PROVIDERS

Service Providers Representatives
Providers Newsletters
Síolta & Aistear
Multicultural Bulletin
Voice & Choice Programme

Service Providers Representatives

There are two service provider reps on the committee, however the position of rep in the community sector is currently vacant. The nomination process to fill this vacany will take place prior to the AGM in May. Mireille Passchier is the rep from the private sector.

The role of the service provider reps is to represent provider's concerns to the committee and to feed back to providers through Network meetings.

Reps can be contacted through the OCCC office on 057 91 35878 or by Email info@offalychildcare.com

Providers Newsletters

You can download a copy of our Newsletters using the links below

download providers_forum_newsletter_volume_6_issue_1.pdf

download afterschool_supplement_newsletter_issue_1_2012.pdf

Siolta & Aistear

Síolta is comprised of Principles, Standards and Components of Quality. There are 12 Principles that provide the overall vision of the Framework, and the 16 Standards and 75 Components allowing for the practical application of this vision across all aspects of ECCE practice.
The Components of Quality are further explained by a set of Signposts for Reflection and are intended to support practitioners of early education settings to become aware of and to offer opportunities for reflective practice.
Offaly County Childcare Committee offer cluster group meetings in Birr, Edenderry and Tullamore to accommodate providers.
The Standard for the cluster group meetings for the first term is Standard 1: The Rights of the Child.
The summer term cluster group meetings will focus on folder preparation as evidence of informal engagement with Siolta by the services.

Aistear is the Early Years Curriculum Framework for children from birth to six years in Ireland.
Aistear through the four themes, Well-being, Identity and Belonging, Exploring and Thinking and Communicating, seeks to create competent and confident learners.
Offaly County Childcare Committee incorporates the four themes in all their work.

Multicultural Bulletin

There will be one issue of the multi-cultural Bulletin in 2012 to be distributed in February.

The aim of the bulletin is to provide information and suggestions for activities to support multiculturalism in the childcare setting.

Voice & Choice Programme

The “Voice and Choice” Curriculum Framework is a collaborative project on behalf of the Limerick City childcare committee and the Targeting Educational Disadvantage project (TED) at the curriculum Development Unite, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. The framework has a number of co-authors: Mary Maloney, Ann Higgins and Sandra Ryan.
A number of factors contribute to the delivery of a quality school age childcare service. A key element is the programme of activities delivered on a day to day basis with the emphasis on play. “Voice and Choice” is an activity based curriculum for the school age sector and provides support for practitioners in establishing appropriate environments, understanding the developmental needs of the diverse age range within school age childcare settings, and in providing invaluable guidance on how to plan activity programmes.
The framework is set out in two parts. Part one looks at child development, school age environment, programme planning and inclusion. Part two (the larger of the two sections) sets out eight sections including Play, movement and dance, drama, arts education, physical well-being, fun with food and social & emotional well-being.

The framework aims to support School Age Childcare Providers to:
• Review and develop best practice collaboratively with relevant stakeholders
• Engage more meaningfully with parents and children about the type of school age childcare service they offer
• Develop inclusive practice
• Ensure that PLAY is the foundation of any school age childcare programme
• Actively involve children in the on-going development of school age childcare programmes.
• Increase their knowledge and skill base
• Embrace a holistic approach to the delivery of school age childcare
• Participate in on-going training and development opportunities
• Engage in regular review and monitoring of emerging best practice in the school age childcare sector in Ireland.

For more information contact Offaly County Childcare Committee