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Government must make clear distinction between early-years and “school-age” childcare as report finds nearly two-thirds of parents have struggled balancing remote working with childcare. As Covid-19 continues to disrupt work and education in Ireland, a leading childcare organisation has called on the government to follow European Commission recommendations and make clearer policy and funding distinctions between early years (0-3) and after-school or “school-age” childcare (4+). Sherpa Kids Ireland, which provides on-site after-school childcare services to children aged 4-12 in more than 50 primary schools across the country, has today published a new report, “No child left behind: reforming school-age childcare”, which details findings from a survey on Irish parents’ experiences of childcare during lockdown. Read more here>>

The majority of parents in Ireland feel their children’s education has been impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic according to a report from Sherpa Kids Ireland. 67 per cent of parents surveyed said the virus had affected their child’s learning, while 59 per cent said it had taken a toll on their own mental health. Almost two thirds of parents said they struggled to find time to home-school their children during the school closure earlier this year and 60 per cent said their children would have benefited from structured school-age childcare activities during lockdown. Read more here>>

A new study has revealed that almost half of parents saw their mental health impacted negatively after trying to balance remote working with childcare during the pandemic. Sherpa Kids - which provides on-site after-school childcare services to children aged between four and 12 in more than 50 primary schools - conducted the research and is now calling for greater recognition and investment in childcare for kids attending school. The 'No child left behind: reforming school-age childcare' report outlines findings from a survey on Irish parents’ experiences of childcare during lockdown. Read more here>>

Almost half of all parents would avail of mental health support services for their children as they return to school post-lockdown — new survey 82% of parents who are already concerned for their child’s mental health would avail of these supports, according to new Sherpa Kids survey 64% of parents said they have found teaching lessons and home-schooling “very challenging” or “quite challenging” 91% of parents felt they were impacted by Covid-19 with their child’s routine (80%), their child’s education (67%) and personal mental health (59%) affected most. Sherpa Kids MD: “We need to make sure that Covid-19 and the lockdown do not leave a permanent mark on this young generation’s education and career prospects.” A new survey by school-age childcare provider Sherpa Kids has found that as many as 47% of parents would avail of mental health support services for their child as they return to school after the Covid-19 lockdown. The figure rises to as high as 82% among parents who believe that Covid-19 restrictions have already impacted their child’s mental health (54%). Read more here>>

Survey: 80 per cent of parents say their child’s routine has been disrupted by Covid-19 Working from home while looking after children is having a detrimental effect on the mental health of parents, according to a new survey. A report from national childcare organisation Sherpa Kids Ireland — which provides on-site after-school childcare to children aged 4-12 years — found that almost three-fifth of parents (59%) who were working remotely said their mental health had been affected by the pandemic. Read more here>>