This article is from page 32 of the 2008-02-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
UNTIL the Leapfrog Creche and Montessori opened it’s doors in Tua- mngraney, parents had to take their tots twelve miles or more to be cared oe
This month, the busy facility is cel- ebrating it’s first birthday by having an official opening, because, says owner Sarah Ryan, “thing were too hectic to do anything about the open- ing before now.”
“It’s been an amazing twelve months but now that we’re settled, I just want to do something that will
acknowledge the parents and chil- dren who come to us.”
Sarah and husband Johnny decided to open the childcare facility when they were expecting their second child and it became clear that that the nearest purpose built facilities were miles away.
The fact that the pair were running a carpentry business was a huge help at the time in constructing the build- ing.
Now Leapfrog has 39 pre-school and 13 afterschool children all being cared for under the watchful eye of creche manager Claire Heaney and
her staff between 8am and 6.30pm each day.
The youngest of their charges is a five-month-old baby, “although this is unusual’, says Sarah.
“With better maternity leave enti- tlements, most babies come to us at around ten months, but if like me, you re self employed, you need a few hours every day to do things and par- ents need a facility where they can bring young babies.”
Leapfrog has baby, toddler, play- school, Montessori and after-school care and it’s little customers come from all over east Clare, from every-
where between Tulla and Whitegate.
“At the moment we’re full and we have a waiting list, so the opening isn’t to show off the créche, it’s just to celebrate the year that’s gone and getting up and running,’ said Sarah.
Local councillor, Joe Cooney, will be performing the official opening at the creche in Tuamgraney village on February 26.