Early Childhood Education Coordinator

Creative Kids Childcare Services is seeking a highly experienced, motivated and capable Early Childhood Education Coordinator to take on a key educational leadership role within our national school-based preschool and after-school service in Renmore, Galway.

Location: Renmore, Galway
Service: National School-Based Preschool & After-School Service
Position: Full-Time, 40 hours per week
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm/5:00pm
Rate of Pay: €21.20 per hour — negotiable for the right candidate.

At Creative Kids Childcare Services, we pride ourselves on providing a welcoming, positive and supportive working environment. We recognise and genuinely value the individual skills, knowledge and experience that each member of our team brings, and the provision of high-quality care and education is at the heart of everything we do.

The primary focus of this position is to improve and develop the quality of early childhood education and care provided throughout the service.

We are seeking an experienced early years professional who is passionate about delivering high standards of childcare and education, with the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills to support, guide and develop an existing team of educators.

This is a hands-on, practice-focused leadership role, involving working directly alongside staff in the preschool and after-school rooms, observing daily practice, identifying areas for improvement and supporting educators in delivering high-quality experiences for children.

The role will place particular emphasis on curriculum and programme development, positive interactions with children, staff teamwork, the learning environment and building strong partnerships with parents.

The successful candidate will work closely with our wider management team and will be responsible for ensuring the service meets its relevant Tusla and DCYA/DCEDIY regulatory requirements, including the associated documentation, policies and procedures. Administration relating to Pobal funding schemes will be managed by our existing administration team, allowing the coordinator to concentrate primarily on educational quality, staff development and service improvement.

Key Responsibilities

– Lead and support the continuous improvement of quality standards throughout the preschool and after-school service.
– Work directly alongside educators in the preschool and after-school rooms, observing practice and providing practical guidance, mentoring and support.
– Promote high-quality, positive and meaningful interactions between educators and children.
– Support the development and implementation of engaging, child-centred, play-based curriculum planning in line with Aistear and Síolta, alongside age-appropriate after-school activities and programmes.
– Assess and enhance the quality of children’s learning experiences, daily routines and learning environments.
– Foster positive professional relationships, communication and teamwork among staff.
– Support educators in developing their skills, confidence and professional practice.
– Promote strong partnerships with parents and families, ensuring effective communication and parental involvement.
– Identify areas requiring improvement and implement practical strategies to achieve consistently high standards of care and education.
– Ensure that daily practice reflects Tusla regulations, relevant childcare legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
– Maintain relevant regulatory documentation, records, policies and procedures in accordance with Tusla and DCYA/DCEDIY requirements.
– Work collaboratively with the wider management team to establish and maintain the quality standards expected across Creative Kids services.

Experience and Qualifications

The successful candidate should possess:

– Several years’ experience in early childhood education and care, preferably including a management, room leader or educational leadership position.
– Preferably a minimum Level 7 qualification in Early Childhood Education or a relevant discipline.
– Excellent knowledge of Aistear, Síolta, curriculum development, child-centred early years practice and age-appropriate school-age childcare provision.
– A strong understanding of Tusla regulations and the standards expected within preschool and school-age childcare services.
– Demonstrated ability to mentor, guide and develop other educators.
– Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with children, staff and parents.
– Strong leadership, organisational, problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
– Confidence in observing professional practice, providing constructive feedback and implementing improvements.
– A proactive, practical and hands-on approach, with the initiative and professional competence to drive meaningful improvements in the quality of service provision.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have a genuine passion for early childhood education and school-age childcare, extensive practical experience and a proven ability to lead and inspire others.

This position is primarily focused on educational quality, staff development and improving everyday practice within the preschool and after-school rooms, alongside responsibility for Tusla and DCYA/DCEDIY regulatory compliance and associated documentation. Pobal funding administration, including NCS and Core Funding, is managed separately by our administration team.