Mary K’s Childcare Pre-School & School age service was established in 2009. It is privately owned by Proprietor and Manager Mary Kennedy. The aim of our facility is to provide a safe, secure, stimulating environment which embraces and enriches the children’s learning. Mary K’s values each child as a unique individual, is respectful of their rights and supports for Inclusion are embedded in everyday practice. The provision of stimulating experiences and resources creates our holistic natural environment through an emergent –inquiry play based curriculum with influences from Reggio Emilia and Montessori philosophies. To achieve this, we work in partnership with parents, carers and children as a multidisciplinary team. We want to provide a secure and safe learning environment, which enables children to be:
We endeavour to ensure that all Educators receive appropriate training and maintain high levels of practice by continuing professional relevant training. From 31 December 2016, as stated in the Child Care Act (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, all educators working directly with children must hold a minimum of QQI Level 5 Major Award in Early Childhood Care and Education.
Our Facilities include:
The rooms are designed in such a way as to meet the developing needs of each individual child. The children are guided through a range of educational and play activities at their own pace. Our educators create a positive and secure environment where children feel confident in exploring their surroundings.
We have a rigorous recruitment procedure to employ the best Early Years Educators. All of our Educators are fully qualified and Garda vetted.
All our wonderful Educators have achieved qualifications and training in Early Years Care and Education, which includes:
All adults who work in MaryK’s abide by a set of core principles, which inform all areas of their practice in Early Childhood Education. The most important role of any Early Years Educator is to ensure the children are happy in their daily routine and are given the opportunity to achieve their highest potential through age and stage appropriate activities.
The training in place in MaryK’s allows for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for all employees.
Training for Staff:
Our certifications
We have various awards and certifications, from green flags on Biodiversity, Energy, Litter & Waste and Travel.
We also have awards from Healthy Ireland. You can view some of our certificates below.
Green Flag:
At MaryK’s, educators strive to create learning experiences that will prepare children to lead a healthy, cleaner, and more sustainable future. We aim to increase children’s awareness of environmental issues and turn this knowledge into making positive environmental actions at MaryK’s, at home and within the wider community. Throughout the year, many opportunities are made to extend learning beyond the classroom to appreciate the world around us.
Being involved with the Green Schools programme empowers children to make a difference, raises environmental awareness, improves the environment and has a positive impact on the wider community. Over the years, the children and educators have worked hard to achieve four Green Flags. We have been awarded the (1) Litter, (2) Energy, (3) Water, (4) Travel and (5) Biodiversity Green Flag.
This year we have received our 6th Green Flag for Global Citizenship Litter and Waste, which has a focus on the Sustainable Development Goals created to help save our planet and take part in the journey of combatting climate change. Children engage in experiences and activities tailored to individual age groups and stages of development which encourages them to become active citizens in the safe and proper disposal of waste. Children become more conscious about their choices in sorting out daily rubbish in their own environments. Children also become aware of the journey waste travels once taken by the waste disposal company. We look forward to work with An Taisce, Green Schools Ireland and Clare County Council on the next flag for Global Citizenship Energy.
Clare Winners Big Travel Challenge
MaryK's have been chosen as Big Travel Challenge Winners for County Clare for 2024! This year children engaged in more sustainable walking, cycling, and scooting to school rather than the use of cars, which reduced the amount of car use coming and going to the setting. We have received €200 prize money towards an ice-cream party for the children. Well done to all involved.
Healthy Smart:
Mary K’s are proud to take part in and implement this Healthy Ireland award throughout our setting so that all our children have the benefit of making choices which promotes a healthy lifestyle as well as enjoying the programme. This programme was designed by the HSE Department of Health in conjunction with the National Childhood Network. The aim of this programme is to ensure that children in a pre-school setting are supported to develop healthy lifestyle behaviours in early childhood. This programme contains the following six units:
The children enjoy being involved and engaged with this programme and we deliver through fun activities and experiences.
Mary K’s are delighted to have been validated as a Healthy Ireland Pre-School Service by the National Childhood Network and the HSE Department of Health.
Further information on this programme can be found on the NCN website or by clicking the link below.
https://www.ncn.ie/index.php/healthy-ireland-smart-start/healthy-ireland-smart-start-resources
Included on the NCN website are short video clips, information leaflets, healthy food tips and inspiration and information on well-being and health.
MaryKs Childcare, Preschool & Montessori, Deerpark, Doora, Ennis. Co. Clare, is a Partner Service, working together with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and parents to deliver high quality, affordable, inclusive Early Learning and Care (ELC) and/or School Age Childcare (SAC) services for children. As part of that partnership, this statement outlines some of the important things you can expect from us, a Partner Service.