Education And Care In The Early Years
Education and Care in the Early Years (3rd edition, Dublin 2007)
2 reasons why childcare is developing
Increased participation by women in the paid labour force.
Recognition of the value of play and socialisation opportunitites for children's development.
In Ireland today, women with young children are forming an increasing proportion of the paid labour around 60% of women with a child under 6 years are now employed and it is recognised that lack of childcare can act as a barrier to employment trainning and education for women. Unlike several of our EU partners, Ireland has no state-supported early education system, and does not provide a service for the children of working parents, with the result that parents turn to the private sector to meet their childcare needs. Although a high percentage of under-5s attend some form of early childhood service, whether full time or part time, publicly or f privately funded.
Early childhood services fall broadly into two catergories:
Services aiming to meet children's development needs playgroups, naionrai,parent and toddler groups. Montessori pre-schools. These are known as 'sessional' services.
Services aiming to meet the needs of parents who are employed or in full-time education or training créches/nurseries, workplace nurseries and family day-care(childminding). These services are 'full-time'.
Playgroups
Playgroups usually operate for up to three-and-a-half hours per day and cater for children aged between two-and-a-half years up to school-going age. Playgroups aim to promote the educational and social development of children through play and the involvement of parent. Privately operated playgroups are known as home playgroups. Funded places may also be available in community playgroups,which are usually managed by committes. Many operate in community centres,halls or school premises and recieve grant aid from local authorites or government departments to cover costs of equipment and/or
2 reasons why childcare is developing
Increased participation by women in the paid labour force.
Recognition of the value of play and socialisation opportunitites for children's development.
In Ireland today, women with young children are forming an increasing proportion of the paid labour around 60% of women with a child under 6 years are now employed and it is recognised that lack of childcare can act as a barrier to employment trainning and education for women. Unlike several of our EU partners, Ireland has no state-supported early education system, and does not provide a service for the children of working parents, with the result that parents turn to the private sector to meet their childcare needs. Although a high percentage of under-5s attend some form of early childhood service, whether full time or part time, publicly or f privately funded.
Early childhood services fall broadly into two catergories:
Services aiming to meet children's development needs playgroups, naionrai,parent and toddler groups. Montessori pre-schools. These are known as 'sessional' services.
Services aiming to meet the needs of parents who are employed or in full-time education or training créches/nurseries, workplace nurseries and family day-care(childminding). These services are 'full-time'.
Playgroups
Playgroups usually operate for up to three-and-a-half hours per day and cater for children aged between two-and-a-half years up to school-going age. Playgroups aim to promote the educational and social development of children through play and the involvement of parent. Privately operated playgroups are known as home playgroups. Funded places may also be available in community playgroups,which are usually managed by committes. Many operate in community centres,halls or school premises and recieve grant aid from local authorites or government departments to cover costs of equipment and/or