Developing School Age Childcare - Department of Children and ...
Developing School Age Childcare - Department of Children and ...
Developing School Age Childcare - Department of Children and ...
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THE WAY FORWARD12.1 The Equal Opportunities <strong>Childcare</strong> Programme 2000 - 2006 is currently making grantassistance available to develop childcare in Irel<strong>and</strong> through a range <strong>of</strong> initiativesincluding the provision <strong>of</strong> capital grant assistance to both community/not for pr<strong>of</strong>itgroups <strong>and</strong> to private childcare providers; grant assistance towards staffing costs <strong>of</strong>childcare projects which have a strong focus on disadvantage <strong>and</strong> grant assistance todevelop initiatives with a focus on quality improvement.12.2 The Programme has already set aside a funding allocation specifically for thedevelopment <strong>of</strong> both new <strong>and</strong> enhanced school age childcare facilities <strong>and</strong> for thesupport <strong>of</strong> staffing costs in school age childcare facilities located in areas <strong>of</strong> disadvantage.12.3 Without doubt there is a need for a strenuous campaign to promote interest in thedevelopment <strong>of</strong> school age childcare facilities. The Working Group recommends that acampaign be undertaken to increase underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> the school age childcare sector,to create awareness <strong>of</strong> the availability <strong>of</strong> grant assistance <strong>and</strong> to promote <strong>and</strong>encourage community groups, schools <strong>and</strong> their managing authorities <strong>and</strong> existingchildcare practitioners, both community groups <strong>and</strong> private providers, to consider thedevelopment <strong>of</strong> these much needed services.12.4 The Working Group is aware that the City/County <strong>Childcare</strong> Committees have a strongm<strong>and</strong>ate from the National <strong>Childcare</strong> Co-ordinating Committee to work with localinterests to develop childcare to address local childcare needs. The Working Grouprecommends that the City/County <strong>Childcare</strong> Committees be asked to take aprominent role in working with <strong>and</strong> supporting community groups, private childcareproviders <strong>and</strong> schools’ authorities throughout their City/County to develop schoolage childcare facilities to meet the childcare needs <strong>of</strong> parents who are in employment,education <strong>and</strong> training <strong>and</strong> whose school going children require childcare outside <strong>of</strong>school hours.12.5 The Working Group recommends that the City/County <strong>Childcare</strong> Committees <strong>and</strong> theNational Voluntary <strong>Childcare</strong> Organisations as appropriate promote awareness <strong>of</strong> theguidelines developed by the Working Group for the development <strong>of</strong> a quality <strong>School</strong><strong>Age</strong> <strong>Childcare</strong> Sector.91
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