A child can really get a head start at Pre School which will stay with them throughout their education. To work, the new scheme will have to take into account teachers who are better qualified, and it will have to look at the higher costs in Dublin. Otherwise, both schools and children in North Dublin will suffer.
The new free pre school scheme to replace the Early Childhood Supplement from December is running into teething problems. I have talked to Montessori and childcare schools in Clontarf, Drumcondra, Artane, Donaghmede, Beaumont, and across the constituency:
• Some providers say they can’t deliver the service at €4.30 per hour, particularly in Dublin where costs are much higher.
• Montessori type schools who pay qualified teachers complain the scheme makes no allowance for these higher paid people.
• The subsidy is rigidly tied to a core 15 hours per week (11¼ hours in childcare) of activities. Many schools rely on longer hours to get by.
Frustratingly the Minister refuses to be drawn on how he arrived at the costing of €4.30 per hour. Neither can he say how many schools will take part. This creates huge uncertainty. Parents don’t know what schools will participate, yet are expected to sign their kids up for available places in September.
The Government need to establish a quality pre school scheme which has the potential to give our kids a real head start in life.
Note:
The Early Childhood Payment of €1100 per year for 6 years is being replaced by an offer to pay for children in Pre School for a maximum of 15 months. The government say that 70,000 eligible children (or 90%) will participate.
The free pre school service will allow kids in play school (3 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 38 weeks) and child care (2 hours 15 minutes per day, 5 days per week, for 50 weeks) to get pre school teaching from next January. Children aged between 3 years and 3 months and 4 years and 6 months in September are eligible. Exceptions will be allowed if the HSE judge that a child has a special need or because of the recruitment policy of a local primary school. Additional levies are acceptable only if extra services are provided (i.e. longer hours).
