Buntús Start

Buntús Start is a comprehensive physical activity programme for children aged 2-5 years old. It has been designed for use in pre-school settings so that pre-school and playgroup leaders can provide a wide range of learning opportunities for young children to develop their fundamental motor skills, manipulative skills, co-ordination and balancing skills and develop a positive attitude to physical activity. buntús Start has been adopted for use in Ireland from its UK equivalent TOP Start, which is an initiative of the Youth Sport Trust.

Buntús Start helps adults working with children to establish positive attitudes to activity and a healthy lifestyle through enjoyable activity with children. buntús Start offers a combination of adult-initiated and child-led activities and enables adults to choose and plan appropriate activities as well as giving children opportunities to freely select and explore. Whilst using buntús Start children have opportunities to develop naturally through individual involvement in physical play, small group activity and to participate in whole-group activity.

The aim of Buntús Start is:

1. To extend the physical, creative, personal, social and emotional capabilities of pre-school children through enjoyable, planned, physical development play activities in the areas of spatial awareness, basic motor skills, co-ordination and control skills and aiming, predicting and estimating skills.

2. Buntús Start offers a wealth of physical learning opportunities to enable children realise their potential and to become active and independent learners through play. Buntús Start activities help childrens learning in other curriculum areas by supporting and developing the following:

  • Personal, social and emotional well being
  • Social and creative skills
  • Attention skills and persistence
  • Language and communication
  • Reading, writing and maths
  • Knowledge and understanding of the world
  • Creative development

The lead agency for the implementation of the Buntús programme is the SDCSP.  However, the importance of working in collaboration with other key agencies, notably the South Dublin County Childcare Committee (SDCCC), (IPPA), the Early Childhood Organisation,  and the Childcare Business Development Network (CBDN) regarding programming for this target group is seen as crucial.

Participation on the programme costs €150 per childcare centre. The overall cost of the programme for equipment and training is approx. €500. SDCCC currently subsidises each participating centre to the value of €100 with the remaining 50% of cost (€250) being covered by the Sports Partnership.

The following childcare facilities have undertaken the training:

  • St Ronans Playschool, Clondlakin
  • Kozy Kids, Clondlakin
  • Clondalkin Towers, Clondlakin
  • Playschool Weston Park, Co. Dublin
  • Naionra Clann Lir, Lucan
  • Happy Tots, Lucan
  • Bush Community Playgroup, Lucan
  • Explore Together Childcare Centre, Lucan
  • Naionra Leamhcáin, Leamhcán
  • Grian na nóg, Rathcoole
  • Lilliput Lane, Dublin 22
  • Ballycullen Montessori, Dublin 24
  • Naionra Chnoc Liamhna, Dublin 16
  • Daisychain Montessori & Childcare Centre, Dublin 16
  • Teach na Leanai, Rathcoole
  • St Muirins House, Dublin 24
  • Fonthill Lodge Daycare, Clondalkin
  • Fonthill Lodge Daycare, Dublin 20
  • Daisychain and Montessori, Terenure
  • Brookview Childcare Service, Dublin 24
  • Sophia Housing Association, Fortunestown
  • The Little Children's Centre, Tallaght
  • Ally's Montessori School, Dublin 6w
  • Usher Montessori Pre-School, Dublin 16
  • Silvercare Montessori, Dublin 14
  • Templeogue Montessori, Dublin 6w
  • St. Peter's Boys N.S (part of Templeogue Montessori), Greenhills

A further 40 centres have applied to do the programme in Autumn 2010. These are as follows:

  • Deansrath Community Centre, Clondalkin
  • Kidstart Preschool, Lucan
  • Little Hands Montessori, Lucan
  • Montessori Matters, Griffeen Valley
  • Barnardos, Tallaght
  • Balrothery Montessori & Creche, Tallaght
  • Daisychain Playgroup, Firhouse Road
  • Naíonra Tír na Nóg, Baile Phámar
  • Rainbow House Educational Childcare Centre, Fortunestown Road
  • Kncoklyon Preshcool Montessori, Templeogue
  • PJ's Playschool, Templeogue
  • Castleview Community Playgroup, Ballymount
  • Little Folk Playschool, Lucan
  • An Turas Jobstown Childcare Centre, Tallaght
  • The Old Schoolhouse Montessori School, Grounds of Spa Hotel, Lucan
  • Stepping Stones Creche, City West
  • The Lodge Montessori, Rathfarnham
  • Wombles, Tallaght
  • Naíonra Tír na nÓg, Baile Phámar
  • Sarah's Little Sunflower Pre-School, Lucan
  • Smallworld Playschool, Lucan
  • Bambis Playschool and Aftershcool, Clondalkin
  • Killakee Montessori and Creche, Firhouse
  • Joys of Life Creche, Lucan
  • Patricia Robbins, Knocklyon
  • Sunflowers Childcare, Lucan
  • Grange Creche, Rathfarnham
  • Joy of Life Creche, Lucan
  • Happy Days Playgroup, Belgard
  • Eager Beavers Montessori, Knocklyon
  • Happy Friends, Tallaght
  • Brittas Pre-School Playgroup, Brittas
  • Little Gems Childcare, Clondalkin
  • Fonthill Lodge Daycare, Tallaght
  • Casa Childrens Acadamy, Firhouse
  • Orlagh Park House, Pre- School, Knocklyon
  • Discover Creche & Montessori School, Firhouse
  • SDCC Public Leisure Centres Tallaght, Clondalkin & Lucan