Sir, – On the occasion of our most recent unannounced inspection by the HSE (the 10th in eight years) several battery-operated toys in one of our playrooms were found to have run flat. This contravened Regulation 25 ( Equipment and Materials ) Section (a) of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) ( No 2 ) Regulations 2006 and ensured we became part of the 75 per cent of childcare facilities in Ireland that don’t comply with current childcare legislation.
To suggest the HSE is failing in the standard of its inspections or that the majority of this country’s private childcare providers and their dedicated staff don’t treat children with care and understanding is not true.
As politicians of all parties jostle to demand tough action based on the evidence of a single, albeit excellent, television programme while conveniently ignoring advice and recommendations for many years from experts in the field, including childcarers, please let’s put things into perspective – and don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. – Yours, etc,
KEN & MAIREAD
ANDREW,
Ringlee House Pre-School,
Rushbrooke, Cobh, Co Cork.
Sir, – Regarding the very distressing Prime Time programme on early childcare and the discussion conclusion that emphasised the need for more qualified staff. I certainly agree, but whether staff are qualified or not, what was sorely lacking was a kind heart – which is what these infants were literally crying out for. – Yours, etc,
EILEEN O’SULLIVAN,
Vevay Road,
Bray, Co Wicklow.
Sir, – I find the focus of the commentary on inspections of childcare facilities since the Prime Time programme "Breach of Trust" misplaced.
Facilitating frontline staff with concrete support to blow the whistle on bad practice where it is not being appropriately addressed by those responsible for children in their care, ie owners and managers of childcare facilities, would be far more beneficial and appropriate. Also, very little has been made so far about holding the owners and managers of childcare facilities to account.
Inspections – no matter how much they are improved – will not be capable of addressing shortcomings in childcare facilities in a timely enough manner to protect children at risk of sub-standard care. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL LENEHAN,
Bernhardtstalgasse,
Vienna, Austria.
Sir, – Following Prime Time's "Breach of Trust" programme, questions have been asked about the training level of childcare staff. Is there an optimum level of qualification? Does a degree mean you will not succumb to pressure of the environment?
Childcare is not a science. Providing sympathy, dignity and respect cannot be learned from a BA course, it is instinct. So it is a pity those of us who care for children and whom are not university graduates are so undervalued. – Yours, etc,
JILLIAN GRANT,
Ballinclea Heights,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – According to Jennifer O’Connell (Home News, May 27th) there is “a growing body of research to show that children benefit from being placed in childcare”. This is incorrect.
The jury is still out on the wisdom of placing babies in creches, etc. In a 2011 survey by Dr Aric Sigman of Royal Society of Medicine found that babies in creches had high levels of stress hormones compared to babies who were with their mother. As a parent what I witnessed in creches was awful; so from my experience, creches are fine, but they are no place for a baby.– Yours, etc,
JOHN DEVLIN,
Erne Terrace,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – When I was growing up in Crumlin, my Dad worked and my Mum stayed at home and raised their children. The entire neighbourhood was similar and the only time we were aware of the phenomenon of parents leaving their children in the care of nannies or child minders was when we read or watched a programme about the upper classes who seemed to bear their children simply to give them a name and then hand the duty of caring for them over to others paid to carry out this fundamental task.
Now we live in a society where, when it comes to caring for our children we are all viewed as upper class. Parents bring children into the world only to be forced or choose to neglect the essential rearing of their children through those first years of formation and trust. Never mind what television reports tell us about what happens to Irish toddlers when they are in these creches; ask why they are dumped in there every day at all. – Yours, etc,
DARREN WILLIAMS,
Blackglen Road,
Sandyford,
Dublin 18.