Pre school demands in Cork?

booksale

Hi we are two qualified Montessori teachers thinking to set up a Montessori preschool. We are looking into different counties and cork is in our consideration. We wonder where in county cork that has strong need of preschool? Or a lot of young families? Our husbands will be working in cork city so can’t be too far from city. We are thinking to convert a garage of a house for a classroom.

This is a very early stage. We are just doing research and rough plan. We plan to open the preschool September 2019.

Any help appreciated!

mordeith

I think anywhere at this stage would appreciate another pre school in the area. You'll have to factor in the demand with the free pre school year (I can't remember the official wording on that!)

booksale

Yes the ECCE is helping.

We are looking for a place we can buy a detached house (my husband and me paying and living there). and build a little preschool in the garden. We are thinking mallow as the property price is affordable. And not too far from cork city. We don’t want to rent as money we earn from childcare is little and there will be other costs. Not sure whether there is enough young families though in mallow.

We will email county council to check.

Any of you have heard people saying couldn’t find places for pre school kids? Would appreciate any comments.

salmocab

I’m sure you know but once your doing ECCE you have to comply with all their rules so be sure before you buy a place that you can make the garage up to spec toilets fire regs and numbers wise. ECCE is a fixed price so if your only doing sessional there is no room for charging extra.

mordeith

You should be able to get population stats on the Mallow area from the CSO website

booksale

Yes. Thank you guys for all the advice and input. I read about the building requirements. I’ve been told the county council is very helpful and they would help to check the premises and give advice before the conversion etc. And definitely need to check whether planning permission would be easily to get. Will definitely ring the council. Indeed we will email them about the areas in cork that have needs thus market for us.

We will do afterschool as well. And I have training and experience in special needs so I’m thinking to take in sen home tuition kid in the school setting. For this one, I think I need to contact the department of education as I know home tuition fund usually only allows the teaching to be in the students home. Yet I know some people doing it other then students’ house. And I think it’s good for the kids indeed to mix and have a chance to socialise. Anyway just try to think of ways to make things work.

Th worst scenario is it’s not working. Then at least we still have a place to live and the preschool may turn into a playroom for our own kids then. And look for jobs in cork city that’s hopefully not too far if we get a place right.

That’s the plan... so far...

salmocab

Once the premises suit I think you will be okay, there is plenty of call for ECCE places since it was extended. Best of luck with it

Sesame

Where I live, there's plenty of sessional ECCE hours but no wraparound childcare places. I send mine in at 8.30 and collect around 4pm. I was waiting until the last minute to get a place.
If I hadn't got a place, there was no alternative's except the childminder or au pair route. I know a few towns in Co Cork like that.

booksale

Thanks for telling, Sesame. Good to know that.

aisling86

In Macroom there is only 1 preschool which is full capacity, 1 Montessori which is only running for 1 more year SEP 19, there is a community crèche but they don't do morning drop off to school.
I send my kids to clondrohid 7km away as the crèche there does morning drop & after-school. They are also at full capacity.
The locality is screaming out for childcare facilities.