Childcare Report 2008
Petals Day/Childcare and After-schools
Once again I have arrived at that time of year where I have to look back on what has been another busy year for the staff, children and myself within the day/childcare department.
The day/childcare continues to support the Education Department, Sure Start Project and Social Services, women going back into an education and training programme and women wishing to enter into employment.
In our babies and toddlers rooms there are limited childcare places available we hope that every women receives a childcare place if needed.
We continued to run the Summer Scheme in August for the Day-care and the After schools project, the children had two trips out each week. This was funded by Belfast City Council.
The Sure Start Project continues to work along side the day/childcare department in providing respite care for families with young children with in the local area.
Edna Peden continued to work with the families in the local area and also ran two Parents and Toddlers groups on a Monday and Wednesday morning.
Every child would get one or two play sessions under respite Sure Start every week.
From September 08 to August 09
Children registered under 4 years 128 using 243 places weekly and 30 over 5 years using 62 places
Petals Day-care have four units within the childcare department
0-1 years olds with 6 children each session
1-2 years olds with 7 children each session
2-4 years olds with 16 to 20 children each session. With nine sessions every week
5-11 years olds with 16 children each session. With five session every week
The Day-care and After-schools continues to grow from strength to strength. The After-schools have been working alongside
All of our staff hold a certificate in NVQ 2-3 in childcare and play-care and are trained in all aspects of child development, First Aid and Child Protection
There are 13 childcare staff and 2 After-schools staff
The day/childcare is funded by Department of Social Development, Department of Education Early Years, EHSSB until March 2010, Sure Start continues to fund the 4 childcare development workers, Children In Need funding ended in March 09 after 7 years they funded the Childcare Co-ordinator post.
Eleanor and myself have been working with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust regarding funding for Sponsored day-care and Family Support. The Belfast Trust funded the After-schools under family support from September 08 to March 09.
With the help for funding from the Executioner’s Trust we have been able to provide the children from the local area with a new After-schools building
Over the past year we have be busy with the new after-schools build which is on Broadway facing the women centre the children will move into the new building in September, this will be the first time that the children will have a room for them selves.
I would like to thank the founders and everyone for there hard work and dedication in getting the new after-schools building finished.
I continue to sit on the management Board of Greater Village Regeneration Trust where I am chair. Also I sit on the Belfast Childcare Partnership, Children Pilot for Sandy Row and Village, Childcare working group for Women’s centres.
I would like to give a special thanks to all of my staff for there continued hard work support, and commitment within the day-care and after-schools while I was off ill this year.
Shirley Simpson Childcare Co-ordinator
