Welcome to Rathoe Community Childcare
About Rathoe Community Childcare
Curriculum
Our curriculum of Natural Play Based learning reflects the workings of outdoor learning specialist Jan White and the themes and learning goals of the Aistear Curriculum Framework. At the heart of our thinking is that all children have a natural affinity for play. We do not have to teach children how to play, they are biologically designed to do so. Natural Play stresses the importance of physicality, movement and doing and is vital for children’s health and development. Children have an essential need for sensory stimulation and movement and this is best found in the natural outdoor environment. The design of our building enables the children to decide if they wish to play indoors or outdoors with both environments offering various interest areas to explore and develop. Outdoor play and connection to nature is very important for children’s physical development, mental health and wellbeing.
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Outdoor play also allows children to become familiar with early maths, literacy and science concepts through hands-on play such as; construction, mud kitchen, sand and water play. We believe a high-quality early learning childhood experience is very important in your child’s life. Our Natural Play Based curriculum will therefore aim to encourage hands-on active learning, problem solving, life skills, effective communication, resilience, confidence, independence, creativity, emotional and social development for children under the age of six.
Assessment
Each child’s learning and development is documented through photographs and proudly displayed on our notice boards throughout our service and within each classroom’s learning story wall. Every learning story captures the narrative of each child and reflects the themes and principles of Aistear the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. More Info
These achievements are also stored in the children’s very own Special Book and captures the essence of each child’s unique interests, milestones and development throughout their time in preschool. These books also help the children to recall previous learning activities, friendships, events and provide precious memories to take with them as they move on from preschool and begin their next chapter of life long learning in school and beyond.
Outdoor area
Here in Rathoe Community Childcare we are very fortunate to be surrounded by nature and all that it provides. Our main focus is introducing children to the endless benefits of the outdoors. Children learn through active, hands-on experience playing, exploring, experimenting and discovering outside. Movement and activity encourages brain growth and improves children’s attention and their memory, which creates a strong foundation for all of their future development.More Info
Both of our preschool rooms have a large, safe and spacious outdoor area offering numerous fun opportunities for exploration and play. Some of these areas include a purpose built sand pit and mud kitchen, climbing frame, slide, castle, tricycles, ride alongs, sensory garden, vegetable patch, water play area and many more natural activities and equipment for the children to choose from. When the children are outside the benefits are never ending; they learn about nature, the weather, the seasons, develop their immunity, become more resilient, cope with anxiety, challenge themselves and become more confident.
**For more information on the benefits of outdoor play for young children please see the booklet titled Outdoor Play Matters by Barnardos in the Parents menu.
Indoor Area
Both of our colourful and spacious preschool rooms provide a variety of interest areas and fun opportunities for exploration and play. The layout of each room is based on the children’s needs and interests throughout the year.
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We focus on preparing and observing the environment and equipment in order to maximise each child’s play-based learning and development. Indoor play areas provide children with the freedom to explore and develop their creativity, imagination and social skills at their own pace in a secure and safe environment.
Our Rooms and Services
Services available:
- Ecce Preschool: 9am-12pm
- Preschool extra hours (wrap around care) 12pm-3pm
- Non-Ecce/NCS/Private: Our preschool rooms are open to all children who are potty trained from 2 years 8 months old.
- Breakfast Club opens at 7.45am daily.
- Staff walk the children over to Rathoe National School for 9.00am
- Our Afterschool Service is open from 2pm to 5.45pm.
- We collect children from Rathoe Primary school at 2pm and 3pm.
- We welcome all children from other schools in the local area.
- We follow the yearly calendar of Rathoe Primary school.
- We provide Higher Adult/Child Ratios throughout our service.
- Afterschool full day camps from 9am – 4pm excluding bank holidays. Our camps are held every year during Halloween, Midterm, Easter and Summer.
After School
From Junior Infants to Sixth class. NCS/Private. We provide a wide range of activities each day and a space where your child can relax and unwind from a busy day at school.
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