According to Irish law, childcare facilities need to have enough qualified and educated staff, and that there is a designated individual in charge at all times.
Anyone who runs a childcare service is also required to ensure that the staff they hire have been adequately vetted, which means Garda vetting, and checking their references. This means that every child care facility should make sure that this is done before making any new appointments, or allowing any staff member contact with children.
In addition to this vetting process, staff hired to work with children in a childcare facility should be:
Appropriately experienced and trained in childcare.
Be well versed in childhood development and growth stages.
Enjoy being around and working with children.
Be able to respond to the individual needs of children.
They should be enthusiastic about their jobs.
Be excellent communicators, with good, positive body language.
Respect and defer to the wishes of parents or guardians.
Understand how important play is to development.
Be good at organising.
Have a warm and welcoming demeanour.
Lastly, they should be aware of and well versed in regulations relating to child care.
While in the past child care in Ireland was largely unregulated, that has changed. Child care givers can now access FETAC and HETAC accredited courses in child care, and through university programs, even Masters or PhD degrees. Of course, not all child care facilities will be staffed by these people, but it does mean that parents can opt for facilities with highly qualified staff if they so choose.
All child minding facilities, even family day care services offering care to three or fewer children under the age of six, do have to notify the local Childminder Advisory Officer and receive training through them.
Anyone who runs a childcare service is also required to ensure that the staff they hire have been adequately vetted, which means Garda vetting, and checking their references. This means that every child care facility should make sure that this is done before making any new appointments, or allowing any staff member contact with children.
In addition to this vetting process, staff hired to work with children in a childcare facility should be:
Appropriately experienced and trained in childcare.
Be well versed in childhood development and growth stages.
Enjoy being around and working with children.
Be able to respond to the individual needs of children.
They should be enthusiastic about their jobs.
Be excellent communicators, with good, positive body language.
Respect and defer to the wishes of parents or guardians.
Understand how important play is to development.
Be good at organising.
Have a warm and welcoming demeanour.
Lastly, they should be aware of and well versed in regulations relating to child care.
While in the past child care in Ireland was largely unregulated, that has changed. Child care givers can now access FETAC and HETAC accredited courses in child care, and through university programs, even Masters or PhD degrees. Of course, not all child care facilities will be staffed by these people, but it does mean that parents can opt for facilities with highly qualified staff if they so choose.
All child minding facilities, even family day care services offering care to three or fewer children under the age of six, do have to notify the local Childminder Advisory Officer and receive training through them.
