Happy Feet Early Learning Centre is a play-based preschool, based at Sonas, School Road, Rathcoole Village, a short walk from, Holy Family National School, Scoil Cronain, and Holy Family Community School. Currently Happy Feet operates two preschool sessions daily from 9:00am to 12:00am and from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Due to ongoing demand for places at the school, we’re pleased to announce that in September of 2014, Happy Feet will open the doors of the new and purpose built 3,500 Sq. premises at Happy Feet Blackthorn. Happy Feet Early Learning Centre, Blackthorn is less than a one minute walk away in Blackthorn, Rathcoole and around the corner from our existing location at Happy Feet Early Learning Centre, Sonas, Kilteel Road. In September 2014 services will include:
• Free Preschool, (ECCE), (Montessori and play-based curriculum). This service will be offered at both locations 5 days/week from 9:00am -12:00am for a total of 3 “morning” preschool sessions operating daily.
• Both “Before School” and “After School” care for school aged children that includes a healthy breakfast and dinner as applicable, transportation to and from school, membership to The Homework Club, and both structured and unstructured after school activities.
• Full time and part time childcare for children aged 12 months-school aged in our crèche addition to Happy Feet Early Learning Centre. The curriculum at Happy Feet is child centred combining daily teacher guided activities with ample time for free choice, socialization, and most importantly, PLAY and FUN. We provide a stimulating, ever changing, and creative environment where learning is achieved through a variety of activities. Some of these are; Free play, language arts, literature, early mathematical concepts, creative arts, science, nature, cooking, baking, guest speakers, speech/drama, physical fitness, and outdoor play. At Happy Feet, we value the child’s imagination and encourage them to make choices regarding their play and activities, both freely and unrestricted, but always safe under our care. We value the need for play and understand its’ importance to any child’s learning at this stage of their development. The health and well-being of each child is of central and utmost importance to who we are and what we do. All staff members at Happy Feet are involved in on-going training and are highly qualified. All teachers hold a minimum qualification of the FETAC Level 5 Childcare Award. Within 2014, two of our teachers will receive FETAC Level 6 Montessori teaching awards. Two of the teachers hold Masters Degrees in Elementary Education and Arts. All of our teachers understand what it is to be a dedicated mother, as mothers themselves. As a combined team, the teachers of Happy Feet have over 35 years of real teaching experience. In summary, each and every teacher at Happy Feet has made a choice to dedicate their careers to the education and enrichment of children. Happy Feet adheres to the National Quality Framework and all our staff members are fully trained in Aister and Siolta. Evidence of good practice can be seen through the children’s work and photographs displayed around the centre at any time during the school year. Our most recent HSE inspection was within the past year. It is with great pride that Happy Feet would like to mention that under regulation no. 5 of The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006, “the health and wellbeing of the child”, the inspector appointed commented as to how impressive the varied and expansive curriculum is here at the centre, as well as noting the centre’s commitment to community and parent involvement. We love what we do and we have fully committed ourselves to teaching children at this stage of their educational development. We all put 100% into making Happy Feet the best educational building block for your children and we take great pride in the service provided here. Please phone Kelly on 0851571132 to arrange a visit to Happy Feet.
