PlayBoard provide tailored support programmes to School Aged Childcare providers based on their needs that builds their capacity to meet the minimum standards required for their service.
The support offered to groups frequently covers the following areas;
Compliance to the minimum standards, thereby helping groups address issues arising from previous Social Services Inspections, or help prepare for up and coming Inspections
Sharing of resources relating to both the running of the business and the provision of quality play opportunities for children
Relevant bespoke training in the Playwork approach; in staffing issues; or in working with parents.
PlayBoard’s programme is supported by the local Childcare Partnerships and groups are referred by Social Services, but any group can buy in our services.
A Commitment To Quality
For children, play and childcare services provide them with space to play freely with friends, to relax and to participate in a wide range of activities if they wish to do so. Parents will benefit from School Age Childcare services that have been assessed and recognised as providing a quality provision. The peace of mind they receive from knowing their child is being cared for in a safe, stimulating and welcoming environment is immeasurable.
PlayBoard’s Pathways to Excellence resource is currently under review as we align the resource to Minimum Standards for Childminding and Daycare. Our new toolkit will set out clear and defined standards of quality for all aspects of School Age Childcare services; including legislative requirements as identified in Minimum Standards – Quality of Care; Quality of Staffing, Management & Leadership; Quality of the Physical Environment; Quality of Monitoring & Evaluation and Policies and Procedures. The resource will support practitioner self-evaluation and critical reflection.
The aim of “Pathways to Excellence” is to create and maintain an infrastructure of quality in School Age Childcare that ensures the holistic, healthy development of children, taking account of the varied, highly complex and multifaceted play needs of children.
It is anticipated the scheme will greatly assist ongoing registration and inspection processes and support best practice in play based School Age Childcare settings.
Latest Quality Improvement Programme News:
Education Minister announces further measures to support childcare providers
Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen today announced an extension to the Covid-19 Childcare Temporary Closure Fund for the period 1 January to 31 March 2022. The fund will provide continued support for childcare providers who have been forced to close temporarily [...]
Webinar: A teaspoon of play helps the stress levels go down
Supporting children’s mental health and well-being through play. Date: Tuesday 8 February 2022Time: 10:00 - 11:30amPlatform: ZoomBook: https://pbateaspoonofplayhelpsthestresslevelsgodown8222.eventbrite.com Join our webinar for parents, and professionals who work with children, during Children's Mental Health Week. A fun and interactive session that [...]
Upcoming PlayBoard training
Click on the links below to read more about training for School Age Childcare providers coming up over the next few months: 18 January, 25 January, 1 February: Covering a Level 5 post in School Age Childcare: what you need [...]
Group Setting Sustainability Survey – January 2022
Covid-19 has impacted heavily on group settings since March 2020. Early Years - the organisation for young children and PlayBoard are conducting a further survey to understand the current impact that Covid-19 (and in particular the Omicron strain) is having [...]
PlayBoard training continues to deliver
A significant component of the projects delivered by PlayBoard involves an element of training. As many of you will know, PlayBoard staff also deliver training across the playwork, youth work and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector and beyond, building an [...]