Creches must reopen in line with phased return to schools

PARENTS and creche operators remain in limbo as they await a government decision on when childcare services can resume for tens of thousands of children kept at home since the latest lockdown began.

There was a furore on social media on Friday when Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman failed to make significant reference to the childcare sector when he told RTÉ’s Today with Philip Boucher-Hayes that primary schools will likely return in two phases — with junior infants, senior infants, firstand second-class pupils on March 1.

Many parents have spoken of being very stressed as they fulfil duties of working from home while juggling childcare and home-schooling.

Creche operators said it is crucial that the phased reopening of primary schools is synchronised with a gradual expansion of childcare services.

No decision is expected until after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday at the earliest.

Anne Macken, manager of a large community creche in Ballyporeen, Co Tipperary, said the creche had 24 staff to care for 120 children but only 30 children are currently attending.

She said she would prefer “a phased return” of services for all children, who could alternate their attendance on different days. She said there was uproar on social media that the needs of the early education sector were not getting the same attention as primary and secondary schools.

Teresa Heeney, chief executive of Early Childhood Ireland, said creche operators would like to see creches reopening on a staggered basis, with pre-school children who will transition to primary school next September being given priority. Young children with additional needs should also be given priority.

While the impact of the new variant of Covid-19 is being assessed, it was best to reopen only gradually, she said.

Proper State funding was essential for the sector and it was important that existing State financial support does not “fall off a cliff ” when the sector begins to fully reopen.

An Early Childhood Ireland survey showed three-quarters of adults questioned agreed that the Government must ensure childcare providers receive enough funding to operate during the Covid-19 restrictions.

Other findings revealed: 62pc agreed that education for children under five is as important as education for children over five; 61pc agreed childcare should be free to all children; and 55pc agreed the Government should pay the wages of childcare staff just as the State pays the salaries of school teachers.

Regina Bushell, chairperson of Seas Suas, a group representing independent creches, said it is crucial that the Department of Education and the Department of Children and others show “joined-up thinking” on the reopening dates for primary schools and creches.

If the dates for the reopening of schools and creches were not co-ordinated correctly, there could be a problem in providing sufficient places for all children.

She said childcare and early education staff must be given greater priority for vaccinations as they care for the children of healthcare workers and essential workers and social distancing was not possible when caring for young children.

So far the Government has not committed itself to a date for the resumption of regular childcare services, with both March 1 and March 8 being mentioned.

Minister O’Gorman, said: “All of that is contingent on ongoing Nphet advice.”

Early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services are currently operating to provide services to children of frontline health staff, essential workers and vulnerable children. All other ELC and SAC services, including the Early Childhood Care Education programme, are not currently operating.

A spokesman said on Friday the minister’s department “is developing proposals for the resumption of ELC and SAC services from March, guided by public health advice, available evidence, and engagement with the ELC and SAC sector. A decision by Government is expected next week”.