Sherpa Kids is celebrating the launch of eight new services in schools across Ireland this school term.
It brings to 14 the number of Sherpa Kids services across Ireland and shows the surge in popularity and demand in this relatively new and unique childcare provision that works in partnership with schools.
Sherpa Kids offers an on-site, flexible affordable and high quality, before and after-school childcare service, in partnership with schools who themselves understand the logistical challenges and expense that working parents have to organise wrap-around care for their school-going children. The service is also available on a full day basis during most school closures and holidays to cater for this gap in childcare.
Five of the new Sherpa Kids services are in Dublin; two in Lucan (Esker Educate Together & Griffin Valley Educate Together), one in Rathfarnham (Good Shepherd N.S), one in Coolock (Scoil Chaitriona Cailini) and another in Donabate (Scoil Phádraic Cailíní). One of the new Sherpa Kids is located in Co, Kildare (St Joseph’s N.S, Kilcock) while the final two of the new Sherpa Kids are located in Cork (Rochestown Educate Together and Ballygarvan N.S).
Together the new schools are providing care for 800 children this school term. In 2015, Sherpa Kids provided care for 130 children.
John Miles, CEO of Sherpa Kids said; “We opened our first Sherpa Kids in 2014 as we saw a real and serious gap in childcare and the barrier this placed on working parents. Our growth and scalability to 14 schools from 3 this time last year, which reflects the huge interest and demand among parents, has been very carefully controlled – while we know there is demand for many, many more Sherpa Kids schools, our priority is ensuring we deliver the highest standard of care and service that helps children to develop their potential through educational and fun programmes that support the school and parents.
“We greatly value the partnership with have with our schools also. We understand and adapt to their often limited space to provide a pop-up, warm, open and secure environment for children, with minimal requirements and resources required of the schools. “We’re excited and very proud to be able to provide a childcare solution that benefits and supports children, schools and allows parents the flexibility and affordable solution that allows them to maintain employment and earn a living.”
Sherpa Kids provides a wide range of activities devised to weekly themes which include arts, crafts, music, drama, sports, baking, technology, and games – ensuring children are engaged and challenged while having fun and making new friends.
For parents who require an early start, Sherpa Kids open the school doors early to allow them to drop their children directly to school where breakfast and fun activities kick start the children’s day. The after school service then allows parents to collect their children directly from the school later in the evening at a time that suits them. Children will also get a tasty snack and have their homework supervised as part of the service.
For more information in relation to the Sherpa Kids schools, visit www.sherpakids.ie or call 087 7718664.