Non-profit Community Child Care Centre
The aim of Connolly Children’s Centre is to provide a warm welcoming atmosphere and an affordable quality service for parents and create a safe and happy environment for all the children who attend the centre.
We have a voluntary board of management who manage our centre and appoint staff to run the service. Connolly Children’s Centre was established to help people in the Dublin 8 area return to work, training and education We are a non-profit childcare centre which is part-funded and we rely on the childcare fees for the day-to-day running costs, i.e. staff salaries, heat, light, food and health and hygiene.
We have an open door policy wherein we encourage the parents at any stage to feel welcome to talk to either management or staff with any issue regarding their child. The childcare workers like to keep the parents up to date on the day-to-day activities that their child engages in. The Connolly Children’s Centre requires a settling-in period of an hour a day for one week in order to familiarise the child with the staff and childcare environment.
Every staff member from management to cleaning staff must have a Garda vetting and we have a fire drill once a month. In the case of an accident, the appropriate staff member must fill out an accident report form; the parent must be informed and sign and then the form is filed away in the child’s file. Only people authorised by the parents/guardian may collect children with no exceptions unless we are informed beforehand.
Aistear Curriculum
Here at the Connolly Childrens Centre we use the Aistear curriculum framework of Ireland and Siolta the national quality framework for Early Childhood Education.
The aim of Aistear is for the practitioners to provide developmentally appropriate enjoyable activities to stimulate and promote learning to enable the children to become competent and confident learners. The Centre is play based and child centered, through regular observations and interactions the practitioner gain an insight into the interest of the children and devise the activities based on these interests.
The staff team meet on a monthly basis to reflect on any changes or improvements that need to be made. Weekly/ monthly and seasonal themes are displayed in each childcare unit which are devised from the interest of the children.
The 3 Rooms
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Toddler Room One
Can facilitate up to six one-two years old at any one with two childcare workers. There is always a fully qualified senior childcare worker present with a level 6 qualification and the second staff member with a level 5. We do not take babies under a year old.
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Toddler Room Two
Has a maximum of 10 two to three-year-olds with two full-time senior workers with a level 6 qualification and one staff member with a level 5 qualification.
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The Pre-School Room
Totally separate from the other two rooms and is situated at the opposite end of the centre. As it is the largest room, it can facilitate between 17-20 children at one time with three childcare workers with a level 6 qualification and one staff member with level 5 qualifications. The Pre-School age group is usually for three-year-olds right up until the parents decide to send their child to school.
Different Ages
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1
Toddler Room One
Two adults to five 1-2 year olds
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1
Toddler Room Two
Three/Four adults to 10 2-3 year olds
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1
Pre-school
Four adults to twenty 3-5 year olds
There is always at least 1 fully trained staff member present. The Connolly Children’s Centre ensures that these ratios are met at all times.
Outdoor Playground
Our playground was purposely built and only facilitates the children of the Connolly Children’s Centre. It is ROSPA approved and designed to promote all developmental needs of the children.
The playground has many beneficial materials and equipment such as climbing frames for physical development, a large sand area for sensory play, bikes, trikes and scooters to stimulate coordination as well as many balls, dolls and other materials to enhance social development.
Here at the Connolly Childrens Centre and in line with Siolta and Aistear, we believe that outdoor play is extremely important and so, will provide the children with the opportunity for outdoor play daily.