'To give our children the best start in life by encouraging holistic
approach to providing high quality, easily accessible joined up and co - ordinated services for children and families."

Based within The Dry Arch Centre (for families). The G.P.N which is the equivalent of the Early Excellence Centres in England, was established as a result of an initiative from the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety (DHSS & P.S.). One of only three in Northern Ireland, its main purpose is to support: Left : Craig Allen DHSS+PS

(a) The Development of Quality within Early years Provision

Based on the themes of: - Empowerment through encouraging providers and their staff to take ownership of their quality standards and providing them with the capacity and support to improve. See noticeboard. To kick start this process the Network has organised a Quality Conference in Sept 2001 which involved a stake – holder approach to access Quality Standards whilst enabling organisation to establish a base line by which to measure their standards for improvement.

(b) An information Strategy
which will include the improvement of parents information regarding services available in the area. Whilst at the same time improving the flow of information between the Inter - Departmental Group on Early Years (I.D.G.E.Y.) and the local Child Care Partnership, to ensure local groups the opportunity to influence policy and planning.

(c) Parenting Education and Support
Based on the following principles:

(1) - Recognised importance of parents / carers as the main educators of
children.

(2) - Support for parents / carers being provided at all levels of intervention from general and universal to specific and therapeutic.

(3) - Engaging parents / carers and children in the development and shaping of services.

To enable this support:
The network will train a number of parenting facilitators in various programmes including Barnardos 'Parenting Matters', DELTA (Developing Early Language and Thinking Abilities) and Family Group Conferencing.

There are currently 115 members included on the Network's database. A list of some members and a profile of their services including contact details follows.

If you would like to become a member of the Network and /or would like your organisational details included on this site please contact Rosemary: dryarchcentre@btconnect.com

or telephone us at 028 777 42904 or fax us at 028 777 42972. Why not leave your name, contact number and any comments you may have on our visitor's page.

Before you go visit our notice board for what's new & exciting in the field of Childcare and Family Support.

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Here is a List of some members and a profile of their services including contact details follows.

Mrs Brenda Macqueen
The Dry Arch Centre (for families)
Glenshane Business Park
50 Legavallon Road
Dungiven
BT47 4QL
028 777 42904

How long has group been in existence?
The Dry Arch Centre was set up in 1997. It is in existence 5 yrs.

How many staff / volunteers employed by group?
13 Full time staff
11 Part time staff
1 student
1 job link
2 volunteers

What services does the group provide?
Full Daycare
Playgroup
Out-of-schools
Family Support
Youth Club (Warehouse)
Good Practice Network (Information & resource Library)

How many places is the centre registered for e.g.
Full Daycare Baby room - 6 full time, 2 part time
Toddler room - 6 full time, 2 part time
Preschool room - 12 places
Playgroup 14 places
Out-of-schools 24 places
Family Support
Youth Club (Warehouse)

Forms of transport?
The centre has its own minibus. Parents walk and bring the kids in their cars to the centre. We also use a local taxi firm.

Places are funded under fees / Peags etc
There are 8 Peags places, some are funded by social services and the rest are fee-paying places.

Opening hours
Daycare – 7.45am - 6.00pm
Playgroup – 9.00am – 11.30 am
Out of school – 2.00pm - 6.00 pm
Family support- 9.00am - 3.00pm
Youth Club (Warehouse) - 6.00pm - 10.00pm (Tues,Thurs,Fri)
Youth Club (Warehouse) - 2.00pm - 10.00pm (Sat,Sun)
Good Practice Network - 9.00am - 5.00pm

Accreditation
The Centre is social services inspected. We also have DENI inspections. The playgroup are presently going for an Accreditation award.

The Dry Arch Centre (for families) would like to acknowledge funding from WELB, Childhood Fund, Surestart, IFI,

Mrs Donna Mc Laughlin
Little Treasures Day Nursery
65a Drumsurn Road
Limavady
BT49 0PD
028 777 64141

How long has group been in existence?
The nursery has been in existence for 3 ½ yrs.

How many staff / volunteers employed by group?
12 Full time staff.

What services does the group provide?
Full Daycare
Out-of-schools
School pick-ups

How many places is the centre registered for e.g
Daycare - Baby room :9 places 6wks- 1yr
Toddler room: 16 places 1yr - 2 1/2 yr -3yr
Preschool room: 18 places 3yr - 4yr
Out-of -school: 10 places 4yr - 8-9yrs

Forms of transport
The nursery has its own people carrier to do school pick-ups. Parents / carers use cars to bring kids to the nursery.

Places are funded under fees / peags etc ?
All places are funded by income from fees.

Opening hours
The nursery is opened from Monday to Friday @ 8.00am - 6.00 pm

Accreditation?
Social services inspected.

Mrs Clare Wheeldon
C. W. Kindergarden (principal)
136 Ballyquin Road
Limavady
028 777 66569

How long has group been in existence?
C.W Kindergarden has been in existence for 12 yrs.

How many staff / volunteers employed by group?
There are 4 paid staff, 2 full-time - 2 part-time.

What services does the group provide?
Preschool provision.

How many places is the centre registered for e.g
Preschool - 24 places per morning sessions.

Forms of transport
Parents / carers use their cars and some walk as it is a rural setting.

Places are funded under fees / peags etc ?.
Private business funded only from income from fees.

Opening hours
Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 12.30 pm.

Accreditation?
Social Services Inspected.

Jacqueline Bradley
Foreglen Community Playgroup
267 Foreglen Road
Dungiven
BT47 4PJ

How long has group been in existence?
The Playgroup has been in existence for 21 yrs.
11 yrs in present building.

How many staff / volunteers employed by group?
Playschool - 2 paid staff. 1 student. 1 volunteer.

What services does the group provide?
Playgroup

How many places is the centre registered for e.g
Playgroup - 22 places.

Forms of transport
Parents / carers use cars or walk to centre.

Places are funded under fees / peags etc ?.
There are 7 places funded under peags. There are 15 places funded by fees.

Opening hours
The playgroup opens from 9.15 am - 11.45 am.

Accreditation?
Presently going for accreditation.

Foreglen Community Playgroup would like to acknowledge funding from WELB Childhood Fund, Surestart, IFI.

Bridgeen Irwin
Sunshine Playgroup & Family Centre
142 Roemill Road
Limavady
BT49 9EX

How long has group been in existence?
Sunshine Playgroup & Family Centre have been in existence for 11 yrs. In present building 4 yrs.

How many staff / volunteers employed by group?
There are 8 paid staff and 2 students.

What services does the group provide?
Playgroup
Parent & Toddler
Supervised crèche on request.

How many places is the centre registered for e.g
Playgroup- morning session - 23 places.
afternoon session - 23 places.
Parent & Toddler

Forms of transport
The group hire a minibus from LCDI (Limavady Community Development Initiative) and parents bring the kids by car or walk as it is within walking distance.

Places are funded under fees / peags etc ?
Between the both sessions in the playgroup they have 30 places funded under peags and 13 fee paying places.

Opening hours
Mon-Fri
Playgroup - Morning session @ 8.45 am - 11.15 am.
Afternoon session @ 12.45 pm - 3.15 pm.
Parent & Toddler

Accreditation?
The Playgroup presently holds and accreditation certificate.
Sunshine Playgroup & Family Centre would like to acknowledge funding from Limavady District Partnership, WELB, Childhood Fund, National Lottery and Childcare Partnership

Deirdre O Kane
Park Community Playgroup
Learmount Resource Centre
Park Village
BT47 4BA

How long has group been in existence?
Park Playgroup has been in existence for 12 yrs. The playgroup is in its present building for 2 1/2 yrs.

How many staff / volunteers employed by group?
The playgroup has 4 paid staff.

What services does the group provide?
The group only provides a Playgroup.

How many places is the centre registered for e.g
Playgroup - 24 places.

Forms of transport
The playgroup hire a minibus from Claudy Cabs. The parents cover this fee. Some parents use their own cars and some walk as it is within walking distance.

Places are funded under fees / peags etc ?
There are 16 fee paying places and 8 funded under peags.

Opening hours
The Playgroup opens Monday to Friday - 9.30am - 12.00pm.

Accreditation?.
The Playgroup is presently going for its 3rd accreditation.

Park Community Playgroup would like to acknowledge funding from WELB, Socials Services and Childhood Fund.

Clare Mc Guckin
Limavady Community Playgroup
8 Roemill Road
Limavady
BT49 9DF

How long has group been in existence?
The playgroup has been in existence for 26 yrs.

How many staff / volunteers employed by group?
There are 6 paid staff and 5 students.

What services does the group provide?
Playgroup.

How many places is the centre registered for e.g.
The playgroup provides 24 places in the morning session.
The playgroup provides 24 places in the afternoon session.

Forms of transport.
Parents / carers use cars and walk the kids to the playgroup as it is within walking distance.

Places are funded under fees / peags etc ?
There are 32 places funded under peags and 16 fee-paying places.

Opening hours
The Playgroup opens Monday to Friday. Morning session - 9.00am - 11.30am.
Afternoon session - 1.00 pm - 3.30pm.

Accreditation?
The playgroup is considering going for an accreditation.

The Limavady Community Playgroup would like to acknowledge funding from WELB and Social Services.

How long has group been in existence?
The playgroup has been in existence for 21 yrs. There are in there present building 4/5 yrs.

How many staff / volunteers employed by group?
There are 3 paid staff and 1 student.

What services does the group provide?
Playgroup.

How many places is the centre registered for e.g.
The playgroup is registered for 24 places.
There are 8 places available at present.

Forms of transport.
The parents and carers use their cars and some walk as it is within walking distance.

Places are funded under fees / peags etc ?
There are 14 places funded under fees and 10 places are funded under fees.

Opening hours
The playgroup opens from Monday to Friday 9.30 am - 12.00.

Accreditation?
The playgroup is in the process of accreditation.