School Aged Programme

• Parents Network
• Parents Training
• Fathers and Childrens Day
• After school Community Involvment Project
• Books for Babies
• Summer Schemes
• After Schools

The role of the Childcare and Family Support Worker is to support new and existing After school services, and to co-ordinate the Parents Network.

Parents Network

In March of this year the Leitrim County Childcare Committee hosted a Parents Seminar for parents of children 0-6 years in Carrick on Shannon. The day included workshops on The Importance of Play, Baby Massage and Caring for your Baby.
In October Leitrim Childcare Committee held a Parents evening for parents of teenagers in Manorhamilton.

Parents Training

The Leitrim County Childcare Committee in partnership with the Health Service Executive facilitated Fás le Cheile Positive Parenting. 18 parents attended the 6-week course for Parents of children in Primary School and were held in Leitrim Integrated Development Company office in Drumshanbo.
Leitrim Childcare Committee plan to hold to a Fás le Cheile parenting course for parents of teenagers in April 2009.

Fathers and Children’s Day

On the 17th of May a number of Fathers and male carers attended Leitrim County Childcare Committees Fathers Day. This day was held in the Ballagh Center, in Rossinver and the day included card and candle making.

Sample of the cards the children made with their fathers during the Fathers and Children’s Day in the Ballagh Centre which was held on Saturday 17th May 2008

After school Community Involvement Project

The After school Community Involvement Project was held in Dowra Afterschool in June. A number of members from the local Active Age group joined the Afterschool children and young people in a card making workshop. The afternoon was a chance for the younger members of the community to spend time with the Active Age group and all enjoyed the workshop.

A Child from Bo Peep Kidz playing Bingo with a woman from Drumshanbo Active Age Group as part of the After school Community Involvement project

Books for Babies

The Books for Babies programme is to encourage literacy in the home. This programme has been supported by the Health Service Executive and will aim to encourage reading in children from a young age.

Summer Schemes

Summer Scheme Projects support parents and provide summer activities for children to promote social inclusion and equality and diversity by encouraging parental involvement and increasing skills within the community for childcare workers and parents.
Leitrim County Childcare Committee provide support towards the development of new and existing Summer Projects.
Funding is available from the HSE, VEC, Leitrim Development Integrated Company through the Leitrim County Childcare Committee.
View the Summer Scheme application form (pdf).

After schools

There are a total of 24 After school projects in County Leitrim. After schools provide a service for school aged children and young people aged 4-14 years.  After schools provide age appropriate activities and homework support for children and young people in out of school hours.
Breakfast clubs are provided for school aged children and young people before school hours. This service allows children to have some breakfast and have a warm place to wait before school begins.
Afterschool services can advertise their service with the Leitrim County Childcare Committee Annual Advertisement form (pdf).