Barbara O' Farrell
Tipperary
Summary
I am extremely passionate about my role as an early years provider, manager, and educator.
It is my vocation to empower children to become the best that they can be through a play-based program of activities that ensures inclusion, diversity, equality, and the rights of every child are upheld.
I take immense pride in having a positive effect on children, their parents, families, and the educators who are part of my team.
I strive to always improve personally and professionally to ensure best practices and quality improvement.
I always work at a professional level with all stakeholders involved while ensuring my core values and beliefs are visible and implemented throughout.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
ECEC Manager/Owner
Self-employed
Tipperary
09.2021 - Current
- Managing both pedagogical and administrative tasks relevant to a high-quality ECEC setting.
- Leading a staff team and mentoring them to achieve their highest potential.
- Implementing change as a necessary part of the success and sustainability of the service.
- Ensuring compliance with national regulatory and education-based inspection processes.
- Keeping up to date with relevant national and international policy frameworks and legislation.
- Collaborating with staff, children, parents, families, and the wider community.
- Implementing a curriculum program in line with best practices, as outlined in Aistear and Siolta.
- Ensuring financial stability and compliance with Pobal.
- Responsible for the needs of staff, children, and their families.
- Implementing management and leadership theories to ensure high quality on a continuous basis.
- Ensuring compliance with the Childcare Act (Early Years Services) Pre-School Regulations 2016 through policy development and implementation.
- Managing human resources and appropriate recruitment strategies.
- Ensuring that the image of each child is held in high regard throughout everything we do as an ECEC service.
Childminder
Self-employed
Tipperary
09.2019 - 08.2021
- Cared for, and ensured the development and well-being of babies and young children in my own home.
- Collaborated with parents and families to ensure the best interests of each child were catered to.
- Provided an age-appropriate curriculum of activities based on the emerging interests of each child.
- Created a 'home away from home' caring environment for all the children that also focused on their educational abilities.
- Worked with the local childcare committee and other agencies to ensure I stayed up to date with current legislation and policy frameworks.
- Managed the financial aspects associated with the responsibilities of childminding.
- Taught basic skills such as personal hygiene, social manners, and appropriate behaviour.
Creche Manager
Little Treasures Dundrum
Tipperary
08.2016 - 08.2019
- Interviewed prospective employees and provided input to HR on hiring decisions.
- Recruited and hired qualified candidates to fill open positions.
- Worked in collaboration with the staff team from the opening of this service to create a high-quality service.
- I self-directed my abilities to learn about the managerial aspects of an early years service.
- Implemented an inquiry-based, emergent curriculum in all rooms, from babies up to after-school age.
- Implemented leadership abilities to manage a large setting.
- Collaborated with parents, families, staff, and the community.
- Ensured compliance with national and international frameworks, policies, legislation, and inspectorate bodies.
- Ensured the over-all day to day running of the service was always at a high quality.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Education And Care
Chevron College
Wexford10-2024
Some College (No Degree) - Train The Trainer
Institute of Technology
ThurlesSkills
- Regulatory compliance
- Recruiting and interviewing
- Workforce management
- Staff development
- Verbal and written communication
- Complex Problem-solving
- Risk management
- Decision-making
- Task delegation
- Revenue management
- Team leadership
- Business planning
- Financial management
- Staff training and development
- Time management
- Policy and procedure development
- Policy implementation
- Documentation and reporting
- Goal setting
- Change management
Accomplishments
- Throughout my 20 years working in the ECEC sector, I have worked hard to achieve qualification levels starting from Fetac Level 6 all the way up to currently achieving my degree
- I take part in regular CPD with BetterStart, Barnardos, Early Childhood Ireland, and through the Childcare Committee
- On completion of my Level 7 degree, I also achieved an award for highest academic achievement
- I began working in the sector when I was 18, and since then, I have worked my way up from room leader to manager to now owning my own ECEC service
Timeline
ECEC Manager/Owner
Self-employed
09.2021 - Current
Childminder
Self-employed
09.2019 - 08.2021
Creche Manager
Little Treasures Dundrum
08.2016 - 08.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Education And Care
Chevron College
Some College (No Degree) - Train The Trainer
Institute of Technology
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