School Age Childcare
What is an 'After School Project'?
Growing numbers of Irish children are spending their after school time in the care of someone else other than their parents. The report of the Working Group on School Age Childcare defines this type of childcare provision as "childcare for school going children provided outside of normal school hours where the same children attend the childcare facility on a regular basis and access to the service is clearly defined by agreement with parents and guardians" (2004, forthcoming). Another definition is provided by the European Commission Network on School Age Childcare which defines it as a "service which takes over the responsibility for children when school is over but parents are not available - whether because they are working or for other reasons" (1996).
There are many different ways children and young people are cared for after school finishes in Ireland, including childminders, creches, school provision (activities such as dancing/music/drama), homework clubs and community-based after school projects. Community-based after school projects provide an accessible and affordable service, meeting the needs of children, and the needs of the local community. This type of service may also be known as 'after school care', 'after school clubs', or 'summer schemes'. After school projects can be organised in different ways and in different settings. The most common types of services available include:
- A project where children and young people are cared for in a safe and secure play and recreational environment - many service providers see after school care as a way to provide children with the safe space that they need while allowing parents some time for work or other activities.
- Mixed environments where children and young people can play, do homework and receive needed suports in all activities. This approach regards after school care not just as a safe place to be, but also as providing developmental and educational supports for children and their families. Social, sporting, and cultural activities are seen as the most important features of these programmes.
In the Irish context, typical after school projects provide more than the first option highlighted above. Children are provided with a broad variety of activities, including homework support, sporting and cultural activities, and outings to local community activities.
For the children and young people, this might mean a chance to make friends and take part in activities in a safe and supportive environment, in a place they can call 'theirs'.
For their parents, this might mean a safe, well-supervised place where their children want to be, which has regular and consistent opening hours and provides opportunities for the children and young people to do their homework and get involved in a variety of educational and social activities.
(Extract from Holt, S. Pugh, E. (2004), After School, A Practice Guide for Providers, Barnardos, Dublin.)
Out of School Care
Here are some activities for you to try:
Kids Club at the Hugh Lane Gallery offers art, drama and music workshops and classes, free kids guide to the gallery, tours for young people and a web gallery.
Birdwatch Ireland's website will help you learn all about birds around your local school. Learn how to make a bird feeder, draw a map of birds' activities and much more.
An Óige , the Irish Youth Hostel Association runs a variety of clubs such as the young hillwalkers club, the photographic group and the environmental conservation group.
Irish Museum of Modern Art Family Programme aims to promote and develop stimulating and engaging experiences for family groups visiting the galleries. Family groups are invited to enjoy a range of stimuli and themed activities every Sunday from 2.00pm - 5.00pm (October/November and between February and the end of July). This project is free of charge and does not require booking.
An Taisce's Green Schools Programme is an international environmental education programme, designed to promote and acknowledge whole school action for the environment. Green-Schools offers a well-defined, controllable way to take environmental issues from the curriculum and apply them to the day-to-day running of a school. This process helps students to recognise the importance of environmental issues and take them more seriously in their personal and home lives.
ECO-UNESCO organises many exciting and enjoyable workshops, events and recreational activities throughout the year for young people based on environmental issues, conservation, training, personal development and development education programmes
The Irish Centre for Talented Youth (CTYI) provides services for talented young students, including Saturday classes, residential summer programmes, correspondence courses and Discovery Days.
The Independent Theatre Workshop are also running intensive week long film school courses ideal for those intending to go into media studies, acting for film, the film business and culminating in the scripting, shooting, directing and editing of an original short film.
Swimming - There are a wide range of swimming pools in Dublin City and most of them offer parent and baby/toddler swimming sessions as well as swimming lessons for older children. These include public pools run by Dublin City Council, private pools in leisure centres and pools based in schools or rehabilitation centres.
Developmental Courses aimed at pre-school children are offered by private companies such as Silly Billy and Gymboree.
You can search for a Gaeltacht on the Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh.
Basketball Ireland runs the Dungarvan Basketball Camp, which operates the first three weeks of July in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. The National Basketball Arena also operates a summer camp (non-residential) during July and August. To find out more phone 01 459 0211 or email info@basketballireland.ie
Also link to www.Skool.ie for additional speech and drama schools in Dublin or check out the Betty Norton Theatre School.
Let's Go! Multi Sports Camps run camps around Ireland, with separate programmes of activity for the 5-6 year olds and the 7-13 year olds.
Carlingford Adventure Centre runs a summer camp for children aged 8 -17 years. They offer camps from one day to week long residential stays.
The Pine Forest Arts Centre - Based in the Dublin mountains, in Kilternan, this centre runs two-week courses for different age groups. Junior and senior courses last two weeks each. Hours of attendance for all courses are 10am to 4pm.