Creche ‘no adverse effect’ on learning says Early Childhood Ireland

Early Childhood Ireland yesterday said parents can be reassured by new evidence that sending their children to a creche has no effect on their ability to learn.

Chief executive Teresa Heeney said the finding, in a Growing Up in Ireland report, was “obviously reassuring” for parents who worried about sending their children to childcare.

The report found no difference in the cognitive development of children in childcare and those cared for at home. A study of 9,000 children found, when tested at age five, children who attended childcare at age three did as well as those cared for solely by their parents.