The
Pre-school services are obliged to ensure the rules and standards were meet in
their premises and facilities including childminders, drop-in centres, creche,
etc. which includes:
- The premises are of sound and stable structure and are suitable for providing pre-school services.
- Adequate space per child is provided in the premises
- Fixtures, premises and fitting are kept in a proper state of repair and in a clean and hygienic condition
- There must be adequate and suitable furniture, play and work equipment and materials available on the premises of the pre-school service.
- There are adequate and suitable facilities for a pre-school child to rest and to play indoors and outdoors during the day.
Pre-school
childcare providers are required to ensure that the building has suitable and
adequate heating, ventilation and lighting and sanitary facilities.
I am not expose yet in the premises, since I can’t access
at the moment, I am still waiting for one of the requirements to be
submitted. But when I visit my target
placement, it was clean, coming in, I turned left, on the alley way, there are
pictures hanging on the walls. It is
easy to know their staff because of their name on the pictures. There is also a good ventilation, and a place
where you can hang your coat. I can only
see from the outside door, the huge room with a number of tables, children and
staff. I was advised to be back if I
have with me the Garda vetting, letter from school and the student insurance
from college/school.
No corporal
punishment on any child attending the service. Anyone providing a pre-school
childcare service should ensure this. It
is not acceptable to slap, verbal abuse or punished a child. You have to be fair, no shouting. Go down to their level and talk to them. And explain what’s wrong and tell the parent
if the kid is biting and kicking.
The safety
measures to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of a pre-school child, is
that the providers must have a safety statement and policies on many areas
including managing the behaviour. Also
in the administration of medication, infection control and safe sleep. The key
to maintain the health, safety and welfare of children is the adequate
supervision by the staff. The staff
should ensure that children cannot leave the area without adult supervision and
that unauthorised access is prevented in the outdoor play area. All accidents and incidents, big or small,
should be recorded in an accident and incident book. The regulations require this.
The premises
must have a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in place and smoke detectors
installed. Regular fire drills be
carried out to help staff familiarise with the evacuation procedures. All staff must be trained in use of
equipment. All heat-emitting surfaces
should have fixed guards or thermostatically controlled. To prevent children straying in pods, pits
and other hazards, garden and play areas should be fenced and door gates are
secured.
The provider
should ensure that the pre-school children are insured against injury while
attending the service.
In taking
children for outings a written procedure should be followed such as, getting
permission from parents in advance and discuss the details, have enough staff
to man the children, pre-planned emergency procedures like having a charged
phone for emergency, bringing a first-aid box and the company of a trained
first-aid person, and the insurance policy includes/cover the outings.
Síolta standardised the rights of
the child in ECCE setting with 3 components which covers the following and its
very close to the UN rights:
- Children’s choices and Children’s decisions
- Children’s opportunities to take the lead and being appropriately independent
- Children being supported to solve the problems
- Children actively participating in daily activities, conversations and all other appropriate situations
- Children as a partner
“Ensuring
that each child’s rights are met requires that she/he is enabled to exercise
choice and to use initiative as an active participant and partner in her/his
own development and learning” Síolta 2006.
Component 1.1
“Each child
opportunities to make choices, is enabled to make decisions, and has her/his
choices and decisions respected”.
Component 1.2
“Each child has opportunities and is enabled to take the
lead, initiate activity, be appropriately independent and is supported to solve
problems”.
Component 1.3
“Each child is enabled to participate actively in the daily
routine, in activities, in conversations and in all other appropriate
situations, and is considered as a partner by the adult”
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