Creative Spaces for Children
The children loved making the leaves and flower as we see them every day on our facility grounds and it depicts the children growing as do leaves and flowers
Their favourite place in our setting is the outdoor area
We love artwork and storytime..we also love the dinners cooked onsite
We do not like coming in sometimes in the early morning but we do not like going home in the evenings as we like to stay and play with our peers and the many resources in the room!
Our friends and Sharon Orla and Shell make this place fun for us everyday..also our pawpatrol figurines. We enjoy playing with sand, painting, playdough, Numberblocks and lego!
Our friends and our teacher are with us when we learn
We think if we had Roblox Minecraft and Peter Rabbit toys it would be magical!!!
The story of our group artwork is the flowers and leaves are growing when we water and take care of them just like we grow when we eat up all our dinners and we get hugs and love!!❤️
The pretty colours on the flower..they are the same colours as vanilla and strawberry ice-cream! We would you to write that we are the best boys and girls for making this artwork together and that we are good at teamwork like our storybook says!
The Bumblebee Room - Le Cheile FRC, Mallow aged from 3-4 years
This is me and my teachers. I like playing with the tuff tray and the kitchen.
Ciara – Age 5
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
That’s the playhouse outside and that’s the sand tray. That’s my two teachers and my friend, Harry.
I made two soccer balls and I drawed the playdough. I like the zoo and the playdough.
My favourite is the new fruit chart and the sign-in board that we do.
That’s the tuff tray. I drawed the sand and playdough.
Joshua – Age 5
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
This is the school and me and my teachers. That’s me playing playdough and that’s the balls. I like the tuff tray and I like playing with the chalk.
Méabh – Age 4
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
I like my teachers putting out the toys. My favourite is the marble race.
I made a chocolate bar.
That’s outside and that right there is the gate. If you want to play soccer, you can play soccer!
That’s the door outside. I like water at the table. I like planting peas and guess what?... they’re almost getting bigger and bigger. Peas will start to grow and they will pop on!
Freddie – Age 4
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
This is the school. That’s the zoo and that’s a Lego person at the zoo. I love playing with the zoo.
That’s my teachers.
I love pretend the motorbike is a real motorbike.
Before you letted us bring our journals home and we got to show our mums and dads what we made and we got to remember the stuff we putted in our journals.
If we had no teachers we’d get to do whatever we want and mess the school, but we’d tidy it up again!
Harry – Age 4
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
I wanted to do the school, outside.
This is my teachers - I like the way you have skirts on.
That’s a triangle magnet and that’s a square magnet because that’s my favourite thing to play with.
I don’t play with the playdough that much coz it’s kinda hard to make stuff out of it. There’s loads of toys here that I can play with.
I like being able to put the things out and playing with the zoo together and I liked that you listened to our ideas.
Méabh – Age 5
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
This is my preschool. It has a chimney. This is my teachers. My teachers always be nice. My favourite activity is the blocks.
Mia – Age 4
Cottage Childcare, Killavullen
The children in Bluebells room, Grà Childcare, Carrignavar expressed their creativity through art, sharing what Grá means to them—the special place where they spend at least three hours each day. Through their drawings and colours, they showed their feelings in the most heartfelt way. As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Amaia - Age 4
Grá Childcare
Sadie - Age 4
Grá Childcare
Daisy - Age 4
Grá Childcare
Rebekah - Age 4
Grá Childcare
Julian - Age 5
Grá Childcare
The Afterschool Club boys and girls (5ys -12yrs) of
School Around the Corner, Glanworth
Creative Artwork on "Where I learn and Play "
The artwork from some of the children at Blue Nest in Midleton. They were all so happy to take part in this initiative, which is lovely.
Art activity for National Conversation on Education Childrens Creative Spaces from Ray of Sunshine Canovee
This Weeks News & Information Bulletin
Click HERE for this week in Childcare Bulletin
Deadlines/Important Dates:
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12th May
LINC Applications close
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14th May
Review and Confirm Window
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15th May
Applications close for Nurturing Skills Learner Fund
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26th May
Annual Early Years Sector Profile
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29th May
National CPD mapping exercise (please see below)
National CPD Mapping Exercise
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), in partnership with Crowe Ireland, is undertaking a National Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Mapping Exercise to identify existing CPD opportunities across the Early Learning and Care (ELC), School-Age Childcare (SAC) and Childminding sectors. The survey is open to everyone working in ELC, SAC & childminding and can be accessed here: DCDE CPD Mapping Exercise - Educators Survey It is available to submit from May 7th to May 29th. Please circulate amongst all staff. All feedback is welcome.
QIPP Report Template 2025/2026.
The Core Funding QIPP Report Template 2025/26 is now open on the CFCRRS Portal. The deadline for completion of the 2025/26 QIPP Report is Friday, 31 July 2026.
Trauma Awareness Training
Barnardos will hold Trauma Awareness in Early Learning and Care training online on 19 May. Further information about the training or to book your place or find out more here.
The Toy Library Swap & Play
Families in Cork city are invited to take part in a fun and eco-friendly Swap & Play event hosted by Cork City Partnership in collaboration with The Toy Library. The event will take place on Sunday 10th May at Mahon Community Centre from 11am-2pm providing children and families with the opportunity to swap pre-loved toys, engage in play, and learn about sustainability. Registration for this free event is available here.
The Power of Connection Webinar
Barnardo’s have organised a webinar The Power of Connection; How keep Person Relationships Support Participation, Inclusion and Engagement in ELC & SAC. For more information and to book your place please click here.
Annual Early Years Sector Profile
The 2025/26 Annual Early Years Sector Profile (AEYSP) survey is available on the EY Hive until Tuesday 26 May 2026. The AEYSP plays a central role in monitoring trends in the sector, informing policy development and assessing the impact of policy change. It is important that the Service Profile is up to date before completing the AEYSP survey. All services are encouraged to complete the survey. It is mandatory for all existing Core Funding Partner Services complete the survey within the open window. Guidance documentation and videos will be available on the EY Hive.
AIM Level 4&5 2026 2027 programme year
The AIM Level 4 and 5 application process for the 2026/2027 programme call is now open. Please see guidance on hive for further information
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund 2026/27
The application deadline for the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) for the 2026/2027 academic year has been extended to Friday 15th May. Applications are submitted on the NSLF portal. To request a link to register contact NSLF@pobal.ie
Road Safety Authority Check it Fits service
The RSA’s Check it Fits service will be visiting County Cork next week. This is a free service. Click here to view the calendar of locations www.rsa.ie/checkitfits
LINC 2026/2027 Programme: Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 LINC Level 6 Programme. Through the LINC Programme, graduates gain Lead Educator/Room Leader status, participate in a DCDE fully funded programme and engage in a flexible blended model of delivery. Applications close Tuesday, 12 May at 2pm.
Student Fast Track Assessment
The DCDE have announced a temporary student fast track assessment application process for students enrolled in a recognized level 6, 7 or 8 early years programme to support services to maintain staff capacity over the summer months. The process will open between 6th May 2026 to 1st September 2026. Please click here for press release for information on how to apply.
Core Funding Review & Confirm
The May Review and Confirm is due by 14th May 2026. If you need support, additional resources are available under the Core Funding Documents and Help and Support sections on the Early Years Hive.
Pre-Registration Training for Childminders
Cork County Childcare Committee is delighted to offer Pre-Registration Training to anyone who is interested in finding out more about childminding. This is a mandatory training programme for childminders who wish to register with Tusla. For any potential childminders, this training will support understanding of the new childminding regulations and will provide guidance on what is required to register with Tusla. This is a FREE training course and takes approximately 7 hours to complete. There is no assessment, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion. Please see additional information on the Childminders tab above Training and Events.
The upcoming online training dates are as follows:
Online: Wednesday 13th May & 20th May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm
If you are interested in attending any of these Pre-Registration Training Courses, please click on the link below to book your place:
Childminding Pre-Registration Training Cork County Childcare Committee 2026 – Fill in form
Please contact Denise at dquinlan@corkchildcare.ie / 087 1044448 with any queries.
Helium’s Free Summer Camp
Bookings are now open for Helium's free summer camps running in July in Cork city and Mallow for children and young people with long-term physical health conditions. Further information can be found here.
Cork County Childcare Committee was formed in 2001 and is funded by the Department of Children, Disability, and Youth (DCEDIY) to improve the quality of childcare in Cork County.
In addition to supporting the administration of all Government funding programmes for childcare; City and County Childcare Committees work with early childhood services and childminders looking for support with quality development, HR, governance, financial sustainability and continuing professional development.
We also work with Parents to locate childcare best suited to their families needs, and advise on relevant government funded schemes etc.
