Westmeath County Childcare Committee

Westmeath County Childcare Committee is committed to creating an environment that values all children, by facilitating the development of an infrastructure of high quality early childhood care and educational services that support the holistic development of children in the context of family and community throughout Westmeath.

Westmeath County Childcare Committee have supported the development of the Childcare Sector in Westmeath over the past eight and half years. We provide extensive supports to Childcare Service providers who wish to avail of the government funding under the National Childhood Investment Programme, Community Childcare Subvention Scheme, Childcare Education & Training Support Scheme and the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme. We also administer the Parent and Toddler grants and the Childminding Development Grants for County Westmeath. Coupled with this we provide development support to childcare services through information, training and networking events.

National Guidance for The Protection & Welfare of Children 2011

Children First is National Guidance that promotes the protection of children from abuse and neglect. It states what organisations need to do to keep children safe, and what different bodies, and the general public should do if they are concerned about a child’s safety and welfare. The Guidance sets out specific protocols for HSE social workers, Gardaí and other front line staff in dealing with suspected abuse and neglect.

Children First was first published in 1999. The principle and substance of this document (2011) are unchanged. The Guidance has been updated to reflect new policy, legislation and organisation – the establishment of the HSE, HIQA, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. It incorporates lessons from investigations, reviews and inspections over the past decade. This document reflects the growing awareness of the impact of ongoing neglect on children in its guidance. It also includes bullying as a feature of abuse. Its publication was a commitment in the Programme for Government.

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