Sir, – I watched the Prime Time programme on creches with sadness. How have we moved so far from the needs of vulnerable infants and toddlers that we think it acceptable to have two/three adults trying to fulfil the many and varied needs of a roomful of children?
Learning to master and control so many new tasks is driven by a child’s natural curiosity. To stifle curiosity is a shame. The balance between allowing a child the freedom to explore while keeping them safe is a challenge parents have struggled with in every civilisation.
Ask any parent of even one child how demanding and exhausting this is! Part of the answer is effective childcare has to include real support and choice for parents. – Yours, etc,
BREEDA KELLY,
St Bridget’s Terrace,
Rathnew,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – I agree with Darren Williams (May 30th). When did it become the accepted norm to pass the full-time care and development of our babies and toddlers on to complete strangers, and why are people surprised when this practice yields such shocking results? – Yours, etc,
AOIFE WILKIN,
Terenure Park,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – I am delighted this investigation has exposed the failings in certain childcare settings. It is high time that parents and the wider society began to examine the environment our children are in for almost 9/10 hours a day.
As a working practitioner, I was never questioned on my qualifications by parents. It was just “accepted”.
As an early years practitioner with an educational background of a BA, early childhood care and education, and completing a MA in education, I feel the childcare system in Ireland is not valued. In comparison to our European counterparts, we lack support at governmental level and managerial level. There is not enough emphasis on qualifications. The Childcare Preschool Regulations 2006 insist only on a minimum level of standards regarding development, physical, social, and emotional. In the primary school sector, a degree is the minimum qualification deemed acceptable, why not in early childhood education also?
Childcare providers, especially in the private sector, are free to employ staff with the minimum level of qualifications to meet the job description, which is currently a minimum Fetac level 5 in childcare studies. In my professional opinion, people cannot be adequately trained with the knowledge of appropriate child development and child psychology to control various child behaviour in just nine months!
Children are a precious commodity and early years education should be a priority for our legislators. At the very minimum, childcare practitioners, should have attained a degree in early education and childcare
In many settings, practitioners are overworked, undervalued and underpaid. However, this does not excuse failings in childcare. International research has shown that the years from birth to age six are the most formative of a child’s education. We need action, not words and empty promises, from our Government for our most vulnerable citizens who are the future of our country. – Yours, etc,
NATALIE WALSH,
Charlestown,
Co Mayo.
Sir, – In regard to the horrific RTÉ Prime Time footage showing the deplorable treatment of children in the care of creches.
Why are politicians and commentators asking for additional inspections from the HSE?
This body is dysfunctional in its operation, with a level of inertia that is running off the scale. The HSE is not a capable body to marshal or oversee the regulation of childcare facilities and this has been demonstrated by the numerous scandals involving childcare facilities since 2006.
I would suggest that the competent authority to co-ordinate inspections and indeed the regulation of childcare facilities are the local authorities, as they are centrally based in counties and can control the registration of creches and can also bring in the necessary human resources required to ensure a high level of service provided for parents and children throughout the country.
If the one thing Minister for Health, James Reilly achieves during his term is to dismantle the HSE, it will be a job well done. – Yours, etc,
JOE CORR,
Park Road,
Rush,
Co Dublin.