Maria Gaynor, Súgradh Childcare

Súgradh Childcare has provided a mixed age early years service for sixteen years. It was not a brave move in a new direction...In fact, it wasn’t a conscious decision at all!

Planning restrictions meant that our building was going to be smaller than I had hoped, and it never occurred to me to break the area down further into smaller ‘age designated rooms’. Two Preschool Inspectors helped me plan the internal layout of my setting and it didn’t occur to them either! As a result, we have two bright, spacious and flexible rooms that are populated with a mix of ages from birth to twelve years. This layout has proven to support the practitioners, appeal to parents, adapt easily to changing age profiles and consistently comply with all regulations. However, the real magic of such a configuration can be seen in the interactions between the children.

We see natural caring tendencies emerge and flourish in this environment. In the light caring touches, the enquiring glances and the helpful actions between mixed age children here I see the very definition of spirituality. In the studied concentration, the patient explanations, the enthralled faces and the quiet spectators, I see competent, confident craftsmen and women passing on valuable learning to eager apprentices within the most natural zone of proximal development. When I see children trying to facilitate a younger child’s participation in their games I see problem-solving. I also see the development of executive function skills as children wait that bit longer and accept that sometimes other children don’t do things the way they might prefer. Within this larger space there are often three practitioners working together; a supportive environment which adds to the relaxed atmosphere in the room. Job satisfaction and retention has been high as a result. 

Moving to this type of provision is easy, just work out ratios according to the age profile on a given day. Ensure one space has no choking hazards; you will be surprised at how much can still be stocked in this area. Currently you do still need a separate space for the three hours of preschool but this is a small window in a long day. Finally, just trust the children to be safe with each other, they won’t let you down.