Kilmarnock and Dunlop childcare centres get thumbs up from Care Commission

Jun 12 2009 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

A CHARITY which offers affordable and flexible childcare is celebrating after receiving top reports from the Care Commission.

PEACE Childcare Ltd was set up in 2000 after the out of school clubs at Onthank and Shortlees merged.

It has since gone from strength to strength.

It now operates six out of school centres in Kilmarnock and one in Dunlop, as well as a ‘at home’ sitter service for working and studying parents.

PEACE Childcare’s services manager, Catherine Whiteside said: “The Care Commission reports rate the service out of six and in every case we have received fives and sixes, with no recommendations, so I can’t ask for more than that.

“We are really proud of the service we provide in our seven centres and to see that we are doing everything right is really pleasing.”

The organisation’s six centres are at Onthank, St Andrew’s, Annanhill, Loanhead, Gargieston, Silverwood and Dunlop Primary Schools.

Children can attend one or both sessions daily, regularly or occasionally. As long as the child is registered, and enough notice is given, the PEACE team can help.

As well as the afternoon session from 3pm to 6pm, there is also a morning session which starts at 8pm in each centre, apart from at Onthank, where sessions starts at 7.15am.

And although each centre is busy with around 40 pupils registered – at Onthank, the busiest centre, it is over 50 – there are potentially more parents out there who could make use of the service.

It is especially useful for working parents who don’t have the luxury of a close family at hand to look after their children while they are at work or college.

Said Catherine: “The children and parents become friends and our staff are like surrogate aunties to the children – and their parents!

“You get to know the families really well and become a part of their lives. It’s lovely to see a child you’ve had in out of school care years ago and they’re now parents themselves.”

PEACE receives a small amount of funding from the council – probably less than 10 per cent of their annual income – and relies on its fees and fundraising to continue.

Their next fundraiser, a race night on Friday, June 19, will help provide treats and outings for the kids during the school summer holidays. During this time the service still continues, although at only two centres instead of the usual seven.

As always the focus will be on the children themselves, who are always consulted about what they would like to do.

Various activities are set up for them and they can even do their homework during term-time if they want!

The staff at PEACE pride themselves on their flexible, affordable approach to out of school care and are keen to see as many parents as possible use their service.

For more information, call Catherine Whiteside on 01563 549804.