Checklist
Checklist - Some ideas to start you off
Costs:
Full time day-care:
Babies less than one year
Costs vary - check with NCNA, IPPA etc.
Sessional care:
Approx 2.5 - 3 hours per day
Costs vary - check with NCNA, IPPA etc.
Community facilities vary depending on individual circumstances
Childminding:
Prices vary so check with Childminding Ireland for advice
Flexibility:
- Half days?
- Parts of week?
- From what age?
Most crèches provide full time care only to babies but may offer more flexibility (i.e. pay by the half day) as children get older. Sessional providers are restricted to certain hours. Childminders tend to offer more flexibility but additional fees may apply if care is required outside of agreed core hours.
Facilities
- Outdoor play area?
- Arts and crafts? How regularly?
- Indoor free play area?
- Segregation of different age groups?
- Ethnic diversity?
- Provision of food?
Policies
- TV & video watching?
- Sweets and treats?
- Discipline?
- Treatment of illnesses/accidents?
- Parental access during the day?
Educational & Developmental Approach
Any specific ethos in place?
Any reporting structure in place to keep parents informed of progress or to highlight any difficulties?
Childcare Choices
Choosing childcare for your child is one of the most important decisions you can make.
Yet we know from surveys and from talking to parents that it can also be daunting, due not only to the continued shortage of places, especially at certain age groups (for example, part-time care for babies) but also due to the difficulty in understanding the range of options and getting information on them.
A study undertaken by Dublin City Childcare Committee showed that family and friends provide 31% of childcare provision in Dublin city. However, not all parents have the option of family support. Because it can be difficult to find a place that suits you and your child in a location and at a time that you need, you will need to plan well ahead. These web pages are designed to help you through this process by helping you to get an understanding of the different types of childcare available, set out what it is you are looking for in childcare and research carefully your options. Finally and very importantly, you will more than likely need to register your child for a place in advance of when you need to take it up.
Local Childcare Resource Centres
Local Childcare Resource Centres (LCRC's) offer information and support to parents, providers of childcare, childcare workers, home-based childminders and employers. For more information on Local Childcare Resource Centres please click here.
FÁS - Financial Support Towards Childcare Costs
FÁS provides support for the childcare costs of persons who wish to undertake FÁS vocational training programmes