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Ballinamore Childcare CLG - Week 1 & Prompt

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Ballinamore Childcare CLG - Week 1 & Prompt

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The reflection highlights the importance of play in child development, particularly in the areas of cognitive ability, fine and gross motor skills, language acquisition, and social development. The soft interactive play snowball fight activity facilitated sensory play and allowed the children to develop skills through touch, movement, and sight. The activity also encouraged teamwork through collaborative learning between the children and the childcare educators.

However, the reflection could have been strengthened by providing more specific examples of how the activity promoted each developmental area mentioned. For instance, how did the activity promote language acquisition? Did the children engage in conversation during the activity or did the educators use specific language to describe the size, speed, and texture of the soft toy?

One question to think about is how the educators can further extend the soft interactive play snowball fight activity to promote other developmental areas such as creativity and problem-solving. Could the children design their own soft toys or create a game that incorporates different rules or challenges? How can the educators support the children in taking ownership of the activity and fostering their creativity and problem-solving skills?

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Your observations of the children's development through play and hands-on experiences at Ballinamore CLG highlight the importance of early learning and the role of facilitators in fostering children's cognitive, social, and emotional development. The examples you provide for extending the soft interactive play snowball fight activity to promote creativity, problem-solving, and language acquisition are valuable, and it's encouraging to see educators using such strategies to enrich the curriculum.

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Second Reflection - The Need for Change 

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Second Reflection - The Need for Change 

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Your reflection on the childcare sector in Ireland is thought-provoking, highlighting the need for change in the current model of childcare provision. It's clear that quality childcare is dependent on staffing and funding, which are both inadequate in the current system. It's alarming to learn that two-thirds of employees in the sector would not continue working in childcare if things don't change, and over 40 percent are actively seeking other work. This underscores the urgency for policymakers to take action to ensure sustainability and quality in the sector.

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One question that comes to mind is how we can ensure that quality childcare is accessible and affordable to all families, regardless of income. What policies or measures can be put in place to address this issue and ensure that children have access to the developmental opportunities that high-quality childcare provides? Additionally, how can we encourage more individuals to pursue careers in the childcare sector and improve working conditions for those already in the field?

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Response to Prompt - Adopting TUSLA Early Years Quality & Regulatory Framework 

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Response to Prompt - Adopting TUSLA Early Years Quality & Regulatory Framework 

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Published document relating to the framework;https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/4570-TUSLA_QRF_DROP-IN_LR.pdf

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The Early Years Inspectorate has developed a Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF), to support registered Early Years Services to comply with the 2016 Regulations. The QRF does this by setting out the core regulatory requirements in a transparent way, bringing together evidence-based, national and international research and best practice in Early Years. The QRF aims to support registered providers in achieving compliance with the regulations and enhance the safety and care of children who attend these services. The QRF is child-centred, with a specific focus on the quality and safety of the care provided directly to children using the services.

Tusla Early Years Inspectorate, in collaboration with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, launched the Quality and Regulatory Framework on Wednesday the 5th of September 2018 in Dublin.

The Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF)

The Quality and Regulatory framework is underpinned by evidenced based national and international research and current best practice in the in Early Years.

The development of the QRF has benefitted greatly from an extensive consultation process with Registered Providers, Parents, The Early years Inspectorate, many organisations across all stakeholders in the Early Years Sector in Ireland and International peers and regulatory organisations. The report of these consultations can also be accessed here.

Policies, Procedures and Statements in Early Childhood Education and Care Services.

The guidebook, policy samples/templates and other documents provided below have been developed by Barnardos in collaboration with Tusla to support you, as an early years provider, to develop your own set of policies, procedures and statements to meet the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016

The samples/templates provided here are to support you, as an early years provider, to develop your own set of policies, procedures and statements to meet the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. The samples/templates offer an additional support to the information provided on the core requirements in the appendices of the Tusla: Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF). It is essential that you refer to the QRF when writing and reviewing any of your policies, procedures and statements.

This sample policy provides information on the structure used for the sample/policies

It is essential that a set of policies, procedures and statements is developed particular to the service setting, the type of service operated,the families who use the service and to the particular context of the service.

These template and samples may assist childminders in developing or revising their own set of required policies, procedures and statements. These suggested samples and templates are just that - samples will need to be adapted to reflect the Childminding Service.

Refer to the QRF when writing any of the policies that are required.

The resources here offer additional support to the information provided on the core requirements in the appendices of the Tusla Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF).

This document gives information on significant developments in the early childhood sector at local, national and European Commission levels over the last 12 years.

This document gives information on the rights of the child which will be a major consideration across all areas of policy and policy development.

A recent publication available here.

This resource will support parents in consulting with early learning and care providers and in choosing a service if they are selecting a setting for their child for the first time.

The ebook covers areas such as children's rights; relationships and attachment; interactions; social, emotional and behavioural development; the learning environment; and management of the setting. It is available here.
if you would like hard copies to give to parents in your service, email Barnardos resources@barnardos.ie to place an order.
When should my child return to School/Childcare

Infectious diseases are a major cause of illness among children attending school and childcare. The infographic available below was designed to prevent or minimise the spread of infection, illness and disease to children, staff and others (such as student teachers and volunteers). It provides advice for parents when their child develops symptoms of some of the common childhood illnesses about whether their child should stay out of school or childcare.

Stop the Spread of Infection (download or order posters from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)

Tusla Early Years Inspectorate are delighted to work in collaboration with our colleagues in the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) to advice you of the opportunity to download or order posters specifically developed for young children on hand washing and respiratory etiquette and hygiene.

The following link gives access to the hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene posters that are bi-lingual, printed in Irish on one side and English on the reverse.

There is also access to general hand hygiene leaflets/posters and posters for older children/teenagers.

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Early Years Quality and Regulatory FrameworkTusla - Child and Family Agency

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The Early Years Inspectorate has developed a Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF), to support registered Early Years Services to comply with the 2016 Regulations. The QRF does this by setting out the core regulatory requirements in a transparent way, bringing together evidence-based, national and international research and best practice in Early Years.

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Response to Prompt - Policies & Publications

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Response to Prompt - Policies & Publications

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State ChildCare Agency
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/state-childcare-agency-part-of-plan-to-make-services-affordable-and-accessible-1.4839629

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Early Childhood Ireland is a membership organisation which represents 3,800 early years settings, who support over 100,000 children and their families through pre-school, afterschool and full daycare provision nationwide. ECI's work includes quality enhancement, publications, advocacy, training, business support and information for a sector that employs 25,000 people.

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Designing Accessible Childcare Centres - New Universal Design Guidance to be developed

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Early Childhood Ireland is a membership organisation which represents 3,800 early years settings, who support over 100,000 children and their families through pre-school, afterschool and full daycare provision nationwide. ECI's work includes quality enhancement, publications, advocacy, training, business support and information for a sector that employs 25,000 people.