subject: Categories Of Childcare Services Available For Your Child [print this page] Different childcare services are available for parents who lack the time to provide round the clock care for their infant son or daughter. This ensures appropriate and adequate care for your child when you have to take care of other personal or professional responsibilities. Moreover, it introduces your child to a socio-cultural environment quite different from what they experience at home.
Your child learns to interact with others of his/her age as well as adults other than family members at this place. This helps your child prepare for the next step primary school. The services may include childminder, playgroup, creche, pre-school, and nursery. Before you choose a particular childcare centre that suits your purpose and requirements, here is a look at the types of services available.
Full day care service: A structured childcare service offering care for children belonging to the pre school age for more than 5 hours per day qualifies as a full day care service. These services may also offer sessional services for children who do not attend for the entire day. This is the ideal choice for working parents who do not have adequate time to take care of their child on their own throughout the day.
Part-time day care service: These structured services need to provide the children with the learning environment similar to that provided by the full day care services. However, the difference between the two is the hours for which the care is provided. The part-time services are usually available for 3.5 hours to 5 hours per day. If you need to keep your child in a care centre but not for long hours, this is the right option for you.
Sessional pre school service: The planned programme available for children belonging to the pre school age is suitable if your purpose is to introduce your child to the learning environment. These services offer care for children in sessions that extend up to 3.5 hours. Whether you want to admit your child to a playgroup or at a Montessori school, it is possible to obtain sessional services from these childcare centres.
Childminding service: This may include overnight childcare service for your son or daughter in the home of the childminder. The childminder is an individual who takes care of a particular number of children along with their own child/children at their home. The services are available for more than 2 hours per day. If you want to leave your child in an informal environment, this may be a suitable option.
Drop-in service: This is a temporary arrangement available for parents who need to leave their child in someones care for a short period, not more than 2 hours. Whether you have a personal engagement, like you have to go grocery shopping, take an elderly relative to the doctor or a professional responsibility, like you have to attend a conference or deliver a document, these care services are available for your child during this time.
Before you choose any of the childcare services, make sure it adheres to the Health Service Executive guidelines.
