Bubbles provides a full day care service to support parents child care needs.
Bubbles Creche & Montessori is a privately owned, full day childcare and educational service.
Bubbles Creche opened in 2006 providing full day care facilities and education for children aged 12 months to 5.5 yrs. Following a visit with Early Childhood Ireland to Reggio in Italy 2007, founder Fiona O'Donohue recognised the importance and need for promoting the independence of the child. And so, in 2008, Bubbles introduced the Reggio-inspired, Montessori educational programme to Bubbles childcare curriculum. This enhanced the quality of childcare service offering in Galway.
In 2012, Bubbles expanded its service to open a separate dedicated Montessori service, whilst also providing a full day care creche service to enhance the early years learning and education for children.
The Bubbles team have achieved educational attainment from Fetac Level 5 to Masters qualification in Early Childhood Education. Bubbles is a Tusla Early Years Inspectorate approved service. Regular Tusla inspections independently confirm safety, governance and quality standards are maintained.
By implementing "Nurturing Skills" and "The Workforce Development Plan", Bubbles childcare service continually evolves to ensure the professionalisation of staff and enhancement of the educational curriculum for the benefit of the children.
The sector is guided by policy initiatives such as First 5 and National Action Plan for Childcare and Education. Our curriculum in Bubbles Creche and Montessori encourage children's Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication.
Our Staff
All staff in Bubbles Crèche and Montessori are Garda vetted and have a range of qualifications in childcare. Fetac Level 5, Fetac Level 6, Level 7 Degree in Childcare, Masters in Childcare and Montessori qualifications are typical of Bubbles staff educational attainment. All staff have attended First Aid Training courses that are refreshed every 2 years.
Child protection training is delivered to all staff, focusing on the child’s safety and wellbeing. The Creche and Montessori have Designated Liason Officers/Deputy Officers who take part in a more in-depth and detailed course called Always Children First – Children Safeguarding Awareness Training for Organisations. All staff are mandated persons for child protection.
Bubbles staff team engage in continuous professional development and upskilling in childcare and early education. This facilitates the highest possible standard of childcare and education being delivered to each child in our care.
Bubbles staff have completed training in Aistear (The Early Childhood Framework) and Síolta (The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education) and this facilitates the implementation of a quality childcare curriculum.
Our staff are proud to work in Reggio Inspired services with a Reggio International Advisor. Many staff attend additional training and workshops with Early Childhood Ireland to facilitate a differentiated and enhanced service that is unique to Bubbles.
Government Schemes
Every child is eligible for the NCS (National childcare scheme) from 24 weeks to 15 yrs. Additionally, ECCE allowance is available to children aged 32 months before the 1st Sept annually. This allowance is available for 2 yrs.
Please call Parent Support line in POBAL for further assistance re these schemes: 01-9068530
NCS - National childcare scheme
The NCS provides financial support to assist families with their early learning and childcare costs.
There are two types of subsidies available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age:
- A universal subsidy which is not means tested and provides €2.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours per week;
- An income-assessed subsidy which is means tested and will be calculated based on your family’s individual circumstances. Rates will vary depending on your level of family income, your child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in your family.
The NCS is parent initiated and parents are responsible for claiming their family specific allowance.
All details are available here:
ECCE - Early childhood care and education scheme
The Government introduced the ECCE scheme in 2008 to support childcare costs for parents and to ensure that all children availed of early years pre-school education thereby preparing and supporting children in their early years.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme in Ireland provides two years of subsidised child care and education for children aged 2 years 8 months to 5 years 6 months. It offers 3 hours of childcare and education, 5 days a week, for 38 weeks annually, funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
All Children aged 32 months prior to 1st Sept each year are eligible for the ECCE allowance of €64.50 per week. Bubbles Montessori initiates this scheme registration in Sept each year for each child eligible.
Safeguarding and child protection
Bubbles Creche provides the highest quality of childcare and early education for children from 12 months to three years of age.
Bubbles Creche is registered with T.U.S.L.A. and our recent pre school inspection report is available on line. Download through the link below. The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate is the statutory regulator, carrying out independent, regular inspections of services for safety, governance, and quality. .
Click to page 4 and open either Bubbles Creche or Bubbles Montessori from the list.
All our staff are mandated person. You can learn more here:
Bubbles Creche is registered with Early Childhood Ireland (ECI).
Early Childhood Ireland provide additional advice and support to childcare service providers in managing their childcare offering.
Through the implementation of best practices and high standards, Bubbles Crèche has been awarded the National Quality Excellence Award in Childcare in 2008 and 2011. These ECI awards predated the newer Siolta and Aistear programmes.
These accreditations demonstrate Bubbles' long standing commitment to and delivery of Quality Early Years Education by implementing and maintaining consistently high standards of excellence.
Inspection bodies
Environment Health Office
National Employment Rights Authority
Supporting bodies
