'Buds' in Bloom: Gentle space for children under 5

Childcare Committees across Ireland are coming together to organise a natural sand play area  specifically prepared for children under 5 within the Bloom Garden Festival 2012. This festival runs in the Phoenix Park from Thurs 31^st May to Mon 4^th June 2012. . Staff from CCCs will be on duty each day in the marquee set up for the children. There will also be opportunities for  parents/guardians to meet staff of Childcare Committees who will provide information on quality childcare using Aistear  (the curriculum framework from birth to 6) and on the Government supported childcare schemes.

Parents/Guardians will be expected to remain with their children while attending the play area with their children. Children enter free for the Bloom Festival.

Check out www.bloominthepark.ie

Changes to  ECCE staffing and space/area ratios effective from September, 2012

From September 2012, new staff ratios will apply in respect of the pre-school session element of services for service providers participating in the ECCE Programme. This will also affect the space ratios and sanitary accommodation requirements. 

Staffing Ratios
The minimum number of pre-school leaders and assistants in the free Pre-School Year service will be as follows:

Up to 11 children:                   1 pre-school leader

12-22 children:                        1 pre-school leader and 1 pre-school assistant
23-33 children:                        2 pre-school leaders and 1 pre-school assistant

34-44 children:                        2 pre-school leaders and 2 pre-school assistants and so on.

For each maximum group size of up to 22 children in an ECCE setting there must be at least 1 pre-school leader who meets the qualification requirements outlined above (i.e. minimum NFQ Level 5 or equivalent).

The staff ratios outlined above apply to the sessional pre-school element of the service only, and only where all of the children in question are within the eligible age-range (i.e. where the children are between the ages of 2.5 years and 6 years). 

Outside of the pre-school session, providers must apply the staff ratios in respect of full-time, part-time or sessional services as outlined in the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006.

Space/area ratios per child

In order to allow for the implementation of the new adult: child ratios, it is proposed that a new space/area requirement of 1.818m² per child will be applied. This will allow service providers to cater for additional children as set out below:

The space/area requirement per child in all other instances remains unchanged.

Sanitary Accommodation

Where service providers are in a position to avail of the new adult:child ratios outlined above the number of WC/WHBs required will also change in line with the new ratios, i.e. for every 11 toilet-using children there must be 1 toilet and 1 wash hand basin.