Kidz@Play is an established family business for over 30 years originating in Maynooth Co. Kildare. Kidz@Play Kilcock have a unique setting within Scoil Chóca Naofa for over 8 years. The partnership with the Primary school is positive for children and families with many children moving on to primary school from Kidz@Play Playschool. We also operate an afterschool within the school where children can play relax and complete homework with the familiar Kidz@Play team.
Evelyn developed the business originally from a home-based playschool. Through training and development as well as being the chairperson of the national organisation IPPA Evelyn developed and moved firstly to a rented unit in Maynooth and then to a full day purpose setting in Maynooth. The development of Kidz@Play Kilcock, over 8 years ago brought a unique partnership within the primary school and the service is now embedded within the Kilcock community.
Evelyn holds a MA in Humanities in Early Childhood Care & Education, a BA ECEC, delivers training and lectures in the field of early childhood care and education. Evelyn also worked for the Department of Education and Skills inspecting the educational quality dimension to early years practice.
Jess has a unique experience background as she came to work as a four-week-old baby with her mother as she ran the original home-based playschool. So, we can say Jess was born into the business! Jess continued to expand her knowledge by obtaining an Honours degree in Montessori Education age 3-12, gained experience in different settings, Montessori preschools and primary schools, play based playschools and primary school junior classes and successfully managed summer camps for large companies. Jess holds a MA in Education specialising in the Early Years (2019) from Maynooth University. Jess manages the Kilcock Kidz@Play service within Scoil Chóca Naofa delivering both preschool and afterschool. Jess took over the helm as general manager and owner during Evelyn’s inspection period.
Now together this vastly experienced mother daughter team have pooled skills and experience to form a Company that will guarantee the highest quality in the delivery of education and care in the Newtown hall site. Together with a highly qualified staff team which are experienced qualified and working in Kidz@Play for many years. Early year’s educators working in Kidz@Play are experienced and hold Honours degrees, QQI Level 5 and 6 and both services have LINC Co-coordinators as inclusive services.
As a member of Early Childhood Ireland, we create a welcoming environment for children through our play based emergent curriculum where children’s interests, development and rights are central to our philosophy and in line with the national curriculum framework for early years Aistear.
The testimonials of local families to the quality of education and care in Kidz@Play can be seen in returning family and friends over the years with several parents who attended Kidz@Play themselves now sending their own children.
Within the Maynooth community Kidz@Play have made solid links with local primary schools and support the children’s transitions to national school. Kidz@Play also support the local post-primary school through fundraising events such as cake sales and sponsorship for the musical and sponsored walk. Transition year students are also always welcome in Kidz@Play during work experience.
Kidz@Play continue to improve quality through an excellent inspectors report and a commitment to the provision of a partnership approach with parents and families of children attending Kidz@Play.
Kidz@Play expanded in 2010 to provide a playschool in Scoil Coca Naofa in Kilcock, Co. Kildare. This central location is ideal for all children in Kilcock and the surrounding areas, with a purpose designed large space for the playschool housed within the national school. Kidz@Play is now settled well into the Kilcock area, works in co-operation with the national school and has developed an excellent relationship with children, families and the school team.
Kidz@Play Kilcock offer two sessions – morning and afternoon – providing ECCE free government scheme places and places for non ECCE children.
The playschool also expanded in 2015 to include after school care up to 6.00pm in Scoil Chóca Naofa. The staff team have all gained experience in Kidz@Play Maynooth before starting out in Kilcock and the team hold honors degree and FETAC Level 6 in early childhood care and education.
Kidz@Play Kilcock continues to grow with a commitment to the provision of quality care and education for the children in the Kilcock area.
At Kidz @Play Playschool & Afterschool, our vision is to develop a quality service where each child is valued and nurtured. Play is important “work” for the child and the children are afforded the opportunity to holistically grow and develop within a warm and caring play environment with adults that recognise and respect the needs of the child and will build on those interests and needs.
Our approach is centred on a play based emergent and enquiry curriculum. Children’s interests are explored, supported and documented. Our early years educators plan for children’s progression based on careful observations and a balance of adult directed, initiated activities. Children are encouraged to take the lead in their learning and development. The environment provided is safe, and interesting and supports a variety of challenging and stimulating experiences for the children through which they play, learn and explore.
The playroom is divided into different areas and interests which promote the different types of play and encourage skills such as turn taking cooperation, speech and language development, fine and gross motor skills, sharing, interest in nature and the world and art and crafts. Each child’s learning and development and well-being is facilitated within the service through the provision of age appropriate opportunities, activities, materials and play experiences taking into consideration the cultural context of the child. The play areas indoor and outdoor and play curriculum support Aistear the Early Childhood Curriculum principles and themes of Well-being, Identity and Belonging, Communicating and Exploring and Thinking.
It’s time to meet the Kidz@Play team.
Role: General administration, training and support
Currently Owner/Director/Administrator and trainer Kidz@Play Playschool& Afterschool
MA Humanities ECEC by Research Presidential Scholarship Institute Technology 2015.
Ba (Hons) Early Childhood Education & Care IT Carlow: First Class Honours Degree 2011
City &Guilds 7303 Train the Trainor Teaching Adults: Early Childhood Ireland: 2012
FETAC Level 6: Management and Supervision Childcare.
HACCAP Level 1 Food Safety
HACCAP Level 2 Food preparation
HSE Child Protection Training
MA Education Maynooth University 2019 completed.
BA (Hons) Level 8 in Montessori Education, St Nicholas Montessori College
LINC (Leadership for inclusion in the Early Years} QQI Level 6 MIC
LINC Inclusion Co-ordinator
AIM Inclusion co-ordinator
First aid cert.
Camp Manager Bright Horizons Summer Camp.
Department of Education and Skills: Special needs tutor responsible for implementation of
individual learning plans.
HSE Child Protection Awareness Training. Aistear in Action workshops.
Aistear and Síolta workshops. Storytelling Workshop
Professional development workshop ECI
Work experience Montessori schools and primary schools.
Assistant manager Kidz@Play
Siolta Quality Assurance Programme.
BA (hons) Level 8 Early Childhood Education & Care Institute of Technology Carlow.
FETAC Level 5 Full Award. First Aid Certificate.
Síolta Workshop Aistear Workshop
HANEN Speech and Language Training.
Lámh training.
Nutrition food in Early Years workshop HACCAP Food preparation
Curriculum planning in line with Aistear 8 years’ experience in Kidz@Play
Síolta Quality Assurance Programme.
AIM Equality & Diversity Training
Summer Camp assistant Bright Horizons
Summer camp manager Kidz@Play
Variety of workshops and CPD in ECEC.
HSE Child Protection Training
LINC (Leadership for inclusion in the Early Years} QQI Level 6 MIC
FETAC Level 6 Supervision & Management Childcare
FETAC Level 5 Childcare CACHE Diploma Childcare
HSE Child Protection Awareness Training
First Aid Cert
15 Yrs. Experience in Kidz@Play Childcare Setting.
Summer Camp Manager Kidz@Play
Síolta Workshops IPPA Workshops
HACCAP Food preparation
Laura supports the development of curriculum in line with Aistear and Síolta in Kilcock.
BA Hons (Level 8) Early Childhood Education and Care Institute of Technology Carlow 2014
First Aid Training Joined Kidz@Play 2014
Síolta Quality Assurance Programme. AIM Equality & Diversity Training
Summer Camp assistant Bright Horizons
Variety of workshops in ECEC.
HACCAP food preparation
HSE Child Protection Training
Lámh manual sign system training.
FETAC Level 6 Supervision and Management Dunboyne College
FETAC Level 5 Childcare Dunboyne College Office and Administration experience.
First Aid Certificate
Aistear and Síolta Workshops 7 yrs. working in Kidz@Play Work experience
conducted in Kidz@Play.
Síolta Quality Assurance Programme. AIM Equality & Diversity Training Aistear in Action
programme.
Summer Camp Manager Kidz@Play
Summer Camp assistant Bright Horizons
HSE Child Protection Training
BA (Hons) Level 8 Early Childhood Education and Care Institute of Technology Blanchardstown
BA Level 7 Early Childhood Education and Care Institute of Technology Blanchardstown.
Healthy Smart Start HSE training.
First Aid Certificate
HACCAP food safety Certificate Summer camp Kidz@Play
HSE Child Protection Training
FETAC Level 5 Childcare First Aid Certificate
FETAC Level 5 Health and Safety Manual Handling.
Aistear in Action training.
Síolta Quality Assurance programme. Childminder nine yrs. experience
HSE Child Protection Awareness Training Síolta and Aistear Workshops
IPPA Workshops Fire Safety Training
Summer Camp Supervisor Kidz@Play
First Aid Training
BA Early Childhood Teaching and Learning (Hons) Maynooth University
FETAC Level 5 Montessori Practical and Theory Component Certificate (Approaches to Early
Childhood Care and Education)
Midland School of Childcare Montessori Diploma
Advanced Certificate in Supervision FETAC Level 6
Child Psychology FETAC level 6.
Liberties College Childcare FETAC level 5. Occupational First Aid
KARE (Early Years-Supporting children presenting with sensory, intellectual or physical
impairments)
HSE Child protection Training
Over 7 years working in early years services as a practitioner and room manager.
Yvonne joined Kidz@Play in 2017
BA (Hons) Level 8 in Early Childcare Care and Education, IT Blanchardstown
Children First E-Learning
AIM Sensory Processing
Work placement in Kidz@Play Kilcock 2012
Work experience in preschool settings
QQI Level 5 Early Childhood Care and Education
HSE Child Protection Training
First Aid Certificate
Over 10 years’ experience as an Early Years Educator
BA Early Childhood – Teaching and Learning (currently undertaking) Maynooth University
First Aid cert
Tulsa Children’s First
AsIAm Online Training Module: Teach Me as I Am, Early Years Programme
Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences Early Trauma Online Learning
BA (Hons) Degree Level 8 in Early Childhood Care and Education, Technological University of Dublin
First Aid cert
Workshops in supporting children where English is not their first language
Work experience in Kidz@Play and in other play based emergent preschool settings
BA in Arts specialising is Geography and Ancient Greek and Roman Civilisation (2018)
QQI Level 5 Early Childhood Care and Education.
HSE Child Protection Training
First Aid Certificate
Manual Handling
QQI School Age Childcare Level 5
Technology within the classroom.
HACCP Level 2 certified
Child Protection
Paediatric First Aid
Food safety and HACCP Officer – Dunnes Stores 2006 – 2017
BA (Hons) Degree – History and Celtic Studies NUI Maynooth
Fetac Level 5 Art and Animation Studies BCFE
