BACKGROUND

The Clare Family Resource Centre Ltd is a voluntary organisation with charitable status which has been in existence since 1993. The start-up of the Centre was motivated by a concern to meet the growing demand for childcare facilities and particularly by the need to cater for those who are not in a financial position to avail of the services provided by the private sector.  The Clare Family Resource Centre was the first community childcare centre in Co. Clare.  

OUR CRECHE   We provide childcare for children from 3 months to 10 years with baby, toddler, Montessori, High scope, and after school rooms. We currently provide sessional, part/full-time childcare for 80+ children. We have an outdoor play area. We organise day trips, outings and visit to the centre by artists, drama groups, clowns etc.     OUR OBJECTIVE The center’s objective is to support and assist families and children in Clare through the provision of accessible, affordable, high quality childcare. We believe that this will affect a process of empowerment of parents, particularly in parenting skills, raising confidence, and self esteem which opens pathways of opportunity in training education and community involvement.   OUR ETHOS To provide a service to families and the community while helping children to achieve their potential. We do this by:     Creating a safe, warm, friendly environment which supports and encourages children to be themselves and achieve their potential in their own way, at their own pace. We offer a choice of appropriate stimulating materials and resources that promote children’s learning and development. We have trained staff and staff in training who use a planned approach to build an effective framework for positive interactions and active learning.

CHILDCARE SERVICES

• Childcare for children 3 months to 10 years.
• 4 rooms, baby, toddler, Montessori/Afterschool and Highscope.
• Part time and full time childcare for 80+ children.
• Soft surface outside play area.
• Respite childcare for vulnerable childcare  (in partnership with HSE)
• Specialised staff, catering for children with special needs.
• Day trips and educational outings.
• Visits to the centre by artist’s clowns and drama groups.
• Work placements for childcare and teacher training students

TRAINING AND WORK PLACEMENT.

We run a FAS scheme with 21 CE participants.  We are a registered FETAC training centre – we provide a wide range of staff training including basic childcare training, FETAC level 5 and 6, Highscope training, special needs, equal opportunities, first aid, arts and crafts, music and drama, manual lifting and handling, health and safety, fire prevention, stay safe child protection programme, HACCP, food safety and own time personal/social development.  We encourage and empower Community Employment participants by providing these opportunities leading to certified childcare training skills, personal development and employment. We have two members of our team that have completed the Children First (Child protection) Training for Trainers course with the Mid West HSE. 

  Our New Facility

Due to the huge demand for childcare places and the lack of space at our current premises, we realised that we needed a  more spacious and modern building.

We have recently moved toa purpose built centre in Ennis.

Our new facility will caters for an increased number of children and will includes a multi sensory room and a large outside play areas for the children. 

The new centre is within walking distance of the town and is completely accessible for parents, staff and children with physical/learning disabilities.

The Centre has a voluntary Board of Directors consisting of members of the community, staff and parents.  We are an equal opportunities employer/centre and our staff and services users reflect all sections of the community including: minority groups, immigrants, Refugees and Asylum seekers, Travellers, lone parents, parents who are in education or training, return to work courses and to families where both parents are working.