Buttercup Childcare

14/08/2026

National Childcare Scheme (NCS) changes from 31 August 2026

Good news for families! The NCS income thresholds are increasing, meaning more families may qualify for an Income-Assessed subsidy or receive a higher rate. Visit www.ncs.gov.ie to learn more including how these changes impact your award!

01/08/2026

Increasing an ECCE preschool day from 3-5 hours gives children significantly more time for high-quality play, relationships, exploration and routines. When the extra hours are planned using Aistear, they support children’s holistic development across all areas of learning.
Social and Emotional, Children benefit from: More time to build secure relationships with everyone. Developing confidence, resilience & independence. Learning to share, cooperate, negotiate and solve conflicts with better emotional regulation.
Cognitive, children spend longer engaged in meaningful play rather than rushing activities. Develop problem-solving & critical thinking skills. Explore science, maths, nature & creative experiences. Follow own interests leading to deeper learning. Build concentration & persistence.
Communication & Language, with extra time children have more opportunities to take part in conversations with adults & peers. Develop vocabulary through stories, & imaginative play. Express thoughts, feelings & ideas confidently. Listen & practise early literacy through play.
Physical, Longer sessions provide opportunities to develop balance & coordination. Time for healthy meals, self-care & independence skills. Opportunities to support healthy lifestyles through movement & active play.
School Readiness, 5hrs. also helps children, become comfortable with longer daily routines. Build independence, develop sustained attention & confidence in groups. Experience a balanced day with learning, rest, & social interaction rather than a shorter, more rushed session.
In line with Aistear, the greatest benefit of increasing from 3 - 5 hrs. is not more formal teaching—it is more time for high-quality, child-led play and meaningful interactions, which research shows are the foundation of children’s social, emotional, cognitive, language & physical development.
For only €11.32 per day the benefits outweigh the cost and makes the decision very easy for all parents to make.  If your NCS benefit is more than €2.14, the cost is even lower for you.  Limited places in smaller group session for 2 hrs after preschool.  Don’t delay contact us today.

24/07/2026

Our final week of summer camp was Art week where we each day we explored different themes such as Pirates and Mermaids, Under the Sea, Space and Rockets, Animals and Superhero’s. The children did arts and crafts, explored with sensory play, group games, physical activity and much more.
All in all we had a great few weeks of summer camp and full day care! It is a great opportunity for children to make new friends, build confidence, stay active and develop their skills and knowledge during the summer break☀️😃

20/07/2026

17/07/2026

We had another fantastic week of summer camp. This week was S.T.E.M week - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. We enjoyed lots of stimulating activities throughout the week. We did various science experiments including the classic coke and mentos experiment, a volcano and colour mixing. We used our creativity to build straw structures, make spiral decorations and cup phones. And we tested out our engineering and mathematical skills with an egg drop challenge and making a marble maze. It was a great week for learning new skills and encouraging creativity, problem solving and critical thinking.

We also made posters and bracelets in our county colours for the All Ireland Hurling Final on Sunday💚🤍

14/07/2026

As another wonderful year comes to an end at Buttercup Childcare, Ballylanders, we’d like to thank all of our amazing children and families for being part of so many special moments. Over the past 10 months we’ve laughed, learned, explored, celebrated and created countless memories together—far more than we could ever fit into one video! 💛

Here are just a small selection of the wonderful memories your children have made with us this year. Every smile, adventure and achievement has made this year one to remember.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a fantastic partnership with our parents. So many of the trips, activities and special experiences our children enjoy are only possible because of your kindness, encouragement and willingness to volunteer your time. Thank you to every parent who visited us to share your skills, careers, hobbies and experiences with the children—you have helped create lasting memories and enriched their learning in so many ways.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to our wonderful local businesses and community groups who continue to welcome us year after year and support our learning beyond the classroom. We are especially grateful for the strong partnership we have with Ballylanders National School, whose staff always welcome us with open arms and work closely with us to make every child’s transition to primary school a happy and positive one.

Finally, none of this would be possible without our incredible team at Buttercup Childcare in what was a very challenging year and industry crisis with staff shortages. Thank you for your dedication, kindness, professionalism and unwavering commitment to every child in your care. You go above and beyond every single day, ensuring each child feels valued, included, supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.

To all of our children moving on to primary school, we wish you every success and happiness in your next adventure. We are so proud of each and every one of you. 🌟

To the children returning to Buttercup, we can’t wait to welcome you back for another year filled with fun, friendships, learning and unforgettable memories. Have a wonderful summer everyone! ☀️

10/07/2026

Buttercup Childcare are hiring
Closing date for application is July 17th.
Cover letter & CV to
[email protected].

10/07/2026

Week 2- Sports Week- of summer camp was a great success!⚽️🏀☀️ We enjoyed a trip to the GAA field on Monday, thank you to for letting us use the training balls and facilities. We went to the soccer field on Tuesday where we had a few games of soccer along with some races, thanks to the Ballylanders Soccer club for supplying soccer balls and letting us use the facilities there. We went to the park on Wednesday where we played in the playground and played games in the park area. We went to Griston bog, where there is a great walkway that have available there, we explored the forest area and pond area and we found lots of tiny 🐸 And finally on Friday we enjoyed water activities and a bouncy castle and games from Electric Party Rentals. Each day was filled with different sports, sports related activities, games and adventure! We played a range of different sports including soccer, football, tennis, badminton, basketball, handball and rounders. All of which were a great way to support teamwork and social skills and introducing new sports allowed for developing new interests and skills!
Also, Thank you to Peak Coffee who brought in refreshing drinks for all the staff today, it was appreciated after a busy week in the sun!😁☀️

03/07/2026

We had a fabulous time in our first week of Summer Camp, our theme this week was baking! 👩‍🍳🧁🍪🍓We baked lots of yummy treats including pizza, cookies, cupcakes, ice pops and smoothies. We also explored food themed play and arts and crafts- we had a lemonade stand pretend play and ice cream parlour pretend play where the children used their imagination and used natural materials for a hands on experience. Not only did the children make new friends and enhance their socials skills, they also learned lots of valuable life skills through baking such as safety with kitchen equipment, measurements and independence. We also enjoyed lots of outdoor play and a trip to the local playground! We look forward to next week’s Sports theme! ⚽️🏀

24/06/2026

Grandparents’ Day Celebration ☕🌧️❤️
What a wonderful Grandparents’ Day we had here in our childcare service! Despite the rain, we were delighted to welcome such a fantastic turnout of grandparents and family members to spend quality time with the children. The shelter was full of laughter, stories, cups of tea, and meaningful conversations, making it a truly special day for everyone involved.
Events like these reflect the values of Aistear and Síolta, particularly in supporting positive relationships, identity and belonging, and partnership with families. Grandparents play such an important role in children’s lives, offering love, wisdom, and connection across generations. Celebrating these relationships helps children develop a strong sense of self and belonging within their family and wider community.
This also highlights our commitment to Partnership with Parents and Families, recognising the important contribution grandparents make as part of the child’s support network. By welcoming them into our setting, we strengthen those home-service connections and promote meaningful community involvement, which is central to quality early years practice.
It was heartwarming to see the joy on the children’s faces as they shared their environment, activities, and special moments with their grandparents. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a success — rain and all! We look forward to creating many more opportunities to bring families and our community together. 💛