ABOUT US

With Staff combined years of experience heading for 90 years we at Higgys can guarantee that your child will receive the Best Early Childhood care and Education that is available in Gorey.

Manager

Kavita Dayal

I have worked in Higgys House since it opened in March in 2005. I was promoted to the role of Manager in July 2011. I worked with children for eight years in India and then came to Ireland to work with children. The children and happy atmosphere in Higgys make it a special place to work in. I completed my Fetac level 4 and 5 in 2004 and in 2010 I started my Fetac level 6 in Supervision in Childcare which I have just completed successfully with four distinctions!
Apart from the daily running of the crèche I deal with all the enquires. I work in conjunction with the parents and staff to address any areas of concern in the child’s development which may need referral to outside agencies. I review and ensure that regular assessments of each child are documented. I am also responsible for the allocation of student placements, the orientation of students to the service and assisting them with their college work. I have completed a course in Supervision of Students through Carlow IT, Wexford Campus. This has given me an insight on how to work with students when they come to us on placement.
I have done a good few courses over the years, one of them being Story Telling using Puppets. The children at Higgys now enjoy regular puppet shows and the older children enjoy doing puppet shows for the younger children. I have done Child Protection, Paediatric First Aid, Food Hygiene and Safety, Manual Handling and a few Siolta workshops as well.
I am a founder member of The Association of Childcare Professionals in Wexford.
Working in early childhood education and care is so rewarding when one sees how the children learn and grow. I find that I learn as much from them as they learn from me.

Baby Room

Lita Kinsella Duty Manager

I have worked in Higgys as the Baby room Supervisor since it opened in March 2005.
Prior to working in Higgys I worked in a crèche in Dublin for 4 years gaining experience in the Baby room and Toddler room. I also worked as a nanny for a year.

As the Baby room Supervisor I have been responsible for the development of a curriculum and am constantly reviewing, evaluating, and updating it, as I believe it is only by constant review and challenging ourselves that we can provide quality care and education for the babies in Higgys, I am also responsible for managing junior staff and working closely with parents and children.

I have recently been promoted to Duty manager. Duty Manager offers me the opportunity to work closely with the manager on the day to day running of the crèche. I completed my Fetac level 5 in 2001 and have successfully completed my Fetac level 6 in May.

As a childcare professional I attend a number of seminars and courses throughout the year some of these are Manual Handling, Paediatric First Aid, Report Writing, Healthy Eating 0-3 yrs, Child Protection, Food Hygiene and Safety and a number of Siolta workshops. I am also a member of The Association for Childcare Professionals in Wexford.

Toddler Room

Lorraine Clyne

I have been working in childcare since 1999. My qualification is NCVA Level 2 which is the equivalent to Fetac Level 5. At the moment I am studying for a BA (Hons) Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care through the Wexford Campus of Carlow IT. It is a three year course which will be completed in May 2013.
I have worked in Higgys House since we opened in March 2005. I am the Toddler room Supervisor. My role as Supervisor incorporates running two rooms, expanding our curriculum, managing junior staff and working closely with parents and children. 
It is important to be up to date on all new aspects of childcare and I attend as much courses and training as possible. I have attended Siolta, Report Writing, Child Protection and Occupational First Aid (Fetac Level 5). My project at Higgys is Health and Safety and we regularly review our Health and Safety Manual and policies. I am also a member of the Association for Childcare Professionals, Wexford branch.

Nicola Fitzpatrick

While completing my FETAC Level 5 course I did my work experience at Higgys. On completion of my course I was offered a position in 2008. During my time at Higgys I have worked in the Toddler Room and Pre School Room. I work in childcare as I believe a quality early childhood care and education are essential to the development of all children.
I attended a Seminar on outdoor play and am currently reviewing Higgys outdoor play area. I am the BUNTUS Queen at Higgys. I am responsible for the implementation of the BUNTUS Programme throughout Higgys House.
In September I will begin studying Fetac level 6 in Childcare Supervision I am looking forward to learning more and gaining even more experience.

Pre-school Room

Rachel Lynch Montessori Directress

I studied Montessori education and childcare in the Liberties College Dublin where I graduated in 1997. I then went on to work as a Montessori teacher in Little Lambs and Busy Bees, both Crèches in Dublin before joining the Higgys House team in 2005. I have over ten years experience working with children 0-7 years.
In 2008 we achieved accreditation for our Montessori Room from St. Nicholas Montessori Society, (which I am an associate member), and again in 2011. Being Wexford’s only accredited Montessori is an example of what Higgys is all about, constantly working to improve the Early Childhood Education that we provide. I find working in Early Childhood Education very rewarding. The Montessori Method provides the opportunities and tools each individual child needs to develop and grow a thirst for learning and a great interest in the world around them. I have attended science workshops, seminars on Aistear and Siolta and a manual handling course.

Magdalena O' Donnell

Since I can remember I was always interested in working with children. My mother worked in primary school for over 30 years so I often watched her
at work. I started to get involved in working with children myself from when I was 18 years old. Most of the time it was voluntary work in Poland. I came
to Ireland in 2005 to work as an au-pair for a few months but stayed over a year. After going back to Poland to finish my final year at university and
do a masters degree I decided to come back to Ireland. I was working as a nanny in a private house from 2007 to 2011. During this time I started
studying Early Childhood Education FETAC Level 5. It was then that I realized that working with children is not only something I like to do but a
real passion of mine. I did my work experience in Higgy's House and I truly enjoyed every minute of it. So here I am working in Higgys with my wonderful
preschoolers. In September I started studying Advanced Studies in Montessori Education. I find the Montessori method extremely interesting and rewarding.

After-school Room

Kavita Dayal

Chef

Susan Maher

Let me tell you a little about myself. I was trained in Killybegs Catering Collage in Donegal. After that I went to work in the Doyle Group, first the
Westbury and then the Berkley Court. When I moved to Wexford I worked in Pooles Porter House and then Partridges. I have also studied computers and
nutrition in college. I was delighted when a position came up in Higgys.  Please call in to me any time if you want to discuss your child's individual  dietary requirements or any of our menus.