Pearse Memorial Park Windmill Road

Crumlin, Dublin 12

P 01 409 9532 E info@crumlinchildcare.ie

www.crumlinchildcare.ie

Crumlin Childcare Newsletter December 2011

Issue 1

Welcome!

Visit from Santa on Thursday 22nd December! Santa will visit us between 11am to 12noon and children who normally

attend an afternoon session are welcome to join us but parents/guardians will have to stay for the visit and return in the afternoon for their normal service. A BIG thank you to all the

donations from parents/guardians taking part in the Kris Kindle.

Centre Closed Friday 23rd December Reopening Tuesday 3rd January 2012!

(Please note that ECCE [the free pre-school year] do not return until Monday 9th January)

If your child is not able to attend their session please call the Centre direct on 01 409 9532 and not the mobile number provided when you first registered. This will ensure the message gets through to the relevant room. You can also email us at info@crumlinchildcare.ie Some of you expressed an interest in being involved with a Parents Group so in the New Year I shall be getting in touch to ask you to attend a meeting. The aim of the group is to encourage parents/guardians for their input in the development of our service and to support fund raising activities. I’d like to thank all the parents/guardians for their support and for choosing Crumlin Childcare Centre. Wishing you an enjoyable festive season and happy New Year!

Claire McEwen, Centre Manager

Where are we..?!

A lot has happened over 2011 following completion of the new building here on Windmill Road. Having started with just five children in April we now have ninety eight families registered at the Centre, most of which are now in service with some waiting to start in January. Staff are working hard to provide a high quality childcare & early learning environment for all children and the curriculum is developing in order to meet those needs. We are fortunate to have a wide variety of toys and equipment, including age appropriate books. You will have noticed that we finally have a new garden (and buggy store) at the front of the building which will be a great space for children, especially in the summer months. Images can be found on our website and facebook profile. All Childcare Practitioners either hold or are working towards their FETAC level 5 in Childcare. Following interviews in September, four staff members were selected. In January four more childcare staff join us on a permanent basis. In addition to this the front office is now staffed by two part time administrative assistants, Ann Kent and Audrey Williamson. The Centre had its first HSE Inspection back in July and will be working towards ‘Siolta’ in 2012 (the National quality framework). The Centre is in the process of assessing the service so far via a parent/guardian survey. Your feedback is vital and will help shape the service.

“I’m delighted with the care and attention given to my son whilst he is in the crèche. I find all the staff really friendly and welcoming.” (Parent)

Centre Services

Full Time 8.00am to 6.00pm

Part Time 8.00am to 12.30pm 1.30pm to 6.00pm

Sessional 9.00am to 12.00 noon

Nemo Room

4months to 12 months

Happy Feet Room 12months to 24months

Toy Story Room

24months to 36months

Hogwarts Room 36months to school age

The Centre is closed to enquiries

between 12.30pm and 1.30pm

Meals & Snacks The Centre continues to provide a

range of nutritionally balanced snacks and hot meals for full time children, at

no extra charge.

Our meals are freshly prepared, packed and delivered by Moon & Spoon. Moon

& Spoon are specialists in providing 'proper food for little people'.

We rotate menu choice so children enjoy variety. Some of the meals

provided are 'Silly Sausage Surprise', 'Lippy Lentil Pie', 'Snakes in a Bake', 'Tikka Boo', 'Cheeky Chilli', 'Mighty

Meatballs', 'Cool Chicken Curry', 'Lovely Lasagne' and 'Big Bear Pie'.

If you would like a copy of the menu

contact Ann or Audrey on 01 409 9532 or email

Crumlin Childcare Centre December 2011

Vol. 1 Issue 1

Halloween at the Centre…spooky! December 2011

Vol. 1 Issue 1

Halloween at the Centre was lots of fun and children enjoyed dressing up in a variety of costumes. It seems that the adults enjoyed dressing up too! Some of the creatures, characters and super heroes can be seen in the images opposite. Parents/Guardians were warned that children would be exposed to spooky spiders, slimy stuff, goo and sticky food! Happy Feet The children had lots of fun cutting out (and painting) Bats and cutting out firework pictures for the room. The Children made pumpkins hand prints and foot prints along with messy jelly, scary spaghetti and lots of party games, which included hiding sweets which children had to find. There was also dancing and singing competition! Hogwarts The children made jelly plastic spiders (of different colours), painted pictures of pumpkins and Spiders. Children enjoyed lots of treats, singing and dancing and the best dancer and singer got a special treat; definitely some hopefuls for 'X Factor' and 'Strictly Come Dancing' in later years! Children were asked why they liked the character they were dressed as; some very funny answers to that! It was a fun day and all the children took part in all the activities. Toy Story The children played the apple game; hanging the apple at the end of a piece of string with children trying to bite it. That’s more difficult than it sounds! It was really funny! The children made jelly plastic spiders and enjoyed scary spaghetti play. In addition to this there was gloop (in different colours) and lots of games. Children coloured in Pumpkins and enjoyed the treats on offer. There was lots of dancing and singing! Nemo The babies and wobblers did not miss out and were dressed up as pumpkins and super heroes! They decided to chill out and practice their crawling skills on the day!

“The crèche has enabled me to go back to work, which I wasn’t able to consider otherwise, given the cost of childcare.” (Parent)

“My child has learned a lot since she started and I only have your staff to

thank for that. I’m glad that I sent her to this centre.” (Parent)

Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Scheme News! Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Scheme has been capped based on October numbers of children in the service. Therefore we cannot accept new CCS from January 2012. I know many parents/guardians recommend our service but please bear this in mind to avoid disappointment…what this space for the website for details and any updates.

Security & Safety! Please make sure that you or your authorised ‘pick up’ person closes the front gate when they arrive and leave. Leaving the gate open is becoming a problem and parents/guardians must bear in mind buggy’s are now stored in the front garden. I know the gate sometimes sticks in the wet weather but we are working to address this problem. Dropping Off/Collecting! Some parents are continuing to park across the front gate when picking up or dropping of their child. We would respectfully ask everyone to stop doing this as it causes problems for pedestrians and people leaving with buggy’s.

Centre Survey! Please complete the Survey if you haven’t done so already and drop it into the box provided in reception. It is very important that we get your views about our service and will help us introduce any relevant changes where applicable.

Checking for Updates/News Can I ask all of you to check your emails regularly as from the New Year updates, invoices and newsletters will be sent via this method.

For your information! December 2011

Issue 1

Centre Staff 2011

Claire McEwen, Centre Manager Susan Clancy, Senior Practitioner

Therese Boyne, Practitioner Linda Brady, Practitioner

Grace Connolly. Practitioner Lisa Cronin, Practitioner

Lorraine Devereux, Practitioner Amanda Monks, Practitioner

Phyllis White, Practitioner Ann Kent, Administrative Assistant

Audrey Williamson, Administrative Assistant

If you have any questions about the service or your child’s level of care & education speak with Claire McEwen the Centre

Manager: claire@crumlinchildcare.ie

call on 01 409 9532

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