At MFRC, we use an online app in each room called Child Paths. This app allows parents to log in to a family account to access information about their child’s daily activities, meals, nappy changes etc. which is kept up to date by staff. We also upload photos of the children engaged in various activities and observations on each child. Parents can send messages to staff via the app, and can also upload photos to their child’s profile.
We have found Child Paths to be a great tool in fostering good communication between parents and staff, children and parents and also children and staff. Parents can access information pertaining to their child only, and any data stored is kept according to our confidentiality policy. At MFRC, we pay a monthly subscription fee for each family, so it doesn’t cost the parents anything.
See more information on Childpaths >>
Childpaths User Login >>
Our crèche service caters for children from 3 months to 3 years old. Butterfly, our baby room cares for children aged 3 months to 1 year. Our Bumblebee room is for children aged 1 to 2 years, and the Tiger room is for children aged 2 to 3 years.
Here, the children are provided with 4 meals throughout the day. Breakfast before 9:30, a cooked lunch at 12 pm, a hot snack at 3 pm and a healthy snack at 5 pm. Parents can also provide small healthy snacks if they desire.
We strive to follow the child’s home routine as closely as possible regarding nap times and feeds.
We operate a play-based curriculum influenced by Aistear, which makes learning fun and activities are planned based on the children’s emerging interests and age/stage of development.
Activities include:
- Free play with a variety of toys
- Outdoor play
- Arts and crafts
- Messy play – sand and water, etc
Ratios are as follows:
Babies (3 months – 1 Year) 1 Adult : 3 Babies
Wobblers (1 Year – 2 Years) 1 Adult : 5 Wobblers
Toddlers (2 Years – 3 Years) 1 Adult : 6 Toddlers
We offer a full Daycare service for children attending preschool. Children may be booked in for additional hours before or after the preschool session.
The children are provided with 4 meals throughout the day. Breakfast before 9:30, a snack at 10:30, a cooked lunch at 12:10, a hot snack at 3 pm and a healthy snack at 5 pm. Parents can provide healthy snacks if they desire. There is also an area where children can nap if required, on low level beds.
We operate a play-based curriculum influenced by Aistear, which makes learning fun and activities are planned based on the children’s emerging interests and age/stage of development. The children are given plenty of opportunities for free play with a range of different toys, outdoor play as well as age appropriate art and craft activities, messy play, sand and water etc.
Ratios for this room are as follows: 1 Adult : 8 Children
Our Junior Preschool room caters for children aged 2.8 years to 3.5 years, most of whom avail of free preschool as part of the ECCE scheme. Junior Preschool is designed for children who are on their first of 2 preschool years. During the preschool years children learn independence, as well as emotional and social skills which prepare them for the transition of going to school. Our staff provide a morning snack for the children at 10:30.
We operate a play-based curriculum influenced by Aistear, which makes learning fun and activities are planned based on the children’s emerging interests and age/stage of development.
It is a 3 hour session, running from 9:30-12:30, but additional hours can be booked for Daycare before or after the session.
Activities include:
- Free play
- Arts and crafts
- Singing
- Outdoor play
- Story time
- Messy play, etc
Ratios for this room as as follows: 1 Adult : 11 Children
Our Senior Preschool room caters for children aged 3.5 years to 5.5 years, most of whom avail of free preschool as part of the ECCE scheme. Senior Preschool is designed for children who are on their second of 2 preschool years, and will be attending school the following year.
A new addition to our service is our newly opened senior preschool setting which is based at St. Josephs Primary School in Macroom. This setting operates from 9:15-12:15 Monday to Friday. Additional daycare hours can be booked before or after the session at our main facility.
During the preschool years children learn independence as well as emotional and social skills, which help them to prepare for school. We provide a morning snack for the children at 10:30.
Our preschools operate a play-based curriculum influenced by Aistear, which makes learning fun and activities are planned based on the children’s emerging interests and age/stage of development.
Activities include:
- Outdoor play
- Story time
- Singing
- Art and crafts
- Messy play, etc
Ratios for this room are as follows: 1 Adult : 11 Children
Smart Start Quality Award
Macroom FRC received the Smart Start Quality Award in 2018.
This is a quality programme operated through the National Childhood Network and supported by the HSE. It focuses on Macroom Family Resource Centre becoming a Healthy Ireland Pre-school Service. Staff in Macroom FRC have been trained in this programme and it
has been operational in MFRC since 2018.
The primary focus of the programme has been to work with Parents & Children on:
- Health Promotion
- Oral Health
- Nutrition
- Health & Safety
- Physical Activity
- Emotional Well-being
National Childcare Scheme (NCS)
The National Childcare Scheme provides financial support to help parents with childcare costs.
There are two types of childcare subsidy for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age:
- A universal subsidy which is not means tested.
- An income-assessed subsidy which is means tested.
You can apply online for the subsidy using your MyGovID.
To make a paper application, please contact the NCS Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530. The Parent Support Centre will then send you an application form by post.
The subsidy will be paid directly to the Resource Centre. We will then subtract your subsidy from your childcare bill.
More information may be found on https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/
Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
The Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range.
It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school.
The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year. It runs from September to June each year.
More information can be found on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2459ee-early-childhood-care-and-education-programme-ecce/