Lux Children’s Club - Westmeath

05 Lux Children’s Club

Geographical Location: Moate, County Westmeath
Urban/rural location: Urban
Setting type: Sessional and school-age childcare
Ownership: Private
Building type: Single-storey building converted to ELC setting
Setting size: 28 children

Lux Children’s Club is situated beside a primary school in the town of Moate. It is a privately-owned sessional setting, catering for 18 children aged 3-5 in the morning and 25 school aged children in the afternoon. 3 staff are employed. This is a single storey building converted from its former use as a children’s residential centre, which operated as a convent for some years before that. There are six rooms available for the children. There is an art room, a gym, a role play room, construction room, a homework room, dining room and a large cloakroom. There is a large garden which affords many opportunities to children: art, climbing, playhouse, construction site, a Montessori house, along with a large shed where outdoor clothes are stored. There is a large covered outside area. Being located beside the school is very convenient for parents but can lead to traffic congestion. The front gate is controlled from inside the building for safety and security. There is an extensive cloakroom for coats, snow suits and wellies, both in the building and outside. This means coats and wellies can dry out which is an important consideration when children spend lots of time outside. Part of the building is the owner’s personal residence.