This article is from page 28 of the 2007-05-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 28 JPG
PARENTS often wish that they could have a fly-on-the-wall view of what goes on at their children’s childcare facility during the day.
Last week in Lough Graney, mums and dads of existing and future charges at the Lough Graney Kids Corner community créche got a chance to do just that.
Having recently celebrated their of- ficial opening, the creche committee organised an open-day for families of children already in the creche and those considering sending their youngsters there.
“We have an open door policy and it was good to let the parents see the activity oriented approach we have,’
said said Kathleen McNamara, Sec- retary of the childcare committee.
The childcare and after-schools fa- cility was purpose built after sucess- fully securing a building grant of €1 million and a further €94,000 for equipment.
The affordable community facil- ity started life in the national school, where it began as a playschool in a spare room.
“We applied for and got a staffing grant, which meant we were able to expand to pre-school and after school care. That grant was a major cog in the wheel. It gave us the opening to keep going forward,” said kathleen.
Now the facility operates out of a state-of-the art purpose built home at the back of the school, with fifty
children being catered for.
The structure is child-friendly, tim- ber framed with underfloor heating and wood floors for little feet.
The ethos of Kids Corner is not just to babysit the youngsters who come there during the day and after school, but to make the time spent there stimulating, fun and child-friendly.
“We are very activity oriented. While we do homework with the children, we also have people come in to do activities like gymnastics and crafts. We do a cookery class for children which is very popular,” said Kathleen.
The purpose built facility is also a boone to the local community, with regular activities such as the senior citizens’ yoga.
“When older people come here for a class, they get to mix with the chil- dren,’ said Kathleen.
The staff even offer a Summer camp and a room which can host birthday ey Nab lone
“The open day was a chance for people to come in and see for them- selves what we do here. That’s im- portant for parents who are bringing their children here,” said Kathleen.
Built by local builder, Michael Mc- Mahon to a design by architect, Peter Sheils, the childcare centre is shortly to have it’s own website.