Mummy/Daddy & Me

Mummy/Daddy
& Me!

As part of our service we offer new or to be mums/dads the opportunity to meet on a Saturday morning at 10 am-11 am. Whether it’s your first baby or one of many, having a new baby can be challenging – our parent & baby groups create a relaxed social and professional environment in a convenient setting to help you share, alleviate and cope with those challenges.

The weekly meetings with 5 to 10 mums, dads & babies, provides a place to learn, socialize, connect, and rejuvenate as you make the transition into motherhood/fatherhood. Being understood by other parents will enable you to be a happy parent, and this is the most important factor in the development of a happy baby.

The group is something for you and baby to look forward to, get out of the house and help avoid loneliness. It will also help when facing various challenges, such as social and emotional health, colic and reflux, sleep issues, going back to work, etc with the support & feedback from your network.

Activities

Yoga

Yoga offers many psychological benefits for children as well. A growing body of research has already shown that yoga can improve focus, memory, self-esteem, academic performance, and classroom behaviour, and can even reduce anxiety and stress in children.

Weekly Sports Days

The physical well-being of our young children is of utmost importance. Here at Welltrack Junior Academy, we have weekly sports days for our ECCE class. Sports activities help to teach the young people in our care the importance of teamwork, engaging positively, and following rules. These are skills that not only set us up for our later life interactions but also build a young persons self-esteem and confidence.

Mindfulness

This is introduced to children in a fun and creative manner. It can be implemented via art, stories, visualisation, art and discussions. Children today have a busy lifestyle and mindfulness is of grave importance especially in light of the recent COVID outbreak. This class allows the child to relax and to calm their minds, to focus and to pay attention. Which in turn enables them to understand and to express how they feel, and think and to find empathy within themselves and with others. This allows the child to become content and happy within themselves and to project this outwards in a positive manner. This will equip the child with the strength to face life challenges from now and into their adulthood. A skill that is imperative to all.

Nature

We have created an area that allows children to be at one with nature. This is both a sensory and informative area where the children will learn the different types of plants, trees, vegetables and the texture attributed to each. The children will partake in the growing of plants onsite at the creche as well as bringing home items to their families. Essentially the life cycle of the plant etc will be taught to the child in a child friendly manner with the child actively involved in each stage.

Baking

This will be taught in a weekly basis and will focus on the health and wellbeing associated with eating the correct foods. The children will be actively involved by tasting the items as per the food pyramid. This will work in conjunction with the weekly menu.

Music & Dance

Singing and dancing are fun activities for children yet have advantages for their development. By singing, children can understand language and sound. They can improve their vocabulary and communication skills. Language development is not the only benefit of music. If children have a successful musical experience they can bond emotionally and intellectually with others in a creative learning environment.

P.E

Our young ones love to get up and move throughout the day. Physical activity breaks up their time doing ‘work’ and gets the children excited to participate, and allows them to get their energy out. There are many physical, social, and emotional benefits to having children partake in consistent physical activity. A lack of physical activity in children could lead to physical health issues in the future, along with negative effects on their mental and social well-being.

Water/Sensory Play

Water play enhances children’s eye/ hand coordination and strengthens their physical skills. Water play activities also help to develop and strengthen children’s gross and fine motor skills.

Meet Our Exceptional Team

Elaine WhelanDirector

Elaine is the founder and director of The Welltrack Group, and subsequently Welltrack Junior Academy. Elaine has worked In the field of childcare for over 20 years. Her experience spans from Preschool care to residential care Inclusive of challenging behaviour & Intellectual disability to aftercare and subsequently to elder care/healthcare. She has worked In conjunction with TUSLA, HSE and HIQA and brings a wealth of experience within the division of childcare. Elaine studied counselling and psychology and Is currently studying PTSD.

Elaine provides clinical and monitoring oversight to the services.

Jack TchrakianDirector

Jack is a practicing barrister and the non-executive chairman of the Welltrack Group, a social care provider that he co-founded with Elaine Whelan in 2019. Their vision was to bring social care to a new level of quality and efficiency – from infancy, all the way through to old age and spanning all generations between – employing the best practices and technologies available to bring the process to life.

David McDonnellOperations Manager

David has worked in the social care field for the last 10 years. During this time he has become a lead runner in the field aspiring to reach the highest level of quality and care for his staff and his clients. It is this wealth of knowledge and expertise that brings David into this role ready for the challenges that the childcare sector brings.

AmeliaManager

I’m Amelia. I am an Inclusion Co-ordinator with a BA Hons Degree in Pre-primary education with special mention in pedagogy therapeutic. I have over 10 years of experience working with children from 0 to 12 years old, attending different needs. I have years of experience working with children with autism as experience in ABA, OT, and PECS.
I love my job where I can do my best to helps others. I believe that the early years are the most important period of life.
I am originally from Spain, but I’ve been living in Ireland for 6 years. I love travelling and photography. I am very friendly and motivated person.

AshleyDeputy Manager

I’m Ashley. I’m originally from Dublin but have lived in Greystones for almost 10 years. I have an 11 years old son.
I have my QQI Level 6 in Childcare and a diploma in Advanced Autism Awareness.
I enjoy walking, reading and the odd sea swim. My favourite colours are purple and teal.
I am a fun-loving person, maybe a little crazy according to my co-workers. I really enjoy working with children and get great joy from my job.

NeasaDeputy Manager

I’m Neasa. I am a lifelong resident of Greystones, and as a mother of 4, with 23 years of experience working with children, I am dedicated to delivering best practice and giving every child the best possible experience in their early years. I am also passionate about the outdoors and believe it promotes wellbeing as the children have the freedom to explore the natural environment.
I have a degree in Early Childhood Care and Education, and I am qualified as an Inclusion Co-ordinator. I love working with children, everyday is filled of fun and learning and the children constantly remind me of enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

Ann-MarieEarly Years Practitioner

I’m Ann-Marie and I have over 15 years experience working with children that range in different ages and abilities. I have FETAC Level 5 in Childcare, FETAC Level 6 in Early Childhood Care and Education, both with Special Needs Assisting and a BA Hons Degree in Early Childhood Studies.
I am registered with the teaching council for primary school teaching and SET. I am in my last year of studying for my BA Hons Degree in Montessori Education.
I enjoy the arts and crafts with the children and seeing them grow and develop during their time in my care.
In my personal time, I enjoy baking and going for walks. My favourite time of the year is spring, my favourite colour is yellow and my favourite flowers are the daffodil and lily.

LeticiaEarly Years Practitioner

I’m Leticia. I joined the Welltrack Junior Academy team in 2023 with a Masters in
Technologies aplicated to education and a Degree in Primary Education. I really enjoy every moment I spend working with young children and I look forward to working with the children. I love playing instruments and I enjoy reading – I am also very interested in traveling and trying out new food from around the world. I try to learn from everything I do and every person I meet, especially from the children and the way they see the world.

SamanthaEarly Years Practitioner

I’m Samantha. I have 18 years experience working within the childcare sector with children from birth to teens. I am a very creative, fun, and bubbly person. I have three children of my own, a son 14 years old, and twin girls who are 11 years old. I have recently just completed the Linc course, which I found very interesting and promotes the inclusion of all children. I hold a QQI level 6 qualification alongside Tusla child protection training, speech and language training, and responding to biting training and I am fully qualified in first aid training. I like to watch children grow and learn and feel it is essential to follow each child’s interests leading to extended learning for all with open ended activities.

Amy-LouiseChef

My name is Amy-Louise. I have lived in Greystones all my life and have worked in childcare for over 5 years. I have a 10 year old daughter. My favourite colour is yellow.
My goal as Chef in Welltrack is to provide a healthy balanced diet full of variety and home cooked meals.