Community Childcare Provision

Potential exists for a North Down community organisation to operate a commercially feasible childcare facility.

The Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy states that current childcare services in Northern Ireland fall short of the Government’s vision, stating that provision is uneven and poorly coordinated.

There are a number of statutory benefits available to parents/guardians to encourage people to remain in employment and avail of childcare facilities. The Government states that tax credits will improve parents’ access to employment as childcare will be less of a financial burden. The new Child Tax Credit and Potential may exist for a community-based organisation to register with the Ulster Community Hospitals Health Trust to provide full-time
day-care services.

The provider would be subject to a detailed and rigorous criteria regarding:

" Size - Staff ratio - Meals - Sleeping accommodation - Outdoor play"

The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 recommends specific areas per child as follows

Age - - - - - -- Area per child--
0-2 Years Old - 4.2 Square Meters
2-3 Years Old - 2.8 Square Meters
3-5 Years Old - 2.8 Square Meters
(Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 guidelines)

The Children Order also states that day-care facilities should take the following range of issues into account:

• There should be a separate room for babies and toddlers with proper facilities for nappy changing and the preparation of feeds close to it.

• There should be separate areas or, where possible, rooms for quiet, noisy and messy activities.

• There should be a minimum of one lavatory to ten children with the same number of wash hand basins.

• There should be a separate office and staff room.

Income Generating Mechanism

Project would provide childcare on a commercial basis, but could target specifically those parents who are on low incomes and therefore qualify for high levels of childcare benefit, and staff at North Down and Ards Institute.