Childcare

Payment

Please click on the image below

Download a printable form for the Early Session.

Download a printable form for the Afternoon Session.

Frequently asked questions

What are the opening times of the childcare? There are two sessions, the first from 13.10 to 14.10, and the second from 14.10 to 18.00. The following table shows the times for each session, and the arrangements for holidays.

- - Early Session

13.10 -14.10

- Afternoon Session

Will the childcare operate during school holidays?

The childcare will operate during school holidays. However it will close for one week at Christmas, one week at Easter, and will be closed for the month of August.

How many places are available in each session?

In the early session (13.10 to 14.10) there are 30 places. In the afternoon session (14.10 – 18.15) there are 30 places

Are there part time places available?

Part time places are available for the full and afternoon sessions, but not for the early session (13.10 – 14.10). Part time places are based on applying for the specific days in the week you want to use the service e.g. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. You will be charged a monthly rate based on the number of days a week your child has a place in the service.

How much will the service cost?

The fees are calculated based on a monthly fee and are set out in the Fee Policy. This fee is payable for 10 months of the year – September through June. On holidays or in-service training days there will be an additional fee to cover the extra time your child spends in the childcare, which is itemised in the fee table below. There will be no reduction in the fees if you choose not to avail of the service for a number of days during the month.

If I get a place when do I pay the fees?

If you are offered a place a deposit equal to the amount of your monthly fee is due in May of that year. Thereafter you must pay your fees on or before the first day of the month, starting on September 1st. There will be no fee for your final month. This arrangement is to allow us to manage cash flow. It is our preference that you set up a standing order to pay the fees as set out in our Fee Policy.

What if I can’t afford the fees?

Discounts are available for the families meeting the certain criteria. Further information is available from the Childcare Manager on how these discounts operate and the exact discount you will receive. There are differing discounts available for families who meet certain criteria.

- Band A: (One parent family, Widow's or Widower's pension, jobseekers benefit)
- Band B: (Family income supplement {FIS}, FAS, Back to Work, Disability allowance)
- Band C: (Medical Card, GP Visit card)
- In exceptional circumstances of extreme hardship, consideration of a further short-term reduction in fees may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- All sliding scale fees will operate for a period of one year and will be reviewed annually.

Can I choose not to use the service for a couple of months and keep my place?

All places are based on making a 10 month commitment (September to June). If you want to keep your place you must pay your monthly fee each month by the first day of the month.

What is the enrolment policy for 2014?

Places are allocated using the following policy. The enrolment policy is broken down by session:

- Early: 13.10 – 14.10 There are 30 places in this session.
  - Current Junior Infants who have place in the Childcare Service will be offered a place
  - Priority will be given to Senior Infants who have a sibling in the school, then Junior Infants who have a sibling in the school, and finally to children who have no siblings
  - The remaining 10 places will be offered on a lottery basis to all junior infants and senior infants regardless of whether or not they have a sibling in the school. Quotas will be used to make sure that both junior infants and senior infants are represented fairly.

Afternoon: 14.10 – 18.15 Available places in this session will be allocated on a lottery basis using quotas to ensure that Rang 1 to Rang 6 are represented fairly.

How much notice do I have to give if I want to stop using the service?

You must give us one months notice, in writing, if you want to stop using the service.

Will the Service offer different activities for the children during holiday periods?

Yes. During holiday times there will be a schedule of activities organised that will include activities like outings, plays, music, and arts and crafts projects. In addition we will probably organise camps which will be available to other children in the school during these times.

What do I do to secure my place if I am offered a place in the childcare service?

You have one week to return a check for the first month’s fee to secure your place. If we have not heard from you within a week, we will offer the place to another family.

Will siblings be given places together?

Siblings will be allocated places together.

Does the service offer ad hoc or drop in places?

Drop in places are only available for the afternoon session (14.10 to 18.15). They must be booked in advance. They are only available for a complete session, not on an hourly basis.

Will my children get a meal at the childcare?

There will be a substantial snack provided to children in the full and afternoon sessions. Sample menus are available from Caroline Percival the Childcare Manager .

Can my children continue to attend extra-curricular activities if they are enrolled in the childcare?

Yes. Your children will be collected from all extra-curricular activities organised at RMDS. We will not be able to collect, or bring, your children to activities organised elsewhere.

Can my children do their homework while they are childcare? Will help be available?

Yes your children can do their homework. There will be help available, but it is not the role of the staff in the childcare service to teach the children, so it is important that parents continue to check that their children have completed their homework appropriately.