The Larkin Childcare Facility has two services, the Crèche is attached to the Larkin Unemployed Centre on North Stand Road and the pre-school is located in the Ballybough Community centre, on the Ballybough road. Both services operate from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Crèche

Caters for babies from 6 months to approximately three years of age. Click here for more information on our Crèche Facilities

Pre-School

Caters for children approximately three-four years of age. Click here for more information on our Pre-School

Childcare Training

Childcare Training from Level 4 to Supervisory Level 6 Click here for more information on our Childcare Training Program

We are committed to developing an inclusive childcare centre where parents and their children can learn and develop in an atmosphere of acceptance and commitment to all families living in the local and adjacent community. We focus on the developmental needs of the children by encouraging them to become active learners. We do this by providing a range of learning opportunities that encourage the child's holistic development. We are particularly interested in the outdoors as a learning tool not just for children's physical development but also for their early social and cognitive skills.

While both services are primarily focussed on the children, we recognise that it is not possible to work exclusively without involving their parents and families. Our early year's provision has evolved dynamically over the years in response to the changing demands of the family unit and their local communities.

We operate an open door policy whereby we encourage parents to spend time settling their child into the centre and to take part in outings and activities. We hold regular open meetings with parents to explain what we are doing and how we support their child's development. These meetings have become a great way for parents to feel comfortable and involved in the setting and learn more about what and how their child is learning

Food and drinks

Children are provided with a healthy breakfast, snacks, and lunch every day. Children are not allowed fizzy drinks or juice as drinks of water and milk are freely available to children. A daily menu is on display for parents. Children with allergies and special dietary requirements are catered for. We ask parents to let us know if their child does not like a particular food and we will support them, however, we actively encourage children to try different foods so they can develop a varied palate.

Observations and Displays What children can do rather than what they cannot do is we feel the start of the child's learning journey. In both centres, we use written observations, photographs, displays and DVD's to share with parents about what and how their child is learning.

When a baby, toddler or pre-school child joins the Crèche or pre-school they will be allocated a key person. The key person supports parents in helping their child to settle in and monitors their progress so she can plan their learning needs both in the group and as an individual. Along with the rest of the childcare team she creates a Memory book of the child's activity while in the centre that will be shared with parents.

Displays are used in both centres to highlight work done by the children and to help the parents to become involved in different themes and topics undertaken by the children.

Opening times:
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm