Excerpts from the report:
Centre-based school age child care is a relatively new concept in Irish society although it has been widespread in its provision throughout much of mainland Europe for many years and has also expanded considerably in its provision in the United Kingdom (UK) in recent years.
In June 2001, The National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee (NCCC) which is chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (D/JELR) and which oversees the development of an integrated child care infrastructure throughout the country, established a Working Group on School Age Childcare with a remit to:
- review existing provision for school age child care, in Ireland and in other jurisdictions;
- develop guidelines on quality standards for school age child care;
- make proposals for the development of school age child care services, on an all year round basis, taking into account the diverse forms of such child care; and
- to report to the National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee on these issues.
Although there has been a significant increase in the provision of early or pre-school child care places in Ireland in recent years, there has not been a parallel increase in the provision of places to cater for the child care needs of the school age child outside of school hours. As a result, the majority of Irish parents have limited options from which to meet the child care needs of their school going children outside of school hours. Indeed this deficit is the raison d'être for the present Working Group.
Contents:
- Chapter 1: Introduction and context
- Chapter 2: What is school age child care?
- Chapter 3: School age child care in Ireland - Current provision
- Chapter 4: The provision of school age child care elsewhere
- Chapter 5: The demand for school age child care in Ireland
- Chapter 6: The further development of school age child care in Ireland
- Chapter 7: Quality in school age child care
- Chapter 8: The child in the context of school age child care
- Chapter 9: Quality school age child care (1) The activity programme and the importance of play
- Chapter 10: Quality school age child care (2) - Key issues impacting upon a quality service
- Chapter 11: Quality school age child care (3) - Training
- Chapter 12: The way forward