Classrooms

BEL Childcare recognises that the early childhood years are the most important time in the life of a family and the most influential time for children as they start on the road to learning. Children of this age are naturally curious and interested in the world around them. This magical time of extraordinary cognitive, emotional and physical growth, combined with an excellent early childhood program, sets the foundation for later learning and social relationships.”

Wobbler Room

12+ months 

In the Wobbler Room, children gain their first experience of crèche life and meet new friends with whom they will travel through BEL Childcare over the years.  Free play and exploration of the toys and learning environment is encouraged throughout the day in a colourful and inviting classroom.  The teachers in this room conduct a daily group time during which children learn songs, listen to stories and learn new vocabulary. Gross motor development is encouraged through exercises suited to each child’s age and developmental stage, such as sitting, rolling, crawling, standing and walking. The children also enjoy a lot of art and sensory exploration with various materials such as water, foam, jelly, lentils, rice and more. Mealtimes are social in this room, as children transition from sitting in highchairs to learning to sit at the table together.  Most importantly, our teachers provide a loving and nurturing environment as most children are away from mum or dad for the first time.

Our Junior Rooms

15+ months approx. 

In our Junior Rooms, children first begin to settle into crèche life.  Children have a variety of age-appropriate toys
and materials at their fingertips and they are invited to explore their environment.  The teachers conduct a daily
group time during which the children enjoy singing songs, participating in movement games, listening to stories
and learning new vocabulary.
Gross motor skills are developed through the use of tunnels and miniature obstacle courses which encourage
children to practise moving and strengthening their bodies as they grow.  The children also enjoy sensory
activities and experimenting with various materials such as water, paint, glue, jelly and more.

Over the course of each child’s time in one of our Junior Rooms, teachers focus on helping them to gain more
independence. Communication is key, as children experiment with both nonverbal and verbal communication and
learn to express themselves more clearly. Teachers continuously encourage each child’s language development
by asking open questions and engaging in conversations.  Social and emotional development are also
encouraged as teachers help children to recognise and label their emotions.

Our Senior Rooms

2+ years

In the Senior Rooms, children continue exploring the learning environment and enjoying sensory experiences,
including using our light tables, sensory boxes and engaging in water and sand play.
The children begin to prepare for pre-school through the use of increasingly challenging activities, self-directed
art and play experiences and interesting discussions during group time.  They also continue to develop their
independence skills as teachers encourage them to take on more personal responsibilities, such as putting on
their own coats and helping clear the table after mealtimes.
The development of personal care skills is also encouraged as many children embark on the process of toilet
training with help from our experienced teachers.
Children in these rooms generally begin to engage in more imaginary play, such as playing house.  This type of
play helps the children to better understand the relationships they see in the world around them, as well as the
relationships they have with their peers.

Pre-School Rooms

2 year 8 months to 5½ years approx.

We have four separate Pre-school classrooms in which we deliver the ECCE scheme during the primary school term – 38wks of the year, for 3 hours per day.  We also offer full day care for pre-school children year-round.  Our pre-school teachers implement an emergent play-based curriculum that incorporates Aistear, Siolta and the building blocks for skills needed to start Primary school.  In all rooms, children are encouraged to explore their surroundings, ask questions, experiment with materials and engage in free play.  The children learn primarily through play, and have the opportunity to engage in games, songs, discussions, stories, technology, arts and crafts, nature exploration, sensory activities and science experiments.  They lay the foundation for early maths and literacy skills through the use of activities that involve measuring, comparing and counting, listening to stories and discussing themes.

BEL Childcare in a Nutshell!