Madam, - As a longstanding childcare organisation, the Irish Preschool Playgroups' Association laments the litany of revelations regarding services for young children in recent days. One child having a bad experience in out of home care is one too many.
Good services don't just happen.
Closer examination shows that the single most important feature of a well-run childcare service is trained staff.
This is borne out by research, experience and common sense.
The IPPA has long advocated mandatory training levels for those working in the sector.
It is the only way forward.
Would you leave your car in a garage where none of the mechanics was qualified in car maintenance, would you allow an unqualified hairdresser cut and colour your hair?
Why would you leave your young and often voiceless child in the care of unqualified staff?
While qualifications are vital in working with young children, more is demanded of the practitioner.
There are human qualities that are important for healthy relationships to develop, qualities such as caring and patience, attentiveness and responsiveness.
The practitioner must be an educator, a carer, a nurse, a cleaner and a colleague.
Training works to bring out the best in practitioners and ensure that their knowledge, skills and attitudes are enhanced.
About 73,000 families require non-parental care for their young pre-school children on a daily basis.
There are good services out there, services which are working hard, are clean and well equipped, are comfortable, are home from home and are staffed by trained and caring adults.
These are the services where children and adults enjoy spending time, services which retain their staff, have a warm and welcoming atmosphere, provide care and education and allow for children to play both indoor and outdoor.
This is the type of out-of-home care we want for our children. This can only be achieved when underpinned by training. - Yours, etc,
MARLENE McCORMACK, Irish Pre-school Playgroups' Association, Tallaght, Dublin.