Private Providers
Private Providers offer childcare services that are run as private businessess. These childcare services range from small businesses that are operated by sole traders to large childcare facilities that are operated by companies, some of which may have a number of different childcare facilities in different locations.
Private Full Day Care services may provide a part-time and sessional service as well as a full day service. Some offer a school age service. Fees charged are generally at the discretion of the proprietor.
Full-day care
“Full day care service” means a pre-school service offering a structured day care service for pre-school children for more than 5 hours per day and which may include a sessional pre-school service for pre-school children not attending the full day care service. Services such as those currently described as day nurseries and crèches are included in this definition. Where a full day care service also caters for children who do not attend on a full day basis, the adult/child ratio and group size for sessional services should apply.
Part-time day care
“Part-time day care service” means a pre-school service offering a structured day care service for pre-school children for a total of more than 3.5 hours and less than 5 hours per day and which may include a sessional pre-school service for pre-school children not attending the part-time day care service. The service must provide the same physical environment, including rest, play and sanitary facilities, as for full day care. Services covered by the above definition may include pre-schools, playgroups, crèches, montessori pre-schools, naíonraí, notifiable childminders or similar services which generally cater for pre-school children in the 0-6 year age bracket.
Sessional Services
“Sessional pre-school service” means a pre-school service offering a planned programme to pre-school children for a total of not more than 3.5 hours per session.
Services covered by the above definition may include pre-schools, playgroups, crèches, montessori pre-schools, naíonraí, notifiable childminders or similar services which generally cater for pre-school children in the 0-6 year age bracket.
Pre-school service in a drop-in centre and in a temporary drop-in centre
"Pre-school service in a drop-in centre" means a pre-school service offering day care which is used exclusively on an intermittent basis.
“Pre-school service in a temporary drop-in centre” means a pre-school service offering day care exclusively on a temporary basis.
A pre-school service in a drop-in centre refers to a service where a pre-school child is cared for over a period of not more than two hours while the parent or guardian is availing of a service or attending an event. Such services are mainly located in shopping centres, leisure centres or other establishments as part of customer/client service.
School Age Childcare Services
School Age childcare services provide care on a sessional or part-time basis for school aged children outside the normal school hours.
Childminding service
“Childminding service” means a pre-school service which may include an overnight service offered by a person who single-handedly takes care of pre-school children, including the childminder’s own children, in the childminder’s home for a total of more than 2 hours per day, except where the exemptions provided in Section 58 of the Child Care Act 1991 apply.
“Childminder” is a person who provides a childminding service as defined in the Regulations. 32 This service refers to pre-school children looked after in the childminder’s home. This service is offered for the full working day or for different periods during the day.
Childminders who are not statutorily obliged to notify should contact the City/County Childcare Committee or the Health Service Executive and avail of the voluntary notification and support system.