Childhood Matters – Early Years 

An award winning crèche located in a beautiful parkland setting

About Our Early Years Service

Our Crèche is an amazing self-contained oasis within the urban setting of Blackrock, Cork City. Childhood Matters early years works on the core principles and beliefs that early childhood is a unique stage in life. Therefore, the manner in which children are introduced to Early Learning is important, as it is the foundation on which children will begin to build the rest of their lives.

Childhood Matters early years is a wonderful environment where each child is nurtured as an individual. We implement a play-based curriculum which follows guidelines laid out by Aistear, The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and Siolta The National Quality Framework for Early childhood Education,

Aistear has four themes: Well-being – Identity and Belonging- Communicating – Exploring & Thinking.

Each theme is incorporated into your child’s daily learning and this allows for their individuality to emerge and to find their own interest.
Our goal through our dynamic and exploratory curriculum is to assist all children to develop in a holistic way with our end goal being, children will become confident and capable learners.

At Childhood Matters early years we welcome all children from 4 months to 9 years and we are committed to promoting an environment of equality and inclusion. Our highly motivated and qualified childcare educators are dedicated to providing a safe high-quality childcare, interactive learning and memorable experiences for all children while they are in our care.

Our Outdoor Education Environment is where we feel the true treasure lies! Children have daily access, through free flow play, to an amazing array of different outdoor environments. In the outdoor education environment, the children get to test their skills and experience life in the wilderness, something which is not always possible in a city crèche.

Our Childcare Services:

Full time care
8.00am – 6.00pm
Part time care
9.00am-1.00pm
2.00pm-6.00pm
(Breakfast hour 8.00am-9.00am available on request)
ECCE
9.00am-12.00pm
(Breakfast hour 8.00am -9.00am & Dinner hour
12.00pm-1.00pm available on request)

OUR ROOMS

Each room in the crèche is specially designed to cater for the particular age group, from Babies to Wobblers, to Toddlers and up to Pre-Schoolers and After-Schoolers. Each room is laid out and equipped with high quality, age appropriate toys, furniture and resources.

We treat each child as an individual, helping them to reach their full potential by developing physically, socially and emotionally.

At Childhood Matters early years it is our priority to make the baby/child and parent/guardian feel like at home. We want to make your transition as stress free as possible, so we have incorporated a settling in period where we can all get to know one another and also your babies/child’s routine.

Through the settling in period both parent(s)/guardian(s) and baby/child will become familiar with the team and key carer that will be caring for their baby/child and key carer along with the team will make every effort to learn all about your child’s routine, likes and dislikes.

Prior to your child beginning at Childhood Matters early years we ask each parent/guardian to complete “Getting to know your child” form that includes all the necessary and important information in relation to your child.

CATERPILLAR ROOM
(Baby room)
Age: 4–16+ months
Ratio: 1:3 & 1:5
Times: 8.00am-6.00pm
Full days care ONLY
 Fees:
5 days

4 days

3 days

2 days

 €225.00

€206.00

€165.00

€114.00

Once you and your baby have settled into Crèche life, we will discuss how the routine the routine works and if there are any changes that we feel would be beneficial to you and your child. Routines are based on well-researched practises that are age appropriate and in accordance with childcare experts. Parental involvement and input are welcome.

LADYBIRD ROOM
Age: 12-24+ Months
Ratio: 1:5
Times: Full day care

8.00am-6.00pm

Part time care

9am-1pm & 2pm-6pm

Optional: Breakfast hour 8am-9am (additional charge applies)

The routine in the Wobbler Room is a little more structured than the Baby Room. Appropriate activities are introduced to your child aiding all areas of development and in particular their intrinsic sense for independence and exploration. This is provided through short structured play programmes. Arts, crafts, music, books, puzzles, table top toys, construction boxes, home play, water play and sand play are just some of the activities on offer. Clean-up time is naturally integrated into the cycle at the end of Play time.

FULL DAY CARE:

5 days 8am – 6pm: €225.00 Per Week

4 days 8am – 6pm: €206.00 Per Week

3 days 8am – 6pm: €165.00 Per Week

2 days 8am – 6pm: €114.00 Per Week

HALF DAY CARE:

5 half days (9am-1pm)or (2pm-6pm) €113.00 Per Week

4 half days(9am-1pm)or (2pm-6pm) €96.00 Per Week

3 half days(9am-1pm)or (2pm-6pm) €76.50 Per Week

2 half days(9am-1pm)or (2pm-6pm) €55.00 Per Week

BUMBLE BEE ROOM
Age: 2 + years
Ratio: 1:6
Times: Full day care

8.00am-6.00pm

Part time care

9am-1pm & 2pm-6pm

Optional: Breakfast hour 8am-9am (additional charge applies)

The Bessborough Crèche is a wonderful environment where each child is nurtured as an individual. We implement a play-based curriculum which follows guidelines laid out by the Aistear, The Early childhood Curriculum Framework and Siolta The National Quality Framework for Early childhood Education,

Aistear has four themes: Well-being – Identity and Belonging- Communicating – Exploring & Thinking.

FULL DAY CARE:

5 days 8am – 6pm: €220.00 Per Week

4 days 8am – 6pm: €201.00 Per Week

3 days 8am – 6pm: €161.50 Per Week

2 days 8am – 6pm: €111.58Per Week

HALF DAY CARE:

5 half days €110.50 Per Week

4 half days €95.50 Per Week

3 half days €75 Per Week

2 half days €54.00 Per Week

Grasshopper Room
Age: 2.8 – 3+ years
Ratio: 1:8
Times: 8.00am-6.00pm

Fees applied for 52 weeks

ECCE subsidy applied for 38 weeks (183 days)

The Grasshoppers and Butterfly room curriculum, materials and environment meet the interests of the children, and promotes the children’s language, cognitive, physical, social and emotional development. The children learn how to look after themselves and their environment (spooning, pouring, cutting and threading activities, looking after plants etc).

Through various group projects and activities, the children explore their creativity which encourages self-awareness, confidence, self-esteem and a positive self-image.

FULL DAY CARE:

5 days 8am – 6pm: €220.00 Per Week

4 days 8am – 6pm: €201.00 Per Week

3 days 8am – 6pm: €161.50 Per Week

2 days 8am – 6pm: €111.58Per Week

HALF DAY CARE:

5 half days €110.50 Per Week

4 half days €95.50 Per Week

3 half days €75 Per Week

2 half days €54.00 Per Week

THE BUTTERFLY ROOM
Age: 3-5+ years
Ratio: 1:8
Times: 8.00am-6.00pm

Fees applied for 52 weeks

ECCE subsidy applied for 38 weeks (183 days)

The Grasshoppers and Butterfly room curriculum, materials and environment meet the interests of the children, and promotes the children’s language, cognitive, physical, social and emotional development. The children learn how to look after themselves and their environment (spooning, pouring, cutting and threading activities, looking after plants etc).

Through various group projects and activities, the children explore their creativity which encourages self-awareness, confidence, self-esteem and a positive self-image.

FULL DAY CARE:

5 days 8am – 6pm: €220.00 Per Week

4 days 8am – 6pm: €201.00 Per Week

3 days 8am – 6pm: €161.50 Per Week

2 days 8am – 6pm: €111.58Per Week

HALF DAY CARE:

5 half days €110.50 Per Week

4 half days €95.50 Per Week

3 half days €75 Per Week

2 half days €54.00 Per Week

STARLING ROOM
(ECCE)
Age: 2.8 years to 5+ years
Ratio: 1:11
 

Open for 38 weeks (138 days) CAMP available to book during the ECCE closure weeks

Optional: Breakfast hour 8am-9am (additional charge applies)

Optional: Lunch hour 12am-1pm (additional charge applies)

The preschool rooms are devised to offer our pre-school children a fun learning environment that equips them with skills and knowledge, the children are encouraged to become autonomous, independent confident individuals.

A planned daily routine allows children to explore and to be given confidence in their developing skills. The routine provides opportunities to play individually and in small or large groups indoors or outdoors.

An educational approach supports active learning through a daily routine and active participation from both the educator and children. The curriculum actively supports the voice of the child by being respectful and modelling behaviour to the child. We have a daily routine in the rooms for the children to follow. This is based on a mixture of child-led activities and adult-directed activities. The planned environment provides children with the opportunity to engage with materials and interact with peers and adults. The environment allows the child to engage with it productively and see themselves as capable learners developing skills and understanding which will enable them to make sense of the world and to succeed in it.

Work time allows the child the opportunities to engage with an activity of their own choosing which reinforces to the child that they belong and are respected within the setting building their self-confidence and self-esteem.

HUMMINGBIRD ROOM
(Senior Early Years Room)
Age: 4+ years
Ratio: 1:11
 

 

 Open for 38 weeks (138 days) CAMP available to book during the ECCE closure weeks

Optional: Breakfast hour 8am-9am (additional charge applies)

Optional: Lunch hour 12am-1pm (additional charge applies)

The preschool rooms are devised to offer our pre-school children a fun learning environment that equips them with skills and knowledge, the children are encouraged to become autonomous, independent confident individuals.

A planned daily routine allows children to explore and to be given confidence in their developing skills. The routine provides opportunities to play individually and in small or large groups indoors or outdoors.

An educational approach supports active learning through a daily routine and active participation from both the educator and children. The curriculum actively supports the voice of the child by being respectful and modelling behaviour to the child. We have a daily routine in the rooms for the children to follow. This is based on a mixture of child-led activities and adult-directed activities. The planned environment provides children with the opportunity to engage with materials and interact with peers and adults. The environment allows the child to engage with it productively and see themselves as capable learners developing skills and understanding which will enable them to make sense of the world and to succeed in it.

Work time allows the child the opportunities to engage with an activity of their own choosing which reinforces to the child that they belong and are respected within the setting building their self-confidence and self-esteem.

AFTERSCHOOL ROOM
(School collections available)
Age: 1-6yrs Junior/Senior
Ratio: 1:12
Times: 1pm -6pm

Childhood Matters early years is a wonderful environment where each child is nurtured as an individual. We implement a play-based curriculum which follows guidelines laid out by the Aistear, The Early childhood Curriculum Framework and Siolta The National Quality Framework for Early childhood Education,

Aistear has four themes: Well-being – Identity and Belonging- Communicating – Exploring & Thinking.

5 afternoons €125

4 afternoons €107

3 afternoons €84

2 afternoons €62

OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Collections from school: €6 per day (subject to availability)

AFTERSCHOOL ROOM
(School collections available)
Age: 1st Class upwards
Ratio: 1:12
Times: 2pm – 6pm

Childhood Matters early years is a wonderful environment where each child is nurtured as an individual. We implement a play-based curriculum which follows guidelines laid out by the Aistear, The Early childhood Curriculum Framework and Siolta The National Quality Framework for Early childhood Education,

Aistear has four themes: Well-being – Identity and Belonging- Communicating – Exploring & Thinking.

5 afternoons €115

4 afternoons €102

3 afternoons €79

2 afternoons €56

OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Collections from school: €6 per day (subject to availability)

At Childhood Matters early years we have a waiting list for enrolment and we advise all parents / guardians to put their child on the waiting list as soon as possible. A deposit may be required.
When a family has more than one child in the service the following discounts are applied.
2 children Eldest child’s fees are reduced by 10%. 3 children Eldest child’s fees are reduced by 10% and the 2nd eldest by 5%.

For more information please contact Inga O’Shea – ioshea@childhood-matters.ie or 021-4357730

Elizabeth Cronin

Early Years Practice manager

ecronin@childhood-matters.ie
Inga O’ Shea

Early Years Administration manager

ioshea@childhood-matters.ie

CHILDCARE SCHEMES

SEE MORE HERE

PARENTAL PARTNERSHIP

SEE MORE HERE

Aistear has Four Themes:

Communicating

Children share their experiences, thoughts, ideas, and feelings with others.

Exploring and Thinking

Children making sense of the things, places and people in their world.

Identity and Belonging

Children develop a positive sense of who they are.

Wellbeing

Children being confident, happy and healthy.

Aistear: Principles and Themes – Early Childhood

Afterschool Club & Camp

Childhood Matters early years After School club provides a balanced programme of communication, problem solving and teamwork skills, relaxation, play nutrition, and supervised homework.

Pick up from Local Schools available in our own company vehicles and driven by our own team. Please call to see which school are on our list this year.

We will supervise all written homework at the club plus reading, timetables work to be carried out at home as it is important part of parent participation.

Childhood Matters early years runs action packed camps for all after school children as well as children who do not attend our service throughout the year. Childhood Matters strives to provide safe, fun-filled action packed camps for children. The camps encourage team work, participation, social development and most importantly enjoyment.

The camps run during all the school holidays. Children can attend camp from 8.00am to 6.00pm or for half days. Children who do not attend Childhood Matters early years service throughout the year can also attend the camps.

Childhood Matters early years e camp is a multi-activity camp with a range of activities to suit all children. We also organise some outings which include trips to Model Village in Clonakilty, Fota Wildlife Park, Rumleys Farm and cooking classes in Blarney.

Testimonials

Since our twins have joined Childhood Matters early years  they have gone from strength to strength.

They absolutely love going to “school” every morning and thoroughly enjoy every minute of their time there. The staff are amazing, professional, fun and above all loving to all children in their care.

We cannot recommend Childhood Matters early years   highly enough!!

Aoife and Sergio, Parents

Our experience with Childhood Matters early years  has been fantastic. We’ve had our two children in their care at different stages since 2011. Their dedication to developing children through play & exploration is a teaching that nurtured them in their early years and has led them to be confident and inquisitive primary school students. I cannot recommend the crèche highly enough.

Sarah, Parent

A fantastic environment for children with a great emphasis on outdoor play. The teachers are wonderful and the children’s needs are always put first. It has been an extremely positive experience since we first started using the crèche in January 2013!

Gillian, Parent