26th 2005

Schools Out

Resource Pack & DVD for School Age Childcare

The first of a suite of planned resources to support the delivery and development of quality school age childcare has been produced by the Limerick City Childcare Committee to support childcare providers who work with children aged from 5 to 12 years.

"School's Out" (how to plan, implement and evaluate quality school age programmes) a training manual and DVD/Video was launched on Monday 25th April at Limerick City Council Offices by the Minister for Defence, Mr Willie O'Dea, T.D. in the presence of the Deputy Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Kieran O'Hanlon. The resource pack is designed for school age programme managers, team leaders, trainers, otehr programme staff as well as volunteers who wish to enhance the quality of children's school age childcare programmes. It offers ideas, examples of activities and templates, of benefit to childcare providers, to staff working in a school age setting and to students interested in working in the area.

Cost:  €25 for DVD or Video and Training Manual.  Price includes postage and packaging.

For further information on this innovative project, the first of it's kind in Ireland please contact us

School Age Childcare Code of Practice

Quality Framework for the Childcare Section

School Age Childcare is an emerging sector in Ireland. Preschool services are regulated through the preschool services regulations 1996. No such regulations exist to support those working in the school age childcare sector. For the most part these services are self regulated and standards are evolving as the demand for this type of childcare service increases.

The provision of a quality childcare service does not happen by chance. Quality emerges and develops only when all the stakeholders work together, where there is an agreed approach and where each partner is aware of and committed to the standards and practice of the profession. It is important that effective communication strategies are established and maintained so that the stakeholders are aware of clear and identified expectations, know what to expect and in turn are aware of the expectations of themselves/

The development of a Code of Practice provides a framework to :

• Guide thinking and practice
• Develop quality standards
• Identify the values within the sector
• Identify roles and responsibilities
• Guide and inform professional development
  

Copies of the School Age Childcare Code of Practice is available - contact us

Guide to Childcare Career Paths

Career Opportunities within the Childcare Sector

A Guide to Childcare Career Paths is now available from Limerick City Childcare Committee and North Tipperary Childcare Committee. This guide summarises POTENTIAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES within the childcare profession, outlining th different branches of the profession from working at a practical level to the support and development of the sector.

To receive this publication please Contact us

Or

Aileen Healy in North Tipperary Childcare Committee at 067-44886

School Age Policies and Procedures

Guide to Policies & Procedures for Childcare Setting

This comprehensive guide to developing Policies and Procedures for a school age childcare setting provide a framework to:
Guide thinking and Practice,
Develop Quality Standards
Identify Roles and Responsibilities
Guide and Inform professional practice and ongoing development
Redress and ambiguity with reagrd to the structure, management and ongoing development of the childcare service.

To receive this publication, please contact us  

“Siolta: Working together to sow the seeds” (PDF - 987 Kb)
An evaluation of 5 Limerick Northside Preschools experience in implementing Siolta – The National Quality Framework.