State must take a more active role in childcare
In particular, they believe that ‘child development standards should be set and centres graded on their quality’, as Claire O’Sullivan’s article ‘Behind closed doors’ (Irish Examiner, March 25) recommends.
Providers, however, would argue, perhaps, that there is not a lack of regulation but rather a lack of enforcement of regulation.
Many of the regulations governing childcare are unequivocal and there should be no excuse for any provider not abiding by these. The problems occur where the regulations require ‘adequate and suitable’ conditions in many environmental matters.
The first six years of a child’s life have huge importance in their later development. Surely the State should make provision for ensuring that all children have an equal start?
We hear of the thousands of euro given in grants to increase and enhance the number of childcare places and this is to be welcomed. The Government, however, has taken no active part in providing preschool facilities. It has left this to private providers and hard-working community groups who work voluntarily. Why isn’t the State leading the way here, in providing centres of excellence from which we could all learn?
The quality of care depends on training and continuing education - where is the State helping here? There are grants through the National Development Plan to the childcare sector to provide training but these are not enough. Most existing providers will have funded their own training, including those working as classroom/special needs assistants in national schools.
The cost of childcare always figures largely in any report on this sector. If we want trained staff, well-regulated premises and quality care, someone is going to have to pay. Again, the State could play a much more dynamic role.
The greatest single cost in childcare is the cost of the premises. A dedicated ‘early years’ body could provide premises for childcare to be leased at a reasonable prices. After all, we build and lease advance factories for industry, why not for childcare?
Childcare employs mostly women, whom the State is always concerned at keeping in employment. Why are childcare workers not seen as a valuable resource? More often they are portrayed as people who financially prey on hard-working parents.
Childcare workers, on the whole, strive to be compliant with the regulations and also to provide a warm, caring, nurturing place for the preschool child. In addition, any good preschool will help to develop the physical, emotional, cognitive and social skills of the child attending. We work with parents to encourage independence and coping strategies and give advice on accessing outside professional help for parenting and development problems. All of this for less than €5 per hour! Does any parent really think that this is an easy job?
Most of us work in this sector because we like working with children, not for financial reward. Parents can get advice on what to look for from the HSE, the NCNA and the IPPA. But they must go ‘behind closed doors’ and see if they are welcomed.
Glynis Stephenson
Owner/Manager
Rainbow Montessori
Main Street
Ballinacurra
Midleton
Co Cork
