Call for improved staff training in wake of creche revelations

Childcare organisations are calling on the Government to fund improved training of childcare staff as they try to dampen down a “crisis of confidence” created by revelations about substandard practice at three Dublin creches.

There has been significant political reaction to reports that RTÉ has video evidence showing toddlers spending prolonged periods in high chairs, and children being yelled at and handled roughly during sleep and rest times.

The Prime Time footage, due to be broadcast on Monday, is also believed to show children’s daily report cards being fabricated by staff, and allergy lists being ignored.

Parents were paying up to €1,200 per month for their children to be taken care of at these creches.

Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin spokesmen on children, Robert Troy and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, called on the minister for children to direct the HSE to publish all creche inspection reports online immediately.

Early Childhood Ireland, which represents 3,300 preschool and creche providers, met with Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald this week to discuss the planned RTÉ programme and its implications for the sector.

“We asked the minister to introduce mandatory levels of training for the sector and to set a very clear timetable for achieving this, which must be accompanied by the right level of funding. We also urged her to enhance both the approach and the numbers of inspectors for the early education sector,” said CEO Irene Gunning.

The Association of Childhood Professionals also called on the Government to work with childhood professionals to achieve high quality provision in the childhood sector.

“For many years there has been under-investment in the development of the sector. Quality provision cannot be achieved without a quality workforce. The development of the sector requires quality standards for training, professional development and inspection. It also requires commensurate pay for workers and Government commitment to ongoing development based upon evidence and best practice,” a spokeswoman said.

The incriminating footage was gathered when an RTÉ researcher went undercover at Links Childcare in Abington, Malahide; Giraffe at Belarmine, Stepaside; and at Little Harvard in Rathnew, Co Wicklow.

One childcare staff member has already been fired at Links and five more suspended at Links and Giraffe.

Giraffe, which has 21 centres in Dublin, has started installing CCTV cameras in every room at the Stepaside Centre.

Links, which runs 10 childcare centres in Dublin, made footage from its CCTV system available to parents in recent days. No staff have been sanctioned at Little Harvard to date and its public relations company said: “Little Harvard and its legal advisers will continue to carry out a full investigation into the isolated incidents and review all options available to improve the service in its creche.”

All three creches have now hired public relations companies to field questions from journalists and are all alleging that the programme does not give a fair and balanced representation of the care they provide to children.