Graduation Day for the Pre-school children at Hilltop, Kilenaule
Hilltop Childcare Service operates a part time pre-school and part time after-school from our Respond..
Hilltop Childcare Service operates a part time pre-school and part time after-school from our Respond community building in Highfield Killenaule. The childcare professionals Bernadette Shaw Shannahan, Anne Marie Walsh, Sandra Curran, Nicole Purtill, Lauren O Sullivan, Anne Coady and Bernadette Doyle would like to take the opportunity to thank the families for their continued support of the service. We look forward to welcoming all our new and returning children to the service in 2015 where we will be ready for New Year of fun filled learning.
Thursday 25th June was a special graduation day for the Pre-school children in Hilltop. Some children graduating have been attending pre-school for the last 2 years being part of the learning, exploring, creativity and magic. A lovely ceremony was held enjoyed by children, families and staff. We would like to thank Fr. Jimmy O Donnell for celebrating the mass and John Bourke, photographer.
2014/2015 was particularly busy for pre-school and after-school staff at Hilltop Childcare Service as they all completed High Scope Training. High Scopes educational approach emphasizes “active participatory learning” and active learning means children have direct hands on experience with people objects events and ideas. Childrens interests and choices are the heart of High Scope Programmes and they construct their own Knowledge through interactions with the world and the people around them. Children take the first step in the learning process by making choices and following through on their plans and decisions. Childcare staff provide physical emotional and intellectual support in active learning settings. Adults expand childrens thinking with diverse materials and nurturing interactions. Staff have attended training and worked hard to implement their learning into the daily routines. The High Scope curriculum enhances the framework of Siolta and Aistear and the approach that was always adopted in Hilltop Childcare Service.
Special thanks to the Tony Ryan Trust with the aim of supporting children and young people in Tipperary to reach their full potential. Through the Community Foundation of Ireland Highscope training was provided to childcare workers across County Tipperary. Our experience in Hilltop is that Highscope training has enhanced our service to enable each child to develop and grow as a confident competent learner ready to meet life challenges.
Respond Hilltop Childcare operates 5 days per week 8.45am to 6.30pm. As a community based service we operate the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme, the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme and the Training Education Childcare Programmes. These programmes funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and administered by Pobal support us in providing a high quality childcare service affordable to low income families in the surrounding areas of Killenaule.
Graduations are also taking place in the other Respond Childcare Services Nationwide this year 152 children will have completed their ECCE Free Scheme place in our community childcare services.
For further information, please contact:
Mary Lonergan, Childcare Co-ordinator Tel: 087 9161403 / 051 840200
Bernadette Shaw Shanahan, Childcare Leader Tel: 052 9156888