Early Childhood Ireland PRESENTAT ATION TO INTERDEPARTMENTAL GROUP - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Early Childhood Ireland

PRESENTAT ATION TO INTERDEPARTMENTAL GROUP ON SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE JULY LY 5, 2016

Perspectives on School-Age Childcare

Principles to underpin local school age childcare expansion

• Quality needs Investment
• Build on existing provision that has a proven track record of quality delivery
• Use the principle of Openness and Transparency, with invitations to tender being sent to existing
• perators in the first instance
• Local experts, e.g. the CCC should be involved on selection panels

Audit of existing capacity

What is it? Is it Afterschool or Out-of-School? After school care is just that – children stay afterschool. Out-of-school care involves a wrap round service - before school, after school and care during all school holidays. School transport is provided. Audit should also gather quality information Planning must then address: Who is it for? Who can we work with locally to address known gaps?

Request for Tender (example)

Experience Mission statement Vision ECCE Experience After School Experience Qualifications Inspection Reports Engagement on quality programmes Partnership with Parents Blending into the school environment Commitment to growth Benefits to the school from this partnership Proposed Financial Structure

Consultation with parents

EXPECTATIONS VS NEEDS Opening Times- services are required from 7/7.30am and until 6pm Open during holidays Hot food One school location being used by multiple schools School pick up EXPECTATIONS VS NEEDS Sibling interaction Twice as many parents use after school care as use Before School Homework completed 80% of existing ‘afterschool’ parents would use a school subsidised model if it were available. 80% said they would prefer a choice to remain in a nonschool environment if the same subsidy applied(B Thornberry)

Consultation with parents

Regulations to apply to this sector Continuity and security of care for their children. Children to mix with friends in their neighbourhood – not necessarily in their school. Brothers and sisters attending afterschool to be able to play together. Homework done and meals provided. Care at all times that schools are closed during mid-term and school holidays* but especially ad-hoc times (at short notice) like teacher training days, schools closed for elections, snow days etc. Must be affordable *84% of parents required care during summer holidays

Consultation with Children

Consultation with Children Childrens views should inform the programme, e.g. the ‘rules’, the naming of the place or the design of session content; Evidence that children’s views are incorporated Research shows that children see school as work and formal, whereas ‘afterschool’ is fun with their friends. Children also see afterschool as a time when their voice is heard, and they have an input in the curriculum/program unlike the teacher-led environment in the am sessions (B Thornberry

Wise owl video 2 and 5

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qywgg2moofxibzu/AAAnG3bC27BON7hu6IKHKm8da/Child re06-2016%2C%201%2040%2050%20p.m..mov?dl=0

Themes

1. Children’s Choices 2. Curriculum 3. Environment 4. Relationship with Community 5. Care & Development 6. Leadership & Management

• 1. Children’s choice

For example: Facilitation of children by letting them help with younger children within mixed age settings; Allowing children participate in after school activities in school which may require multiple pick ups; Sometimes tension with parents choices re Homework- Middle Ground is usually managed by time and a Homework Policy; Often 2 spaces – 4-8 yrs .; 9-12 yrs. Older children don’t want to be ‘minded’;

• 2. Curriculum

Play & Recreation Access to outdoor play Age appropriate programmes and Roles- increasing with age Allowing for the promotion of mixed age settings and sibling interaction Inquiry Project based approach to Curriculum, thematic….Star Wars, Crime Scene Investigation Partners in Learning

Maria gaynor video- 9th on dropbox

Crime Scene Investigators

Relationships and Community

Science - Exploring our World

• 3. Environments

Access to outdoor areas and playgrounds Access to school Hall Naming often suggests the character of the setting- Chill zone, Club Comfortable furniture is important, rugs, cushions, couches Suitable toys and play equipment, e.g. Construction, Open ended materials, Karaoke, Dress Up/Role Play, Cooking, Participation in the community

• 4. Relationship with the Community

For children in afterschool, their community is often their friends. They need to feel that their After School is their community, a place where they contribute and belong A space for children to come together and relax, be creative, decipher the information that they have accumulated throughout the day and socialise with their friends Example of a partnership with Local Youth Club in response to specific needs of older after school children. Negotiated access to indoor and outdoor space with the following sample timetable

• 5. Care & Development

Food & Nutrition Physical Activity Health & Safety

• 6. Leadership & Management

QUALITY TRAINING Initial Training SACCI CPD Health & Safety Children with Additional Needs GOVERNANCE Relationship with Schools/Local Organisation Polices & Procedures Child Protection Inclusion/Diversity

• 6. Leadership & Management

RELATIONSHIP WITH SCHOOL/LOCAL ORGANISATION Contracts SLA’s Quality commitments Ethos Homework agreements STANDARDS Developed in partnership How will they be monitored? Linked to quality? Self Assessment Statements?

• 6. Leadership & Management -

Sustainability

Multiple Models Price per hour – e.g. €5 per hour in Kildare Price per Day e.g. €20 Kildare, €15 Tipperary, €21 Sligo(with collection), €14 Monaghan, €10- €20 Roscommon Other partnership models, for services located within the school, is based on % of revenue earned which is paid to the school Bus costs €12-20k and average Insurance cost of €1300. Depending on the number of schools being serviced, more than one bus may be needed; Cets and TEC are offered; Not ASCC Need to access CCS during School Holidays Rural services may not have sufficient numbers enrolled to support 2 staff members and therefore a rural premium will be required Similarly, services in urban disadvantaged areas, particularly in DEIS areas, will need additional resources Rents payable to schools vary from e.g., €150 per month in Donegal to €3000 per month in Dublin

Next Steps

Audit Consultation Partnership Partnership Applications between schools/local organisations and local operators Investment in Infrastructure, Grants for new equipment Standards Continued leadership by DCYA