About Care-A-Lot Childcare | Daycare in Upton, Cork

Introduction to Care-A-Lot

At Care-A-Lot our vision is simple and that is to provide the highest quality of childcare. A home from home where each child can be individual, express themselves and have a warm, safe and welcoming environment to play, explore and socialise. We aim for the children to be happy and for you the parents to have peace of mind when you leave your children in our care. As Bill Gates states “the first five years have so much to do with how the next eighty turnout”. We believe all children to be individual, diverse, who will develop physically, socially and emotionally at their own rate.

Our Vision

Everything we do has this vision applied to it, from our building to our staff. Our staff are fully qualified and highly talented professionals who provide the best care and education for the children at Care-A-Lot Childcare, from our early learning programme to our nutritionally balanced menus.

Our Mission

At Care-A-Lot we have extensive policies and procedures in place to provide a quality safe and welcoming environment for each child in our care. Professionalism, with a caring approach go hand in hand at Care-a-lot Childcare.

HOW WE STARTED

Care-A-Lot Childcare Time Line

2008

2008 – Care-A-Lot Childcare Began

Care-A-Lot Childcare was opened on Monday September 1st, 2008 with four children in my care. I gave up the security of my full-time job in the middle of the recession due to the lack of quality childcare in our area and its surrounds. Child development is an area of huge interest to me and I believe the importance Early Years Education should never be underestimated.

I am also An Early Years Consultant for investors who are interested in setting up Childcare Centres. I deal with everything from the Fire department, Tulsa, planning applications policies and procedure to finally staffing the centres. I trained in Griffith College, Cork in early 2000 and worked in Mount Oval, Rochestown, Douglas and Ballincollig. I worked with all age groups down through the years and gained my vast knowledge and expertise throughout this time with hands on experience This had continued to be a huge asset to my childcare business in many ways.

I believe that it is of upmost importance to keep upskilling, ‘A day without learning something new is a wasted opportunity in life’. I promote fun, uniqueness, a bit of roguery and outdoor play within my centre and feel that children learn best when they are at their happiest. I want every child to want to come through my door each and every day. The rest will come naturally once scaffolded correctly by the early years practitioner who care for them. This, together with my passion for quality childcare and my own knowledge the Care-A-Lot journey began. With a purpose-built building outside the back of my home Care-A-Lot Childcare was born.
2008-9

2008-9 – Weeks later

We had eight children with a lot more booked in for 2009.

The team now included one other staff and myself.

The purpose of Care-A-Lot Childcare was to provide quality childcare in a small, homely environment. I am a mother of three children, two girls Nicole 10 years, Emily-May 7 years and a boy George-Douglas 2 ½ years old. Our children are our most treasured asset and they deserve the best start in life, and that very much should include their early years in the education system. Children learn through play and Care-A-Lot is very proud to excel in providing outstanding quality childcare from babies of 6 months to children of five years.
2009

2009 – The next year

In 2009 we operated out of three rooms and I was employing three staff.
At the end of 2009 the main creche was full with nineteen children attending on a daily basis and staffing going from three to four. Now we planned for an extension.
2011

2011 – The expansion

In 2011 we expanded our service to include a purpose-built extension called the Lodge now known as 11 Little Learners Lane. This is where our Pre-schoolers are cared for and begin their preschool journey.

The staffing also increased. This was enabling us to provide additional services to our local community and its surrounding areas. This would not only ensure the survival of a quality provider of childcare in our area but also of a valuable employer. We had a waiting list for children and when the project was completed, we provided five full time jobs. Two employees came from unemployment.

The expansion would provide places for eleven more children and it includes a state-of-the-art pre-school with a full and exciting curriculum for the young children in our community. A large focus that year was our outdoor space and this would be fully fitted out to facilitate lots of learning and fun and would include an art area, construction, water and sand corner. We also have a pet corner with a dog called ‘Eugene’ and a rabbit called ‘Molly’. We include nature walks around the acre plot and lots of learning with nature takes place.
2017

2017 – 9 years later

In 2017 with a full nine years in business and other expansion projects completed since 2011. We have eighty-nine children who attend the centre and a team of nine staff. We have a waiting list and are very proud that. We try and accommodate any enquiries made looking for our services and always try and change or swap things around to accommodate you and your children.
2021

2021 – Where we are now

In 2021 we cater for 50 children each day and have over 120 children registered. We have a team of ten staff and recently celebrated our 12th birthday at Care-A-Lot Childcare

What do parents say about us

Testimonials

Let's explore what Parents have to say about us. Let us know what you think and what you’d like too.

About the Teachers

The Care-A-Lot Team

The team at Care-a-lot Childcare are of very highly skilled and qualified. Each member of staff are carefully interviewed and selected with the Care-A-Lot vision in mind. It is a challenging job but each one of us have a very close bond and understanding of the children in our care. We are honoured to be able to care for these children while their parents are busy at work or college. The staff are qualified in Early Years from Level 5 to Level 9 and are all Garda Vetted and fully trained in Child Protection, First Aid, Fire Safety and Manual Handling. I, as the manager have worked in a lot of environments and with all aspects of management. The great name we have earned is all teamwork. We have respect and openness for each other and opening each day is the beginning of another exciting day for us as a team.