Description of Services
Childcare Services in Waterford City
All Childcare Services in Waterford City fall within one of the following categories which are in keeping with national definitions of types of childcare services.
- Sessional Services – Services which offer a planned programme, 3.5 hours or less per session.
Services covered by this definition may include pre-schools, playgroups, crèches, Montessori pre-schools, Naoinrai, notifiable childminders or similar services which generally cater for children in 0-6 age range.
- Part-time Service – Services which offer a planned programme between 3.5 and 5 hours.
Services covered under this definition may include a sessional pre-school service for pre-school children not attending the part-time day care service. The service must provide the same physical environment including rest, play and sanitary facilities as for full day services.
- Full Day Care Services – Day care services for pre-school children for more than 5 hours
Services covered under this definition are those offering a structured full day service for children which may include a part-time service and a sessional service also.
- Drop–In Centres – Services provided in shopping centres, leisure centres, hotels etc. on a temporary basis. In drop-in services the children are cared for over a period of not more than two hours.
- Childminders – People who mind children for all or part of a day in the childminders home. Childminders who care for up to 5 children are legally required to notify their service to Health Service Executive, they receive an inspection from the Pre-school Services Officer. Childminders who care for 3 children or less are invited to voluntarily notify their service to Waterford City Childcare Committee. These Childminders receive an advisory visit to their home from the Childminding Advisory Officer of Waterford City Childcare Committee.
6. School Age Childcare Services
School Age childcare services provide care on a sessional or part-time basis for school aged children outside the normal school hours.
According to the Pre-School Service Regulations Childcare (Amendment) Act 2007 childcare providers providing the above services up to age 6 years are required to notify in writing the Health Services Executive (HSE) prior to opening a service.
However, please note that under this 2007 Act school age services and voluntary notified childminders are not yet required to notify the HSE.
In Waterford City all of the above types of childcare services are on offer in either a private or community setting. They may fall under one of the following headings:
Community Childcare Services
i) Community services:
Community Day Care facilities are run in the community by the community and on a ‘not for profit’ basis. They are managed by a voluntary management committee, and are usually housed in a community owned centre.
They generally provide a full range of services including full day care, part-time and sessional (some include a school age service). Fees charged are usually on a sliding scale dependent on means of the families.
ii) Pre Schools in Nationals Schools:
Pre Schools generally operate within the National School structure and usually operate as feeder classes into the school’s Junior Infants class. These pre schools operate sessional services in tandem with the primary school year, and close for the same holidays over Christmas, Easter, and Summer etc.
Private Childcare Services
i) Private Full-Day Care services are generally run as individual businesses. They may provide a part-time and sessional service as well as a full day service. Some offer a school age service. Fees charged are generally at the discretion of the proprietor.
ii) Montessori Pre Schools:
Montessori Pre Schools are private pre schools who provide a sessional pre school service using the Montessori method of learning. These services also operate in tandem with the general school holidays.
iii) Drop In Crèche Facilities:
Drop in childcare services are generally provided by large shopping facilities, leisure centres and similar establishments. Fees may vary and the length of time the child can stay may also vary from place to place.
iv) Childminders: see above
CHILDCARE SUBVENTION SCHEME
Through the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs there is a Childcare Subvention Scheme in operation within some community based childcare services. Through the scheme quality childcare is offered at reduced rates to disadvantaged parents. The level of grant available for services will depend on the level of service and the profile of parents using the service. For further information on the scheme and the services using the scheme please contact the Childcare Committee.
INFORMATION ON CONTACT DETAILS FOR ALL CHILDCARE SERVICES IN WATERFORD CITY MAY BE SOURCED FROM THE OFFICES OF THE WATERFORD CITY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE, 4 b MANOR VILLAGE, CORK RD, WATERFORD. TEL NO: 051-860444 OR FROM THE WEBSITE OR FROM PRE-SCHOOL OFFICERS, HEALTH SERVCIES EXECUTIVE, CORK RD, WATERFORD. TEL NO: 051 842897