Creative Spaces for Children
The children loved making the leaves and flower as we see them every day on our facility grounds and it depicts the children growing as do leaves and flowers
Their favourite place in our setting is the outdoor area
We love artwork and storytime..we also love the dinners cooked onsite
We do not like coming in sometimes in the early morning but we do not like going home in the evenings as we like to stay and play with our peers and the many resources in the room!
Our friends and Sharon Orla and Shell make this place fun for us everyday..also our pawpatrol figurines. We enjoy playing with sand, painting, playdough, Numberblocks and lego!
Our friends and our teacher are with us when we learn
We think if we had Roblox Minecraft and Peter Rabbit toys it would be magical!!!
The story of our group artwork is the flowers and leaves are growing when we water and take care of them just like we grow when we eat up all our dinners and we get hugs and love!!❤️
The pretty colours on the flower..they are the same colours as vanilla and strawberry ice-cream! We would you to write that we are the best boys and girls for making this artwork together and that we are good at teamwork like our storybook says!
The Bumblebee Room - Le Cheile FRC, Mallow aged from 3-4 years
This is me and my teachers. I like playing with the tuff tray and the kitchen.
Ciara – Age 5
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
That’s the playhouse outside and that’s the sand tray. That’s my two teachers and my friend, Harry.
I made two soccer balls and I drawed the playdough. I like the zoo and the playdough.
My favourite is the new fruit chart and the sign-in board that we do.
That’s the tuff tray. I drawed the sand and playdough.
Joshua – Age 5
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
This is the school and me and my teachers. That’s me playing playdough and that’s the balls. I like the tuff tray and I like playing with the chalk.
Méabh – Age 4
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
I like my teachers putting out the toys. My favourite is the marble race.
I made a chocolate bar.
That’s outside and that right there is the gate. If you want to play soccer, you can play soccer!
That’s the door outside. I like water at the table. I like planting peas and guess what?... they’re almost getting bigger and bigger. Peas will start to grow and they will pop on!
Freddie – Age 4
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
This is the school. That’s the zoo and that’s a Lego person at the zoo. I love playing with the zoo.
That’s my teachers.
I love pretend the motorbike is a real motorbike.
Before you letted us bring our journals home and we got to show our mums and dads what we made and we got to remember the stuff we putted in our journals.
If we had no teachers we’d get to do whatever we want and mess the school, but we’d tidy it up again!
Harry – Age 4
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
I wanted to do the school, outside.
This is my teachers - I like the way you have skirts on.
That’s a triangle magnet and that’s a square magnet because that’s my favourite thing to play with.
I don’t play with the playdough that much coz it’s kinda hard to make stuff out of it. There’s loads of toys here that I can play with.
I like being able to put the things out and playing with the zoo together and I liked that you listened to our ideas.
Méabh – Age 5
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
This is my preschool. It has a chimney. This is my teachers. My teachers always be nice. My favourite activity is the blocks.
Mia – Age 4
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
The children in Bluebells room, Grà Childcare, Carrignavar expressed their creativity through art, sharing what Grá means to them—the special place where they spend at least three hours each day. Through their drawings and colours, they showed their feelings in the most heartfelt way. As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Amaia - Age 4
Grá Childcare
Sadie - Age 4
Grá Childcare
Daisy - Age 4
Grá Childcare
Rebekah - Age 4
Grá Childcare
Julian - Age 5
Grá Childcare
The Afterschool Club boys and girls (5ys -12yrs) of
School Around the Corner, Glanworth
Creative Artwork on "Where I learn and Play "
The artwork from some of the children at Blue Nest in Midleton. They were all so happy to take part in this initiative, which is lovely.
Art activity for National Conversation on Education Childrens Creative Spaces from Ray of Sunshine Canovee
This Weeks News & Information Bulletin
Click HERE for this week in Childcare Bulletin
Deadlines/Important Dates:
-
26 May 2pm
Applications for the Leadership for Inclusion Programme extended
-
29th May
National CPD mapping exercise (please see below)
-
2nd June, 3pm
Annual Early Years Sector Profile
National CPD Mapping Exercise
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), in partnership with Crowe Ireland, is undertaking a National Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Mapping Exercise to identify existing CPD opportunities across the Early Learning and Care (ELC), School-Age Childcare (SAC) and Childminding sectors. The survey is open to everyone working in ELC, SAC & childminding and can be accessed here: DCDE CPD Mapping Exercise - Educators Survey It is available to submit from May 7th to May 29th. Please circulate amongst all staff. All feedback is welcome.
QIPP Report Template 2025/2026.
The Core Funding QIPP Report Template 2025/26 is now open on the CFCRRS Portal. The deadline for completion of the 2025/26 QIPP Report is Friday, 31 July 2026.
State-led Early Learning and Childcare- Expression of Interest
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is seeking a not-for-profit operator for the first project under the new programme of capital investment in State-led early learning and childcare. Applicants must be existing not-for-profit early learning and childcare services, registered with Tusla and the Charities Regulator, and participating in Core Funding.
Key dates for this process are as follows:
22 May 2026
Indicate interest in and availability for attending the site visit
27 May 2026
Submit any queries on the process
29 May 2026
Site visit
4 June 2026
Replies to queries will be issued
15 June 2026 (noon)
Deadline for applications
The application form and marking scheme can be accessed here, and the Application Selection Process here. The plans and other details can be found at the following links:
Creche sections and elevations
Queries relating to this process should be directed to elcbuildings@dcde.gov.ie
LINC 2026/2027 Programme: (Closing date extended until Tuesday 26 May @ 2pm)
Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 LINC Level 6 Programme. Through the LINC Programme, graduates gain Lead Educator/Room Leader status, participate in a DCDE fully funded programme and engage in a flexible blended model of delivery. Applications close Tuesday, 26 May at 2pm.
Annual Early Years Sector Profile
The 2025/26 Annual Early Years Sector Profile (AEYSP) survey is available on the EY Hive until Tuesday 2 June 2026. It is mandatory for all existing Core Funding Partner Services complete the survey within the open window. Guidance documentation and videos will be available on the EY Hive.
Playful Parenting Webinar (for Infant Mental Health Awareness Week)
Playful Parenting with Dr Joanna Fortune, Psychotherapist, Author & Clinical Consultant
Monday 8 June @ 10am. Please scan the QR code to register.
Childminding Information Session
Cork County & Cork City Childcare Committee will hold an online information session on childminding. If you are interested in becoming a childminder or you are currently a childminder and want to find out a little bit more about the National Action Plan for Childminding, then you may be interested in attending our online information session on Wednesday, 27 May at 10 am. To book your place on the information session, please click on this link.Cork County & Cork City Childcare Committee will hold an online information session on childminding. If you are interested in becoming a childminder or you are currently a childminder and want to find out a little bit more about the National Action Plan for Childminding, then you may be interested in attending our online information session on Wednesday, 27 May at 10 am. To book your place on the information session, please click on this link.
NCS Maintenance - Summer Reminder
Service providers are encouraged to review their calendars to reflect any changes to the opening hours during the summer months. Please note that all services are entitled to 10 subsidised closures. If a service intends to close for an extended period, any existing claims for this period should be end-dated. For further information on service calendars, please see the guidance available on the Early Years Hive here.
Student Fast Track Assessment
The DCDE have announced a temporary student fast track assessment application process for students enrolled in a recognized level 6, 7 or 8 early years programme to support services to maintain staff capacity over the summer months. The process will open between 6th May 2026 to 1st September 2026. Please click here for press release for information on how to apply.
My Little Library 2026
Minister Foley has announced the launch of My Little Library 2026. The book bags for every child finishing pre-school and starting primary school in September are being delivered to libraries. Please see links to invitations in English and Irish, QR codes to send to parents on WhatsApp and a poster for your service.
Pre-Registration Training for Childminders
Cork County Childcare Committee is delighted to offer Pre-Registration Training to anyone who is interested in finding out more about childminding. This is a mandatory training programme for childminders who wish to register with Tusla. For any potential childminders, this training will support understanding of the new childminding regulations and will provide guidance on what is required to register with Tusla. This is a FREE training course and takes approximately 7 hours to complete. There is no assessment, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion. Please see additional information on the Childminders tab above Training and Events.
The upcoming online training dates are as follows:
Online Tuesday 9 & 16 June 2026 from 10am – 1pm
Online Wednesday 1, 8 & 15 July 2026 from 2pm – 4pm
If you are interested in attending any of these Pre-Registration Training Courses, please click on the link below to book your place:
Childminding Pre-Registration Training Cork County Childcare Committee 2026 – Fill in form
Please contact Denise at dquinlan@corkchildcare.ie / 087 1044448 with any queries.
Early Childhood Ireland research on children's access to EY and SAC
Early Childhood Ireland invites Early Years (EY) and School Age Care (SAC) service providers, managers, administrators, and educators/practitioners who are responsible for, or familiar with, admissions decisions in their settings to take part in a survey exploring admissions policies and practices in EY and SAC services. The survey will remain open until 10 June and can be accessed here
Cork County Childcare Committee was formed in 2001 and is funded by the Department of Children, Disability, and Youth (DCEDIY) to improve the quality of childcare in Cork County.
In addition to supporting the administration of all Government funding programmes for childcare; City and County Childcare Committees work with early childhood services and childminders looking for support with quality development, HR, governance, financial sustainability and continuing professional development.
We also work with Parents to locate childcare best suited to their families needs, and advise on relevant government funded schemes etc.
