Welcome to Juniors Childcare.
We are a playschool based in Castlebar.
We are a playschool based in Castlebar.
We follow the emergent curriculum, which comes from the children's ideas and interests we observe in a classroom on a daily basis.
Aistear is the early childhood curriculum framework for all children from birth to six years in Ireland.
Juniors Childcare was set up in 2009; it provides care for children aged 2yrs 8 mths - 5yrs.The centre has a maximum capacity for 44 children at any one time whether it is seasonal, fulltime, part-time or after-school.
lt is managed on a day to day basis by the manager, supervisor and staff. The school is notified to the Health Service Executive (HSE) and registered with the N.C.N.A. The school strives to meet the highest standards and makes changes to any of the recommendations suggested by inspectors.
Toni Hamrock
(Manager)
A little bit about myself: I trained as a Montessori teacher in 1992; from there I opened my first school on The Mall in Castlebar. In 1996 I opened my first Full time Childcare Centre. Juniors Childcare was opened in September 2009 for over 2 year olds. In 2016 completed The LINC Programme. The Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years programme, LINC, is a Level 6 Special Purpose Award (Higher Education), that is designed to support the inclusion of children with additional needs in the early years. Following on from this in 2019 I achieved my BA Hons in Early Childhood Care & Education.
Darrina Dempsey
Darrina joined our staff in 2009 and is at present training in FETAC Level 5. Darrina works in the toddler room.
Susan Hamrock
(Relief Staff )
Rose Gordon
Rose joined our staff in 2000 and has FETAC Level 5. Rose works in the younger age preschool.
Lana McCabe
Lana has Level 6. While working in the morning, whe's studying to obtain her degree in Childcare & Education. Joined us in September 2019.
Giedre Verbickaite-Kuznetsov
She has Level 6. Joined us in September 2019.
Elisa Torovetsi
She joined us in September 2018. She is Level 6.
At Juniors Childcare we are committed to providing excellent standards of care for the holistic development of your child. Our Mission statement is to prepare and provide the most natural and life enhancing environment for the child - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We strive to provide a happy, secure and caring environment for the purpose of inner development and learning.
Our ultimate aim is to provide a childcare programme through Aistear and Síolta which promotes optimal development for each child supports parents and promote collaborations that help all children realise their potential.
The Ethos of our service is very apparent to all who visit: we have an “Open door policy".
Children, parents and staff will regard this service as an extension of the home creating a “Home from Home" environment.
We believe in ensuring that children who attend this service have the opportunity to experience:
Sociability, friendship and co-operation of others.
Equal opportunities irrespective of gender, race and disability.
Culture diversity.
Respect.
A stable loving secure environment.
Stimulating surroundings.
Age range: 2 yrs 8mths - 5 yrs I Ratio: 1:11 I Room Capacity: 22 I No of Staff: 2
We tech through the different areas, practical life, sensorial, language and arithmetic, cultural activities and creative studies
These are everyday tasks that children love to complete such as polishing a shoe. Directly they teach the child a skill, indirectly they promote and refine the child’s gross/fine motor development, concentration, hand and eye co-ordination and independence.
These activities encourage the refinement of the child’s senses and give them experiences that enable them to be more aware of the world around them, indirectly they prepare the child for later language and mathematical work..
Through various groups projects and activities the child’s creative attributes will be explored. This will encourage self-awareness, confidence, self-esteem and a positive self-image. Our Montessori Staff has vast experiences in a Montessori classroom and will pass this on to your child, towards the end of their time with us; the children are slowly moved away from the Montessori apparatus and taught by a more traditional approach to prepare them for the next level of their schooling.
Earlier work in practical life and sensorial exercises will have indirectly prepared the child for basic linguistic and numerical operations. The equipment in this area introduces the child directly to the world of spoken and written language as well as basic numerical mathematical operation.
The world of biology, geography, zoology and science will be opened to the child. These activities are designed to promote experiences that encourage the child to see and involve himself in the world around him.
Started our 2 children in Juniors in June, Toni and the junior team are fantastic.
The kids are so happy there. Thanks all of you for everything. Aoibheann Finan
Excellent child care, I am with Toni and the Juniors Team for nine years, three kids.
Still with them and have always been delighted with the care and attention they give my little ones. Sonya Browne
With Toni and brillant staff now for 10 years. Kids love it. Maeve,Courtney Lisa, Darina,
Natalie, Rose and Suzanne are all fantastic. Valerie Murray Mulroy
Juniors Childcare is open 51 weeks of the year.
The school is closed on:
No fee concessions are given to parents who require their child to:
**One month’s notice is required if you wish to take your child out of the school**
For your convenience, we now have our "Parent's Handbook" available for download, just click button below. When the document is opened in a new window, please save it to your computer. You can print it or just keep the digital version.
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